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from http://ida.wr.usgs.gov/html/m23019/m2301973.html

But it is an example of the sort of commonplace phenomena we see all over Cerberus: black material (or rather dark material) coming out of craters or trenches throughout the region.

It looks like there is a very dark and friable layer not too far below the present surface. When it is breached, whether by cratering or faulting (assuming that's what's caused the trenches) this material is exposed to the winds and is apparently easily blown about. There is some resemblance to the polar geysering, but it's hard to argue the same mechanisms are involved. It is possible, I suppose, that there is a layer of dark sand beneath the present surface of Cerberus, but how could it maintain its "sandiness" for any length of time?

There are many signs of fluid flow on the surface of Cerberus, as well as some areas of extremely thick light colored dust deposits.

It's hard to say what the fluid was or when it flowed.

Could it have had something to do with the creation of the darker subsurface layer?

I think it is still worth asking what caused the enormous deposits of what is essentially a flour-textured dust -- deposits which appear to be very thick (up to a kilometer and more) and very flat.

It's a wonderful puzzlement!

Cheers, BFelix