Lemon Rind and Strawberry (false colors) - Sol 561

This false-color panoramic image, taken on Sol 561 (Aug. 22, 2005) by Opportunity, shows the nature of the outcrop rocks that the Rover is encountering on its southward journey across the martian plains to Erebus Crater. The rocks, similar in make-up to those encountered earlier in the mission, display a clear pattern of cracks as well as rind-like features (identifiable as a light shade of blue to olive in the image) coating the outcrop surface. Prominent in the image are two holes (one on the rock, one on the rind) drilled with the Rover's RAT to facilitate chemical analysis of the underlying material. The reddish color around the holes is from iron-rich dust produced during the grinding operation.
The rind, nicknamed Lemon Rind, and the underlying rock (Strawberry), have turned out to be similar in overall chemistry and texture. Science team members are working to understand the nature of the relationship between these kinds of rocks and rinds on Meridiani Plains.