[05/03/07

NASA's Mars Rover Finds Evidence of Ancient Volcanic Explosion

NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit has discovered evidence of an ancient volcanic explosion at "Home Plate," a plateau of layered bedrock approximately 2 meters (6 feet) high within the "Inner Basin" of Columbia Hills, at the rover's landing site in Gusev Crater. This is the first explosive volcanic deposit identified with a high degree of confidence by Spirit or its twin, Opportunity. ]

[Evidence shows the area near Home Plate is dominated by basaltic rocks. "When basalt erupts, it often does so as very fluid lava, rather than erupting explosively," Squyres said. "One way for basaltic lava to cause an explosion is for it to come into contact with water - it's the pressure from the steam that causes it to go boom." ]

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mer/mer-20070503.html

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Keep in mind that Elisium Mons is about 1900 miles away, to the north (maybe underground it was much closer?!).