Ridges From Fractures

The upper portion of this VIS image illustrates the situation where fractures have modified the landscape to a point where ridges are formed. The original fractures would have formed a polygonal pattern in the surface. Later infilling of the fractures by a material more resistant than the surrounding surface occurred, followed by erosion of the less resistant surface material. The result are the polygonal ridges seen in this image. This image was taken in the highlands northwest of Syrtis Major.