The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has sent back some images from the HiRISE [the High Resolution Science Experiment] camera that shows strong evidence of sedimentary rock formation on the planets surface. Sedimentary rock formation is a process that requires water (or some liquid) to erode rocks and cement them back together in a different mineral conglomeration. This stands as further evidence that some liquid (probably water) once flowed on the surface of Mars.

The uncertainty over the type of liquid gives me an interesting idea, however. Is it possible that different types of liquid, other than water, flowing over the surface of a planet can lead to different types of mineral deposits? For example, on earth clay and sandstone are sedimentary deposits, classified as Clastic, that do not involve organic matter in their formation. If a liquid other than water is used to break down rock and distribute the soil particles into a primarily homogeneous mixture, will the sedimentary deposits be significantly different from those of earth?

Questions and Prognostication aside, here is an image of the sedimentary rock formations on Mars (however NASA does not use the term sedimentary to describe these formations, I may be incorrect in my assumptions).

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