Finely-Layered Rocks in Ius Chasma (context-frame - MULTISPECTRUM; credits: Lunexit)

The high resolution of HiRISE allows us to see the many Fine Layers, or Strata, of Rock Outcrops all over Mars. This image shows a portion of Ius Chasma in the western portion of the large Valles Marineris Canyon System.

The Outcrop of Rock in the center of the image is about 5,5 Km across. Similar light-toned Strata are observed elsewhere in the canyon system and the CRISM instrument has shown that they often contain sulfate salts. The presence of Sulfate Salts indicate that water once interacted with this area, possibly as fluids that migrated through pre-existing rocks or as shallow evaporating pools of water.