White Rock Fingers on Mars
Explanation:
What caused this unusual white rock formation on Mars?
Intrigued by the possibility that they could be
salt deposits left over as an ancient
lakebed dried-up,
detailed studies of these fingers now
indicate a more mundane origin:
volcanic ash.
Studying the
exact color of the formation indicated the
volcanic origin.
The light material appears to have
eroded away from surrounding area,
indicating a very low-density substance consistent with the
ash hypothesis.
The stark contrast between the rocks and the surrounding
sand is compounded by the
unusual darkness of the sand.
The
above picture was taken with the
Thermal Emission Imaging System on the
Mars Odyssey
spacecraft currently orbiting
Mars.
The
image spans about 10 kilometers inside a much larger crater.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
