Dark Light
This image samples the excellent bedrock exposures north of Terby Crater, which lies on the northern rim of the giant Hellas basin.

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. 


Image: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona https://www.uahirise.org/hipod/ESP_045335_1535
Related Posts
Old Features and New

Old Features and New

This image covers a portion of a typical impact crater in Terra Sirenum at about 40 degrees south latitude on Mars.