Investigating Mars: Ius Chasma

Continuing eastward along Ius Chasma, this image shows the eastern section of the large landslide deposit seen in yesterday's post. A landslide is a failure of slope due to gravity. They initiate due to several reasons. A lower layer of poorly cemented/resistant material may have been eroded, undermining the wall above which then collapses; earth quake seismic waves can cause the slope to collapse; and even an impact event near the canyon wall can cause collapse.