This region of Mars has well-exposed bedrock, that is not covered by very much dust or sand. Such exposures are windows into the composition of Mars, as measured by spectrometers.

This region also shows a spectacular array of ridges, that formed first as fractures of faults, then fluids (water or lava) moved through the fractures depositing harder rocks. These hard rocks are resistant to erosion when exposed at the surface, so they are left as elevated ridges.

Colors have been enhanced in the cutout to better show the compositional variations.

ID: ESP_092084_1525
date: 19 March 2026
altitude: 256 km

https://uahirise.org/hipod/ESP_092084_1525
NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona
#Mars #science #NASA