Today's Image of Mars shows faults in Candor Chasma. This image of Mars is very similar to one I showcased just a few days ago- [Mars Photo of the Day - Dec 10 2011]. I guess you could say I preempted the HiRISE team.
The reason for the extensive faulting in Candor Chasma is still under debate, but we can see from this image that the layered deposits have shifted since they were first laid down. This is likely do to tectonic activity caused by stress on the Martian crust.
Candor Chasma has been shown to have large quantities of hematite, a mineral that can precipitate out of water. Understanding the circumstances of its formation would help scientists piece together more of the distant Martian past.
Clicking on this image will take you to the original, captioned image from HiRISE.
If you like the HiRISE images showcased in the Mars Photo of the Day posts I encourage you to enter for a free 2012 HiRISE Calendar
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