Turtle Rock on Mars
Is this a fossilized turtle on Mars?
No.
Although resembling a large
Earth tortoise,
this is a layered rock outcrop on
Mars that is
estimated to span about 15 meters, making it much larger than
turtles on Earth.
NASA’s robotic
Curiosity rover came across
this unusual mound, dubbed Miraflores,
last month during its 4922nd Martian day exploring Mars.
The small butte may survive
because it was somehow more resistant to
erosion than surrounding rock.
More recent wind has now covered its top with
orange
Martian sand.
Below the top shell, many layers of
stratified rock are
visible, possibly indicating a long history of
intermittent
wind-blown sand
being deposited and then hardened by ground water.
Similar wind-eroded layered landforms, such as yardangs in the Qaidam Desert of
China, exist here on Earth.
Curiosity and its companion
rover Perseverance continue to investigate the
ancient history of Mars as well as
searching for signs of
primeval life.