This observation reveals a portion of a long outcrop of a deposit in the Electris region of Mars.

The Electris deposits occur over a range of landforms and relief and the process(es) responsible for their emplacement remain speculative.

Close examination of the outcrops reveal layering that in some places appear to include meter-scale blocks. Comparison with other HiRISE images of the deposit will enable more detailed mapping of its extent and nature and should provide new insight into the origin of these enigmatic materials.

Written by: John Grant

All of the images produced by HiRISE and accessible on this site are within the public domain: there are no restrictions on their usage by anyone in the public, including news or science organizations. We do ask for a credit line where possible: Image: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona

For information about NASA and agency programs on the Web, visit: http://www.nasa.gov. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, Calif., manages the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington. Lockheed Martin Space Systems is the prime contractor for the project and built the spacecraft. The HiRISE camera was built by Ball Aerospace and Technology Corporation and is operated by the University of Arizona. The image data were processed using the U.S. Geological Survey’s ISIS3 software.