 Nili Fossae as seen byCRISM. Top left: location of observation. Bottom left: context of observation. Top right: yellow-brown areas denoteolivine, bright green areas denotephyllosilicates and purple areaspyroxene. Bottom right: approximatetrue-color view of the target area. | |
| Coordinates | 22°34′N76°48′E / 22.57°N 76.8°E /22.57; 76.8 |
|---|---|
| Length | 667.0 |
Nili Fossae is a group of large, concentricgrabens on Mars, in theSyrtis Major quadrangle. They have been eroded and partly filled in bysediments andclay-richejecta from a nearby giantimpact crater, theIsidis basin.[1] It is at approximately 22°N, 75°E, and has an elevation of −0.6 km (−0.37 mi).
A large exposure ofolivine is in Nili Fossae.[2] In December 2008,NASA'sMars Reconnaissance Orbiter found that rocks at Nili Fossae containcarbonate minerals, ageologically significant discovery.[3][4][5] Other minerals found byMRO are aluminumsmectite, iron/magnesium smecite, hydratedsilica,kaolinite group minerals, andiron oxides.[6] NASA scientists discovered that Nili Fossae is the source of plumes ofmethane, raising the question of whether this source originates from biological sources.[7][8]
Researchers in July 2010 suggested that carbonate bearing rocks found in the Nili Fossae region of Mars are made up of hydrothermally alteredultramafic rocks. Consequently, hydrothermal activity would have provided sufficient energy for biological activity. Evidence of living organisms could have been preserved.[9]
Nili Fossae trough is thought to have resulted from the impact that formed the nearby Isidis basin.[10][11]
Nili Fossae was on the list of potential landing sites of theMars Science Laboratory, arriving in 2012, but was dropped before the final four sites were determined.[citation needed] Although not among the last finalists, in September 2015 it was selected as a potential landing site for theMars 2020 rover, which will use the same design asCuriosity, but with a different payload focused on astrobiology. Nili Fossae is also considered ideal for future human exploration, with the prominent Gavin Crater at 21.43°N, 76.93°E considered the most likely landing zone in Nili Fossae.
Nili Fossae Trough was one of seven finalists for the MSL landing site:[12]
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