NASA blog post, the agency has previously encountered similar polygon-patterned rocks, yet what distinguishes this specific patch is its “dramatic abundance,” covering a considerably larger expanse of the planet’s surface than anything seen before. They can be viewed as raw images on NASA’s site labeled Sol 4859. Researchers have a working theory regarding the formation of these rocks, but are gathering more “images and chemical data” to gain a clearer understanding of how the distinctive honeycomb textures came to be.
At present, it is thought they are connected to the drying of wet mud or ice crystals underneath the surface, which were revealed by “nature’s drill,” the craters found on Mars. Curiosity has previously uncovered signs of ancient water on Mars through ripples in rock surfaces and other formations, similar to the scale-like rocks. Recent studies also suggest that Mars was predominantly a desert planet, which provides NASA with insights into the fate of the water that once existed on the red planet.