NASA's Curiosity rover is leaving Gediz Vallis, where it has been studying for a long time on Mars. Before leaving, incredible photos of the area have been shared.

Before departing, the rover captured 360-degree panoramic images, providing valuable data about Mars’ past climate and geological evolution. These images shed light on the formation of the channel and the planet's increasingly arid environment.

Unique Discoveries

Located at the base of Mount Sharp, the Gediz Vallis channel revealed white sulfur stones that astonished the Curiosity team. What makes this discovery remarkable is that these stones, previously invisible in MRO images, were first identified by the rover. Even more surprising was the revelation of yellow crystals inside one of these stones during analysis.

Curiosity's instruments confirmed that these stones are pure sulfur. However, scientists are still puzzled about how and why they formed in this region. Unlike Earth, where sulfur is typically associated with volcanoes and hot springs, no such evidence exists in Gediz Vallis.

Ashwin Vasavada from NASA JPL commented: "We've gathered a ton of data, and now we have an exciting puzzle to solve."

Next Target: Boxwork

Curiosity’s next stop is a vast area of boxwork formations, resembling spiderweb patterns on Mars' surface. These structures are thought to result from minerals carried by Mount Sharp’s last water flows, crystallizing in rock fractures.

Mars’ boxwork formations are extraordinary due to their size (10-20 km) and their creation during the planet’s drying phase. These formations may hold clues about ancient salty water flows and even the potential for microbial life on early Mars.