This small fossa segment cuts the channel of Athabasca Valles, and post-dates the youngest of Mars’ outflow channels. A “fossa” is a cavity or depression.

Floods of water and lava are thought to have emanated from the larger fossae nearby, perhaps forming the Athabasca channel and later filling it with lava. Comparison with the larger fossa segments at the Athabasca Valles head may reveal whether this will be a source of a future flood.

Written by: HiRISE Science Team   (19 October 2011)

More info and image formats at http://hirise.lpl.arizona.edu/ESP_023798_1895

Image: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona