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Bruce Murray Space Image Library

Martian Crater Rich in Opal

Martian Crater Rich in Opal
Martian Crater Rich in Opal The CRISM imaging spectrometer on board the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter identified the minerals present in this crater south of Baldet Crater. Among them: a form of hydrated silica better known as the gemstone opal. The colors of the landscape don't appear as they would to the human eye, because instead of the usual red, green, and blue components of photographs, this image comes from infrared, red, and blue/green sensors. NASA/JPL/University of Arizona