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
Deuteronilus Mensae

The Hanging Crater

Queen Amytis had her Hanging Gardens in Babylon, and Mars has its hanging crater! This impact crater appears…

An Impact Crater within Nanedi Valles

With this image, we can cross-dating the relative age of the impact with that of the valley system, as well as learning more about the fluvial and morphology characteristics of area.
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.