Coprates Labes

Coprates Labes is a Martian canyon, part of the huge Valles Marineris system. Valles Marineris most likely formed through tectonic processes, with extensional stresses leading to collapse of the terrain that now lies at the base of the canyons. Filling most of this image, we see a raised block on the canyon bottom, which is quite possibly a horst—a block bounded by faults that separate it from sunken blocks on each side. The raised block is heavily eroded, possibly by wind; this erosion has exposed its internal layering, especially at the southeast margin of the block. Here we see asymmetric erosion features with shallow slopes trailing off to the northwest, suggesting that southeasterly winds dominate the flow through this region. The arrangement of dunes and ripples in the lower right portion of the image confirms this prevailing wind direction. Finally, dark-toned material appears to have flowed from northeast to southwest along the block, possibly moving in a very fluid debris flow.