Objectives: We could not go to Candor Chasma yesterday because of bad weather so we planned to try again today. We wanted to find different geological evidence to better understand this complicated area. We were also expecting to find nice cliffs to test the CRV (Cliff Reconnaissance Vehicle) so that the afternoon EVA team can go there also and try the CRV.

Summary of Findings: Finally today I, Cecile and Christyne went to Candor Chasma. We started the EVA in the morning and so the weather was very sunny. The landscape was of course beautiful, with cliffs and canyons, but was also interesting for the different geological artifacts that we saw. In particular some chert pieces of different colours: red, black and opaline-white lie scattered on the ground. We also found a few pieces of black lava. Then we tried to find the "source" of the lava and chert strata, but we couldn't find any evidence of volcanic or silica mineral strata in the surrounding area. We suppose that streams (maybe ephemeral ones) transported volcanic debris from a remote area. We also noticed a thick stratum on the top of the canyon with an erosive structure (could be a dewatering structure) and we found a piece of flute cast but not "in situ", just lying on the ground.

A large specimen of lava

White erosive structure

On our way back we saw a little "sabka", that means an area with a thin saline crust. We also noticed a lot of glinting in the mud fields, so we stopped to investigate. We took some samples and discovered it was gypsum (selenite).