IPB

Welcome Guest ( Log In | Register )

 
Reply to this topicStart new topic
Interesting dark deposits
marsbug
post May 16 2008, 01:34 PM
Post #1


Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 401
Joined: 5-January 07
From: Manchester England
Member No.: 1563



Theres an interesting picture here of a crater with a strange dark patch at one end, would anyone care to hazard an explanation? I thought it could be an exposed section of basalt, but I dont see why it wouldn't be covered with dust like the rest of the terrain.


--------------------
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Juramike
post May 16 2008, 03:23 PM
Post #2


Senior Member
****

Group: Moderator
Posts: 2785
Joined: 10-November 06
From: Pasadena, CA
Member No.: 1345



QUOTE (marsbug @ May 16 2008, 08:34 AM) *
Theres an interesting picture here of a crater with a strange dark patch at one end, would anyone care to hazard an explanation? I thought it could be an exposed section of basalt, but I dont see why it wouldn't be covered with dust like the rest of the terrain.



Very cool.

I'd speculate that the crater is actively sinking (especially the deeper section off center to the E (lower section in the image)). Could the dark deposits be mineral salts left behind by sublimating ice?

-Mike


--------------------
Some higher resolution images available at my photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/31678681@N07/
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
dburt
post May 17 2008, 01:23 AM
Post #3


Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 384
Joined: 4-January 07
Member No.: 1555



QUOTE (Juramike @ May 16 2008, 08:23 AM) *
...Could the dark deposits be mineral salts left behind by sublimating ice?

Mike - Another possiblility might be dark basaltic wind-blown sand. Spectral data (e.g., from CRISM) should be able to answer the question.

-- HDP Don
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
SickNick
post Jun 8 2008, 02:30 PM
Post #4


Junior Member
**

Group: Members
Posts: 50
Joined: 8-February 04
From: Melbourne, Australia
Member No.: 5



QUOTE (dburt @ May 17 2008, 11:23 AM) *
Mike - Another possiblility might be dark basaltic wind-blown sand. Spectral data (e.g., from CRISM) should be able to answer the question.

-- HDP Don


That blue-black stuff has always turned out to be dust when investigatigated. Usually basaltic, often olivine-rich, but just dry windblown (or windlagged) dust...

If you look in detail at the albedo vs elevation, you'll see "sheltering" effects in the lee of bumps on the crater floor. The "south" (down) of any lump has more dust than the "north" (up).


--------------------
- Nick

=====================================
Nick Hoffman Mars Specialist

3D-GEO Pty Ltd
Melbourne
Australia

http://whitemars.com

"First they ignore you,
then they laugh at you,
then they fight you,
then you win."
- Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948)
=====================================
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post

Reply to this topicStart new topic

 



RSS Lo-Fi Version Time is now: 29th March 2024 - 03:52 PM
RULES AND GUIDELINES
Please read the Forum Rules and Guidelines before posting.

IMAGE COPYRIGHT
Images posted on UnmannedSpaceflight.com may be copyrighted. Do not reproduce without permission. Read here for further information on space images and copyright.

OPINIONS AND MODERATION
Opinions expressed on UnmannedSpaceflight.com are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of UnmannedSpaceflight.com or The Planetary Society. The all-volunteer UnmannedSpaceflight.com moderation team is wholly independent of The Planetary Society. The Planetary Society has no influence over decisions made by the UnmannedSpaceflight.com moderators.
SUPPORT THE FORUM
Unmannedspaceflight.com is funded by the Planetary Society. Please consider supporting our work and many other projects by donating to the Society or becoming a member.