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Ius Chasma
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Mars is home to Valles Marineris, the solar system's largest canyon. Within this canyon lies Ius Chasma. This image, which spans the floor of its southern trench was taken by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. The canyon is well-known for its fine stratigraphic layers modified by wind and water.
The outcrops contain layered deposits of dark basalt lava flows and bright sedimentary material. The sediments are likely to be from atmospheric dust, sand or alluvium from an ancient water source. The floor of the canyon is littered with megaripples that are aligned in a north-south direction.
Ius Chasma is believed to have been shaped by a process called sapping when water seeped from the layers of the cliffs and evaporated before it reached the canyon floor.
Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
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thanks for bringing it to caedes.
I once perused NASA/JPL as an amateur astronomer, grabbing the latest images from the interplanetary missions (particularly Mars) and it is a joy to see you sharing such as this. I downloaded it at highest resolution to see it in all its glory.
Thanks for sharing.
Best wishes
John