Platy Lava Surface

This VIS image was taken in the Tartarus region of Mars. The lava flows covering the upper right portion of the image have a very different texture than the Arsia Mons flows. These flows illustrate a platy lava surface. This surface type develops when the top of a lava flows cools and then is broken into pieces by continued movement of the flow. Molten lava will squeeze up between the plates of cooled lava, forming the ridges seen in the image.