Image display for discovery #11

WHITE ROCK got its nickname when contrasty image processing gave the feature, which measures about 15 by 18 km (9 by 11 miles), a chalky-bright appearance and suggested it was made of water-deposited sediments, like the salty residue of a dried-up desert lake. However, the Thermal Emission Spectrometer (TES) found that White Rock was built of wind-blown dry sediments. The image seen here was taken at visible-light wavelengths by another instrument, the Thermal Emission Imaging System on NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter. Click on the image to download a larger version (3.4 MB). NASA/JPL/Arizona State University

References:
Ruff, S. W., P. R. Christensen, R. N. Clark, H. H. Kieffer, M. C. Malin, J. L. Bandfield, B. M. Jakosky, M. D. Lane, M. T. Mellon, and M. A. Presley, Mars' "White Rock" Feature Lacks Evidence of an Aqueous Origin: Results from Mars Global Surveyor, J. Geophys. Res., 106, 23,921-923,927, 2001.