The Color Palette of Nilosyrtis Mensae
The blue and green colors are generally due to mafic (magnesium and iron rich) minerals that are not altered by water, while the warmer colors are due to altered minerals like clays. The structure in this scene is quite complex from a combination of impact and perhaps fluvial and volcanic processes, tectonic faulting, and erosion.
Image cutout is less than 1 km (under 1 mi) across and the spacecraft altitude was 285 km (177 mi). For full observation details including images with scale bars, visit the source link.
www.uahirise.org/ESP_028825_2070
NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona
The Color Palette of Nilosyrtis Mensae
The blue and green colors are generally due to mafic (magnesium and iron rich) minerals that are not altered by water, while the warmer colors are due to altered minerals like clays. The structure in this scene is quite complex from a combination of impact and perhaps fluvial and volcanic processes, tectonic faulting, and erosion.
Image cutout is less than 1 km (under 1 mi) across and the spacecraft altitude was 285 km (177 mi). For full observation details including images with scale bars, visit the source link.
www.uahirise.org/ESP_028825_2070
NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona