Image Credit: NASA/JPL/ASU

Context image credit: NASA/JPL/MOLA
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Aureum Chaos is a large crater that was filled with sediment after its formation. After the infilling of sediment, some- thing occurred that caused the sediment to be broken up into large, slumped blockes and smaller knobs. Currently, it is believed that the blocks and knobs form when material is removed from the subsurface, creating void space. Subsurface ice was problably heated, and the water burst out to the surface, maybe forming a temporary lake. Other areas of chaos terrain have large outflow channels that emanate from them, indicating that a tremendous amount of water was released.