Layers and Phyllosilicates in Miyamoto Crater (MULTISPECTRUM; credits: Lunexit)

This observation was taken in Miyamoto Crater in South-West Meridiani, an area near the Equator of Mars. This image is located to the East of one of the potential Mars Science Laboratory Landing Sites and is near the contact between the Hematite-bearing plains unit to the North-East (where the MER Opportunity is exploring) and the phyllosilicate-bearing unit to the South-West.

Aeolian (meaning "wind deposited") processes are active here, which are visible in dunes and ripples, most likely made of basaltic sand. The bedrock contains Phyllosilicates (such as Clay Minerals), which form in the presence of water. Phyllosilicates have been detected in higher concentrations in other areas of Mars such as Mawrth Vallis and Nili Fossae, but detections of lesser abundance have been noticed in Meridiani as well.