An enhanced-color cutout shows a sample of this bedrock, which has a variety of colors and textures. The warm-colored bedrock probably contains hydrated minerals such as clays, whereas the blue-green bedrock is dominated by unaltered mafic minerals. These may be some of the oldest rocks exposed at the Martian surface. Such ancient rocks are extremely rare on Earth.
Dark
Light
This image samples the excellent bedrock exposures north of Terby Crater, which lies on the northern rim of the giant Hellas basin.
Image: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona https://www.uahirise.org/hipod/ESP_045335_1535
Related Posts
Sunken and Pitted Ejecta
The objective of this observation was to examine the edge of impact ejecta from a crater to the north-west of this area (north is up, west is to the left).
Soffen Crater Floor
Dr. Gerald A. Soffen (February 7, 1926 — November 22, 2000) was a project scientist for the NASA’s Viking program of Mars landers.
Sedimentary Rocks inside Terby Crater
The sedimentary history of Mars is important to understanding climate change and the evolution of Mars.
Possible Clays and Chlorides near Columbus Crater
Data from other instruments, such as THEMIS and CRISM, imply that chlorides are present here; the CRISM data reveal that iron/magnesium clays are also present.