Dark Bands Run Through Light Layers . photonado

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Dark Bands Run Through Light Layers

Annotated Version Click on the image for larger version This mosaic from the Mast Camera on NASA's Curiosity rover shows a close-up view looking toward the "Glenelg" area, where three different terrain types come together. All three types are observed from orbit with the High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. By driving there, Curiosity will be able to explore them. One of these terrain types is light-toned with well-developed layering, which likely records the deposition of sedimentary materials. There are also black bands that run through the area and might constitute additional layers that alternate with the light-toned layer(s). The black bands are not easily seen from orbit and are on the order of about 3.3-feet (1-meter) thick. Both of these layer types are important science targets. This mosaic is composed of images taken with the Mastcam 100-millimeter camera.

Image credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
Image released by NASA on 2012-09-19 as catalog id PIA16150