Tag Archives: CRISM

Ice cap winds spread polar gypsum

Posted on February 21, 2012 by rburnham

The north polar cap of Mars is surrounded by a vast dune field, about as large as Earth’s Kalahari Desert, that contains extensive deposits of gypsum. The gypsum’s origin has been debated since the mineral was discovered in 2005, yet … Continue reading →

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Water-related minerals in Noctis Labyrinthus

Posted on September 8, 2011 by rburnham

Noctis Labyrinthus, created 2 to 3 billion years ago, is a sprawling network of intersecting valleys and troughs between the Tharsis volcanic highlands and Valles Marineris. Deep within its troughs, canyon walls and floors display beds of layered rocks and … Continue reading →

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Cracks in the basement

Posted on August 11, 2011 by rburnham

When geological forces open a crack in bedrock, molten magma can squeeze in and widen it, after which the magma cools and hardens in place. The result is a dike, and such features let geologists delve into an outcrop’s history … Continue reading →

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