putative eroded inverted valley long/lat: 340.85e, 23.93n rational: sediments deposited in this...

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Putative eroded inverted valley Long/lat: 340.85E, 23.93N Rational: Sediments deposited in this filled and inverted valley, at the base of the remnant buttes, may be of utmost interest in the concentration and preservation of possible organic matter. Morphology & mineralogy: Two merging chains of dark, oblong buttes may be the last remnant of an inverted valley, located inside the landing ellipse, on the top of the plateau. They follow the steepest slope of the present topography. The material at the top of the buttes is likely like the dark cap, while the base of the buttes bears Al-phyllosilicates. MSL tasks: At large scale, HRSC mosaic with HRSC nadir & color images

Post on 20-Dec-2015

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Putative eroded inverted valley

Long/lat: 340.85E, 23.93N

Rational: Sediments deposited in this filled and inverted valley, at the base of the remnant buttes, may be of utmost interest in the concentration and preservation of possible organic matter.

Morphology & mineralogy: Two merging chains of dark, oblong buttes may be the last remnant of an inverted valley, located inside the landing ellipse, on the top of the plateau. They follow the steepest slope of the present topography.The material at the top of the buttes is likely like the dark cap, while the base of the buttes bears Al-phyllosilicates.

MSL tasks: At large scale, seek possible fluvial sediments exposed at the base of the remnant buttes. At small scale, study the grain structure, the mineralogy and chemistry of these rocks, and compare them to the underlying layered unit.

HRSC mosaic with HRSC nadir & color images

1 km

HiRISE mosaic with HRSC & HiRISE color images

1 km

HiRISE mosaic with HRSC & HiRISE color images

1 km

HiRISE mosaic with HRSC DEM

The plateau has been strongly eroded, but the chains of buttes go from the highest part to the lowest part of this area.