studying mars in your own back yard

Arizona State University planetary geologist Ron Greeley, Ph.D., has found one thing in common between Snake River Plain, Mars, Earth’s moon, Mercury, Venus, and Io (moon of Jupiter), He calls it “Plains Style Volcanism” which means the geology make up of the area is characterized by low shield volcanoes with broad, gentle slopes built by the eruption of basalt lava. He is using the Snake River Plain to find similarities between Mars and Earth.