Hottah (Mars)

Hottah is a rock outcrop on the surface of Aeolis Palus, between Peace Vallis and Aeolis Mons ("Mount Sharp"), in Gale crater on the planet Mars.

[1][2][3] The outcrop was encountered by the Curiosity rover on the way from Bradbury Landing to Glenelg Intrigue on September 14, 2012 (the 39th sol of the mission), and was named after Hottah Lake, the sixth largest lake in the Northwest Territories, Canada.

The outcrop is a well-sorted gravel conglomerate, containing well-rounded, smooth, abraded pebbles.

It has been interpreted as a fluvial sediment, deposited by a vigorously flowing stream, probably between ankle and waist deep.

This stream is part of an ancient alluvial fan, which descends from the steep terrain at the rim of Gale crater across its floor.

" Goulburn " , " Link " and "Hottah" rock outcrop - suggest "vigorously" flowing water in an ancient streambed (September 27, 2012).
Remnant of ancient streambed on Mars (white-balanced) (September 14, 2012). ( close-up ) ( 3-D version ).