In the months ahead, scientists expect to probe beneath the planet's surface crust for evidence of chemistry favorable to microbial life, using the robot rover's unique high-speed drill.

WSJ: NASA's Curiosity Rover Lands on Mars

The surface cooled, a crust formed, and oceans condensed upon it.

NEWYORKER: The Martian Chroniclers

As it hobbled along, it broke through the crust of the surface and got stuck in an area called Troy.

CNN: What we've done on Mars, and what's next

The magma bubbles up through the crust, ultimately bursting to the surface and forming volcanic eruptions.

FORBES: 2011 Forecast: World Outperforms U.S., Europe Scuttles

Paradoxically, its surface appears to be shaped by the deformation of the crust and by volcanic activity.

ECONOMIST: Planetary science

Professor John Zarnecki, principal investigator on Huygens' surface science package (SSP) said the area where Huygens landed appeared to have a thin crust that overlies a material with more uniform consistency something like wet sand.

BBC: NEWS | Science/Nature | Titan mission 'resounding success'

Pictures of the icy satellite Enceladus suggest its surface splits and spreads apart - just like the ocean floor on our planet splits to create new crust.

BBC: Enceladus has 'spreading surface'

At one fetid pit in a jungle glade, he stepped gingerly onto the surface of the pool, where the solid matter in the produced water had congealed into a tarlike crust that was sturdy enough to support him.

NEWYORKER: Reversal of Fortune