Tag Archives: hydrated minerals

HiRISE: Colorful Mawrth Vallis

Posted on March 7, 2019 by rburnham

Mawrth Vallis is a place on Mars that has fascinated scientists because of the clays and other hydrated minerals detected from orbit. In this image, the enhanced black colors are most likely basaltic sands and rocks, while the green, yellow, … Continue reading →

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HiRISE: Possible valleys along a plateau in Noctis Labyrinthus

Posted on July 2, 2018 by rburnham

Possible valleys along a plateau in Noctis Labyrinthus. If there are valleys, this could explain why there are hydrated minerals only found along this portion. Beautiful Mars series. [More at links]

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HiRISE: Light-toned terrain in Gorgonum Chaos

Posted on December 19, 2017 by rburnham

Light-toned terrain in Gorgonum Chaos. Looks like possibly hydrated material and valleys are also located nearby. Beautiful Mars series.

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CRISM: Hydrated minerals in Chryse Planitia

Posted on November 1, 2017 by rburnham

The Chryse Planitia is a smooth circular plain that has a diameter of 1600 km, and has a depth of 2.5 km below its average surface altitude, making it one of Mars’s lowest regions. Chryse Planitia was a landing site … Continue reading →

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Seeking microbial biosignatures for studying Mars rocks

Posted on October 18, 2017 by rburnham

Scientists around Tetyana Milojevic from the Faculty of Chemistry at the University of Vienna are in search of unique biosignatures, which are left on synthetic extraterrestrial minerals by microbial activity. The biochemist and astrobiologist investigates these signatures at her own … Continue reading →

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HiRISE: Light-toned layers in Noctis Labyrinthus

Posted on January 3, 2017 by rburnham

Understanding both the spatial and temporal distribution of hydrated (water-bearing) minerals on Mars is essential for deciphering the aqueous history of the planet. Over 300 meters of layered beds are exposed in this trough of Noctis Labyrinthus, at the western … Continue reading →

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HiRISE: The plains are not plain

Posted on June 8, 2016 by rburnham

This image covers some of the plains south of Capri Chasma in eastern Valles Marineris. Where the aeolian (wind-blown) sedimentary cover has been stripped away, we see diverse colors indicative of of a variety of altered minerals formed in Mars’ … Continue reading →

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HiRISE: Southern floor of Gale Crater

Posted on March 10, 2016 by rburnham

This image along the southern interior floor of Gale Crater hosts many different landforms. Light-toned, scabby, and presumably hydrated materials on the crater floor are covered by large, darker-toned dunes. The small crater, about 2 kilometers in diameter, in the … Continue reading →

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HiRISE: Northwest floor of Gale Crater

Posted on March 9, 2016 by rburnham

West of the Curiosity landing site, this image along the northwestern floor of Gale Crater is between Aeolis Mons (informally called “Mt. Sharp”) and the crater rim. A small, 5 kilometer-diameter impact crater to the west created lobes of ejecta. … Continue reading →

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HiRISE: Light-toned hydrated deposits

Posted on December 10, 2015 by rburnham

Light-toned hydrated deposits in eastern Noctis Labyrinthus  — Because no likes a deposit with split ends. Beautiful Mars series.

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