Curiosity's Mars Crater Was Once a Vast Lake

astroengine writes The mountain that NASA's Mars rover Curiosity is exploring appears to have once been a lake, scientists said Monday. Mount Sharp, a three-mile-high mound of layered debris rising from the floor of Gale Crater, is believed to have formed billions of years ago, images posted on NASA's website ahead of conference call with reporters show. Sediments to create the mountain likely originated from the crater rim highlands and were transported toward the center of the crater in alluvial fans, deltas, and wind-blown drifts, scientists said. "During wet periods, water pooled in lakes where sediments settled out in the center of crater," NASA said. "Even during dry periods in the crater center, groundwater would have existed beneath the surface. Then, during the next wet period it would resurface to form the next lake. This alternation of lakes, rivers and deserts could have represented a long-lasting habitable environment."

Comments

Re:Great

[Nyder]

So why is it so hard to find fossilized evidence of previous life then?

Big planet and we aren't by the exposed stuff. While we do find stuff laying out in the plain site on earth, that isn't usually how they find fossils. Some digging is required and a lot of time nature will do something to expose fossil. Mars doesn't have weather like ours, so chances of having a landslide or something is less.

If we had a million peeps walking around on mars, then yes, maybe we'd find some fossils if they exist, but 1 rover on that planet? We'd be really lucky, IMO.