Discoveries

The surprise was that the carbonates are in the dust, not in surface rocks, as many scientists had predicted.

Martian volcanic minerals vary from basaltic to glassy dacite. Subtle variations in volcanic composition occur across the planet, with dacite and andesite flows in isolated areas.

Finding this iron-oxide mineral led NASA to send the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity to Meridiani, a remarkable place with a water-rich history.

Fields of giant boulders threatened to destroy the Phoenix Mars lander on touchdown until THEMIS found landing sites that were relatively boulder-free.

THEMIS results show winds have scoured many areas of Martian bedrock clear of sedimentary debris.

THEMIS infrared images indicate most of the planet is producing rocks about as fast as erosion is destroying or burying them.