Nestled between mesas, this image shows the valley floor where eroded rocky and/or soil debris appears to have flowed viscously from the msea walls across the valley to merge. A leading theory is that ice and snow became entrained with the soil debris as it shed from the mesa. This combined ice-rich debris then flowed slowly downhill. “Rock glaciers” on Earth are an analogous landform that flow viscously like a glacier, lubricated by ice trapped in the pore spaces.

The image shows light toned viscous debris that overlays a darker toned surface. Both surfaces sport irregular fracture patterns and evidence that substantial erosion has since taken place. The upper viscous-flow surface also contains abundance small, regular polygonal patterns. Such patterns are commonplace in permafrost on Earth, and are typically considered strong evidence for shallow subsurface ice.

Erosion and the formation of small scarps reveal a multitude of layers within the subsurface. Such structure is unusual for a single glacial flow and may indicate episodic glacial advance and retreat. Additionally, the sparse population of rocks on the surface and along the eroded scarps suggest that the debris eroding from the mesas consists largely of soil.

Written by: Mike Mellon (audio by Tre Gibbs)   (23 May 2012)

More info and image formats at http://hirise.lpl.arizona.edu/ESP_025675_2255

Image: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona