Scientists have documented rare salt formations for the first timeon the shores of the Great Salt Lake in the American state of Utah.The formations could lead to better understanding of salt structuresfound on the planet Mars before they disappear.The salt formations are appearing now in partbecause water levels at the large natural lake have lowered.Lack of rain and more demand for water from a growing populationhave left more shoreline uncovered.The expanded shoreline means there are more places where water,warm and rich with the mineral sulfate, can rise to the surface from the springs below.When the water hits the cold air, it forms Glauber's salt, also know as mirabilite."It has to be exposed to just the right conditions,"park official Allison Thompson told the Associated Press.She first saw the salt formations in October.The formations have built up over the last several months,eventually creating flat structures formed on top of one another.From above, the structures are like a huge complex design laid over the sandy earth.An up-close look reveals tall formations gathered together like something out of science fiction.There are now four formations at the Great Salt Lake shores,growing up to 1 meter tall and several meters wide.Mirabilite formations are seen more often in placeswith cold temperatures such as the Antarctic.There are also signs of similar formations on Mars.So, study of the Great Salt Lake formationscould offer information on how to examine salts found there.Robert Zubrin is president of the Mars Society.The group was not involved in studying the Great Salt Lake formations.But he agrees they could hold information about whether groundwateror even life was ever supported on Mars.Researchers do not have long to study the Great Salt Lake formations.As winter turns to spring, warming temperatures mean the saltwill not continue to separate out of the water.Eventually melting snow will send water into the lake,raising lake levels and likely swallowing up the sites.This is part of normal changes with the seasons and cycles of rain,says University of Utah professor Kevin Perry.He adds that overall the lake is not covering as much ground as it once did.Much of that is due to water being diverted away from riversthat feed the lake for farming and other uses before it reaches the body of water.Researchers expect the rare salt formations to be gone by February.