There are too many unanswered questions about Mars to count, and the progress of discovery is sometimes disappointing. Patience may be a virtue, but impatience can sometimes be more productive!

Some of the questions I've assembled are here:

Some questions about Mars....

Why is there so much iron on the surface?

What is the source of the dust?

Is there sand on the surface? What is its source?

What is the explanation for differential erosion on Mars?

How does erosion and deposition take place on Mars? Compare and contrast erosional and depositional processes on Mars with similar processes on other planets and moons.

What processes are presently causing dark streaks and channeling?

What sort of contaminants does water on Mars contain?

What is the freezing temperature of water on Mars?

Are there or have there been reservoirs of liquid CO2 on or under the surface of Mars?

Are there or have there been reservoirs of liquid H2O on or under the surface of Mars?

How does water actually behave at various places on the surface of Mars? How does water behave underground on Mars?

What processes cause craters and circular formations on Mars? What is the impact cratering rate on Mars?

Does ice participate in the creation and erosion of landscapes and formations on Mars? How? To what extent? Where?

What material(s) constitutes the whitish deposits found in many places?

What material(s) constitutes the dark deposits found in many places?

What are the ages of Martian surfaces?

What causes the pervasive pitting in Martian rocks?

What causes the apparent geysering on south polar surfaces?

What causes the "polar spot" phenomena?

Are there surface hot spots? Is volcanism active on Mars today?

How were the Valles Marineris formed?

What processes contributed to the Tharsis formation?

Are former polar terrains found equatorially? If so, how did they get there?

What is the surface temperature history of Mars?

What processes contributed to the formation of the Hellas Basin?

To what extent do oxides, peroxides and superoxides exist on the surface of Mars?

Are there organic compounds on the surface of Mars?

What is the actual ultraviolet flux at the surface of Mars?

Is there or has there ever been life on Mars?

Many, many more!

If anyone can point me to discussions or papers which may have already dealt with these questions, I'd be much obliged!

Cheers, B R Felix