Tag Archives: Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars

CRISM: Mesospheric cloud above Sinai Dorsa

This image shows a limb (meaning a view of the horizon) of the planet where the surface can be seen at the bottom with an orange tint, a cloud can be seen in the atmosphere, and space is seen above … Continue reading

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CRISM: Mesospheric cloud above Valles Marineris

CRISM is primarily known for spectrally mapping the surface of Mars, but it can also look at ices and aerosols in the atmosphere as well! The image shows a limb (meaning a view of the horizon) of the planet where … Continue reading

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CRISM: Phyllosilicate minerals near Mawrth Vallis

This image, which covers a site located slightly west of the Mawrth Vallis outflow channel, shows aluminum-containing minerals called phyllosilicates in a cyan color and iron-magnesium-containing phyllosilicates in a red/magenta color. Phyllosilicates are clay and clay-like minerals formed by chemical … Continue reading

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CRISM: Mafic minerals in Nili Fossae

The vast majority of the planet’s crust is unaltered igneous rock although there are some occurrences of aqueously altered rocks linked to past water activity. The colors here show concentrations of different minerals common in rocks that might tell us … Continue reading

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CRISM: Aluminum and iron/magnesium clays in Mawrth Vallis

This image, which covers a site located northeast of Oyama Crater, shows aluminum-containing minerals called phyllosilicates in a cyan color and iron-magnesium-containing phyllosilicates in a red/magenta color. Phyllosilicates are clay and clay-like minerals formed by chemical reactions with liquid water. … Continue reading

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CRISM: Low-calcium pyroxene in Nili Fossae

Although much of the excitement in exploring Mars is linked to past water, the vast majority of the planet’s crust is unaltered igneous rock. And most of that rock is basalt, the most common type of igneous rock, or some … Continue reading

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CRISM: Iron-magnesium phyllosilicates in Gale Crater

This image shows iron/magnesium-bearing hydrated minerals called phyllosilicates in pink. Phyllosilicates are clay and clay-like minerals formed by chemical reactions with liquid water. They are very thin (microscopic) stacked layer crystal forms, also called sheet silicates. The CRISM team took … Continue reading

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CRISM: Aluminum phyllosilicates in Mawrth Vallis

This image is located right along the dichotomy boundary within a drainage channel named Mawrth Vallis. Here we see aluminum phyllosilicates (cyan to blue) exposed on the rim of a crater. Phyllosilicates are clay and clay-like minerals formed by chemical … Continue reading

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CRISM: Iron-magnesium clays in Libya Montes

This image is located right along the rim of the Isidis impact basin, at the foot of Libya Montes. Here we see the interaction between olivine (red) and iron-magnesium phyllosilicates (green). The group of olivine minerals is known to have … Continue reading

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CRISM: Phyllosilicate minerals at Isidis rim

This image is located right along the rim of the Isidis impact basin, at the foot of Libya Montes. Here we see the stratigraphy (layering) of different iron-magnesium phyllosilicates (white and pink). Phyllosilicates are clay and clay-like minerals formed by … Continue reading

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