Anomalous Mars images: speculation abounds

There are some very compelling, thought-provoking images taken by the seemingly ubiquitous satellites and observatories that are now orbiting the Red Planet and which at times have one wondering, "..what could that possibly be and what is it probably?" I have selected a few that continue to draw my attention.

1. The scene in the image below is of the southeast floor of west Candor Chasma on the surface of Mars.

What it could possibly be.

Some kind of mining installation extracting anything from mineral to gas or liquid. There are buildings, a floodlight source and an open pit mine. A possible tunnel passage links illuminated plain and the pit.

What it probably is.

A geological formation shielded from erosion by the presence of a wind barrier in the form of a cliff face. The light causing the shadow on the small plain above it comes either from the sun peeking through a singular gap in the clouds or from a shiny mineral. The formation on the other side of the black shaded area is just a natural flow formation of some kind into a topographical depression.

2. NASA's Mars Global Surveyor image below is from an area in the south.




What it could possibly be.

They are either a spreading form of some kind of hardy fungus or otherwise huge bushes.

What it probably is.

Either the fungus or a crop of inorganic crystals.

3. The Mars Global Surveyor took this un-retouched photo of some strange Martian surface features.




What it could possibly be.

These are artificial structures which deliver geothermal heat to the Martian surface in the bold first step to terraforming the planet by raising the surface temperature in this vicinity and for offsetting energy consumption by a colony.

What it probably is.

I have no explanation for this as a natural phenomenon!

The above images I have found to be the most compelling and they and others just as interesting can be viewed by anyone patient enough to Google "strange mars photos" or something similar.