What makes regions of Mars dark?

Subject: What makes regions of Mars dark?

Date: Sat Jul 28 15:49:42 2001
Posted by Matthew Gillespie
Grade level: undergrad School: No school entered.
City: El Paso State/Province: Texas Country: US
Area of science: Astronomy
ID: 996349782.As

Message:


There are a couple of regions on Mars that I have noticed are always darker 
than their surrounding, these regions are, in particular, Syrtis Major, and 
Isidis Planitia.
I know that these areas can seem to change color due to dust storms through 
telescopic observation, but the actual surface material here has a much darker 
color than most other areas on Mars, excepting the southern hemisphere.
What makes these regions darker than the rest?  Has it anything to do with 
water content, or hydrogen and oxygen content in the stones?
-Matt

Re: What makes regions of Mars dark?

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