This image shows several kilometers of topography exposed along the wallrock within Coprates Chasma. Higher topography is towards the bottom of the image while the floor of Coprates Chasma is visible at the top of the image.

There are patches of brighter materials exposed within the wallrock and along the chasma floor. The bright massive rocks exposed in the wallrock likely represent weathered rocks that have altered to this brighter material.

Lower down the wallrock and along the chasma floor, the brighter material appears layered and could represent sediments deposited within the chasma when water or ice may have existed here. The image also shows finer material composed of eroded wallrock and eolian debris that is mass wasting downslope.

Written by: Cathy Weitz   (30 May 2012)

This is a stereo pair with ESP_026786_1655 .

More info and image formats at http://hirise.lpl.arizona.edu/ESP_027063_1655

Image: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona