The bright, craggy peaks in the distance belong to a distinct rock layer that scientists call a “yardang” layer, a formation that looks very different from the rocks Curiosity has examined so far.

Planetary scientist Ashwin Vasavada of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, the Curiosity project scientist, explained that NASA believes wind‑blown volcanic dust settled in the crater, hardened into rock, and was later sculpted by wind into the ridged shapes known as yardangs.

Vasavada said the yardang layer most likely formed roughly three billion years ago and stretches about 16 kilometres across the north‑western part of Mount Sharp.

He also noted that the layer sits above an “unconformity,” a gap in the geological record where older layers were eroded before newer material was deposited on top.

Vasavada added that NASA hopes Curiosity will reach the yardang layer in 2027 or 2028, where the rover will use its instruments to study the formation up close.