One of the great strengths of HiRISE is that its high resolution can help resolve interesting questions: in this observation, is the platy flow material younger than the yardang-forming material?

A “yardang” is a streamlined hill made of loose rock and bedrock that’s been shaped by wind erosion. The volcanic platy flow material in the same area should be older than the yardang material. The purpose of this observation is to figure out whether the platy flow materials trap or catch (embay) the yardang-forming material, or are just covered by that material.

Written by: HiRISE Science Team (audio: Tre Gibbs)   (12 February 2014)

This is a stereo pair with ESP_025473_1840 .

More info and image formats at http://hirise.lpl.arizona.edu/ESP_034255_1840

Image: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona