This image shows layered sedimentary deposits in Candor Mensa, a broad plateau of thickly stacked sedimentary rocks in Candor Chasma, part of the giant troughs of Valles Marineris.

Valles Marineris is a system of tectonic depressions formed by down-dropping faults; the floors are among the lowest points on the surface of Mars, and may have once held lakes. Some sites show evidence for streams or rivers. The troughs may have also been sites of volcanic activity.

Currently, the deep floors contain massive deposits of bright sedimentary rocks. Some of the deposits are several kilometers thick, and have diverse composition and appearance. They were probably formed by many different processes in different environments.

At this site, most of the bright rocks exhibit a scalloped, patterned texture. This is thought to be associated with low-density deposits undergoing wind erosion, although the process is still not well-understood. Despite this relatively uniform texture, some variations are evident. The southern (upper) part of the deposit is relatively uniform, while the central portion appears to have thin layers.

On close inspection, the layers near the center of the image are all composed of the same material; they are probably visible due to slight topographic steps caused by variations in the strength of the rock. The layers have been highlighted by a mantle of dark, wind-blown sand ripples, which cover the flat parts of the stepped structure. At low resolution, this gives the appearance of alternating light and dark layers.

In the northernmost part of the image, the sediments have an entirely different texture, ranging from massive to fractured. These sediments also show evidence of layering.

Interpretation of these sediments is complicated by younger mantling materials. In addition to the sand ripples (some of which may have hardened to rock), a relatively massive dark layer appears to cap or drape the deposit in many places, including the southern part of this image.

For information about NASA and agency programs on the Web, visit: http://www.nasa.gov. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, Calif., manages the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington. Lockheed Martin Space Systems is the prime contractor for the project and built the spacecraft. The HiRISE camera was built by Ball Aerospace and Technology Corporation and is operated by the University of Arizona. The image data were processed using the U.S. Geological Survey’s ISIS3 software.