NASA’s Curiosity finds new water evidence in possible cracked mud

Assuming that interpretation holds up, it will be the first mud cracks (okay, “desiccation cracks”) confirmed by the rover. Regardless, the cracked surface formed 3 billion years ago and was buried by layers of sediment, which all became stratified rock, according to a NASA blog post. Wind erosion exposed the split pieces, which are located in an area known as “Old Soaker” on lower Mount Sharp. Other evidence in the site includes a layering pattern called cross-bedding, which could have formed where water flowed vigorously, as in near the shore of a lake. Then again, it could have been made from windblown sediment during a dry episode.