Skoltech scientists explain the origin of mysterious "honeycombs" in the mountains on Mars

Mathematicians Alexander Safonov and Kirill Minchenkov from the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) have found that honeycomb-like voids in the mountains of Mars arise due to the evaporation of salt water. The results of the calculations made by the scientists were published in the journal Geosciences.

The "honeycombs" in the rocks on Mars have been studied for almost 100 years. In geology, this type of erosion is called honeycomb weathering. However, scientists have not found a comprehensive answer to the question of how "honeycombs" are formed on the Red Planet.

According to Safonov, various hypotheses for the appearance of the mysterious relief were considered, including those related to water erosion, the effects of salt, and temperature changes. Together with a colleague, Safonov created a computer model simulating the weathering of rock during the evaporation of salt water.

Calculations have shown that water and salt crystals, which accumulate inside microcracks in rocks, are involved in the formation of "honeycombs". Under certain conditions, water evaporates, and salt residues gradually destroy the rock. Researchers believe that understanding this mechanism will help planetologists in studying the relief of Mars.

Earlier www1.ru wrote that NPO Lavochkin is preparing the "Boomerang" mission to extract soil from the Martian moon Phobos.