The clays of Mawrth Vallis
This new image from ESA’s Mars Express shows the distinctive and fascinating Mawrth Vallis, one of the most promising locations on Mars in our search for signs of life.
The region is thickly coated in light-toned clays containing silicate minerals; these deposits – some 200 m deep in places – are the most widespread found on Mars, and are obviously visible in these new images. The light clays are overlaid by darker ‘caps’, which can also be clearly seen and are thought to be of volcanic origin. The silicates within these clays are evidence that the surface has been altered by water, hinting at a habitable environment in the past.
This image was created from data collected by the Mars Express High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) on 18 February 2023 during orbit 24164. North is to the right, the ground resolution is approximately 18 m/pixel, and the image is centred at about 25°N/339°E.
Alt-text: This image shows an array of features: craters, dark volcanic rock, crater walls and ejecta, highlands and lowlands, knobs and mesas. It is an image of two halves, with older and more cratered terrain visible to the left, and far smoother ground stretching out to the right, with the boundary between the two cutting almost through the middle of the frame. To the left are prominent light-toned clay deposits; these cover bumpy ground featuring numerous round and eroded impact craters.
