Damp Battery terminals

I just recently helped a co-worker boast her car since her battery was dead. Upon opening my hood, I realize that my battery terminals are a bit damp.

Basically there is a fine layer of dust in my engine (thanks to offroading), however the area around the battery terminals are damp (oily?). Is the battery leaking? or is this normal and the dust just amplified it? The vehicle is less then a year old.

I think you're just seeing the result of your battery "breathing". It's frm the little holes in the vent caps These keep the battery from exploding (by allowing pressure / gases to release) as it warms during charging / hot weather. It's normal. One thing to rememeber - this is battery acid, not just water! Watch yourself. Keep the battery reasonably clean and treat the terminals with terminal protector. This will keep corrosion to a minimum.