Strange designs

These tracks are from tank formations in practice drill.Most probably

It might be a good idea to clarify which "designs" we are talking about.

It seems to me that there are at least four sets of features in this area:
1. the more random tracks which cross the south of the area in more or less parallel lines.
2. a fine grid of lines which appear to be confined to the lake-like feature in the centre of the area
3. a larger scale grid of lines which also appear to be confined to the lake-like feature, but whose orientation is rotated some 30 degrees from the fine grid
4. a pattern of point features arranged in lines, with the basic pattern being repeated hundreds of times

My suggestion is that all the regular features (2, 3 + 4) have been produced by seismic oil prospection techniques, with the point features being the location of signal-generating explosions, while the fine grid may be the track of some form of vibrating platform which has been dragged around the area as an alternative form of signal source.

Parallel lines are due to tank formation - 3, 4, 5 or 6 moving as agroup

I agree with Chris. The patterns are cosistent for seismological data collection. This is supported by the presence of wells and pipeline in the area, as well as the presence of oil and gas fields to the west. I also cannot think of any useful military purpose to be had by running tank formations in such a repetetive and geometrically precise way. It is the opposite for gelogical data collection, where measurement at regular intervals is necessary. Also consider that the bottom of a lake bed is the ideal place to collect seismic data for the area since the surface is flat and featureless and allows for the easy movement of equipment and the easy taking of measurements.

The proximity of this feature-in-question to the international boundry between Syria and Iraq could, at first look, be taken for military works. However, a dry lake bed is a truly poor choice for either an offensive or defensive position, with the exception of very temporary minefields or airbases.
The arguments for a petro-seismic exploration site seem to bear up. I add that the dark staining on a NW X SE diagonal in the (more or less) SW 1/3 of the area of interest is likely the result of fossil materials (coal and/or petroleum) that are manifest at the surface, possibly from the elevated topography seen in the SW corner of the area of interest. The linear alignments of a varying number of boreholes are either placements for geophonics or timed-sequence shotholes for fast-blow explosives. Either way the results of are picked up by geophones, and transmitted to a data collector.
Anyone else? (This stuff is THE BEST TIME WASTER! I love it!) Bonedig.

I add the following: For an excellent selection of numbers and types of crypto-features, I highly recommend hovering your Wiki-helicopter over the international boundry between Mongolia and China, at Mongolia's southmost extension. This entire area is very rich in the stuff Satphoto analysts love. A prolific marker guy who goes by "al D" made a number of assumptions, and marked them.

Peace and civilized discourse,
Bonedig.

The image is quite different now than was posted 4 months ago. This newer image appears as though the satphoto was taken during a huge dust storm. Much of the formerly crisp definition, shading and clarity is missing. Any ideas?