Geologic Cross-Section . photonado

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Geologic Cross-Section

This graphic shows the geologic cross-section through lower Mount Sharp on Mars, corresponding to the segment A to A' shown in PIA18781 . This cross-section provides an interpretation of the geologic relationship between the "Murray Formation," the crater floor sediments, and the hematite ridge. The cross-sectional view also highlights the impressive thickness of the Murray Formation -- around 650 feet (200 meters). NASA's Curiosity rover will be exploring this formation. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, manages the Mars Science Laboratory Project for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington. JPL designed and built the project's Curiosity rover. More information about Curiosity is online at http://www.nasa.gov/msl and http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/ .

Image credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Image released by NASA on 2014-09-11 as catalog id PIA18782