Mars: Layering along West Ganges Chasma | NASA Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter

Mars: Layering along West Ganges Chasma | NASA Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter

This observation shows a sequence of layered sedimentary rocks exposed along the wall of Ganges Chasma. The layered sequence consists of many beds that are generally horizontal and laterally continuous. More pronounced layers appear to be weathering to form large-scale boulders. Many thinner layers are apparent near the top of the wall.

Enhanced color cutout is less than 1 km (under 1 mi) top to bottom and the spacecraft altitude was 262 km (163 mi) above the surface. For the full image, visit the source link.

Ganges Chasma is in the northeast part of the Valles Marineris system and cuts through surrounding plains interpreted to have been resurfaced by flowing lava. The Chasma is believed to have formed due to the collapse of plateau rocks along fault systems.

The plateau above the chasma is at the left side of the image and the wall of the trough descends to the east.

The layered sequence consists of many beds that are generally horizontal and laterally continuous. Some more pronounced layers appear to be weathering to form large-scale boulders (see cutout). Many thinner layers are apparent near the top of the wall. Material has also formed spurs and ridges along the wall of the trough.

Latitude (centered)

-8.093°

Longitude (East)

307.498°

Spacecraft altitude

261.8 km (162.7 miles)

The University of Arizona, Tucson, operates the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) instrument, that was built by Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., Boulder, Colorado. 

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of Caltech in Pasadena, California, manages the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Project for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington.

“For 17 years, MRO has been revealing Mars to us as no one had seen it before,” said the mission’s project scientist, Rich Zurek of JPL.

Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona

Caption Credit: Maria Banks

Image Date: Nov. 2, 2007 

Release Date: Jan. 16, 2024

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