Finger mud deposits

 

What may seem as alien like branching, finger-like patterns, they are actually dried, powdery mud or clay deposits that have formed into irregular, flowing patterns.

These features formed through a process where mud from a nearby mud volcano flowed downstream and settled in this pool. This material contained minerals and fine clay particles. As the water evaporated or drained, the mud dried but retained a fluffy, non-compacted texture. The patterns reflect how the material flowed and settled before drying. The texture suggests a high clay or fine sediment content that dries into a low-density structure, possibly containing bentonite clay which becomes very soft and powdery when dry.