NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit used its microscopic imager to
capture this spectacular, jagged mini-landscape on a rock called
"GongGong." Measuring only 3 centimeters (1.2 inches) across, this surface
records two of the most important and violent forces in the history of
Mars -- volcanoes and wind.
GongGong formed billions of years ago in a seething, stirring mass of
molten rock. It captured bubbles of gases that were trapped at great depth
but had separated from the main body of lava as it rose to the surface.
Like taffy being stretched and tumbled, the molten rock was deformed as it
moved across an ancient Martian landscape. The tiny bubbles of gas were
deformed as well, becoming elongated. When the molten lava solidified, the
rock looked like a frozen sponge.
Far from finished with its life, the rock then withstood billions of years
of pelting by small sand grains carried by Martian dust storms that
sometimes blanketed the planet. The sand wore away the surface until,
little by little, the delicate strands that enclosed the bubbles of gas
were breached and the spiny texture we see today emerged.
Even now, wind continues to deposit sand and dust in the holes and
crevices of the rock.
Similar rocks can be found on Earth where the same complex interplay of
volcanoes and weathering occur, whether it be the pelting of rocks by sand
grains in the Mojave desert or by ice crystals in the frigid Antarctic.
GongGong is one of a group of rocks studied by Spirit and informally named
by the Athena Science Team to honor the Chinese New Year (the Year of the
Dog). In Chinese mythology, GongGong was the god-king of water in the
North Land. When he sacrificed his life to knock down Mount BuZhou, he
defeated the bad Emperor in Heaven, freed the sun, moon and stars to go
from east to west, and caused all the rivers in China to flow from west to
east.
Spirit's microscopic imager took this image during on the rover's 736th
day, or sol, of exploring Mars (Jan. 28, 2006). The rock lies in the
"Inner Basin" between "Husband Hill" and "McCool Hill" in Gusev Crater.
Spirit acquired the image while the rock was fully shadowed, with diffuse
illumination mostly from the top in this view.