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Layers, Boulders, and Dust

May 19, 2003
NASA's Mars Global Surveyor shows the wall of a trough in the Zephyrus Fossae region, west of the Elysium Rise on Mars. Talus covers the lower portions of the wall; many large boulders, most of which are seen as dark dots at the base of the slope.

MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-364, 18 May 2003

This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) picture shows the wall of a trough in the Zephyrus Fossae region, west of the Elysium Rise near 27.9°N, 217.5°W. The trough wall has cut through and exposed layered bedrock, visible near the top of the wall. Talus covers the lower portions of the wall; this debris includes many automobile- and house-sized boulder--most of which are seen as dark dots at the base of the slope. Dust has coated and mantled much of this terrain, including some of the boulders. The dark streak near the center of the picture was formed by landsliding (or avalanching) of some of the dust. Sunlight illuminates the scene from the lower left.

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