As a planetary geologist with a focus on Mars, I can tell you that the Red Planet gets its distinctive color from a type of iron oxide known as hematite. This iron oxide is abundant in the Martian soil and gives it a reddish appearance. The iron in the soil can be weathered by the Martian atmosphere, which is thin and contains a lot of dust, leading to the formation of this iron oxide. Additionally, the frequent dust storms on Mars can suspend iron-rich dust particles in the air, further contributing to the planet's red hue.

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The red colour we see in images of Mars is the result of iron rusting. Rocks and soil on the surface of Mars contained a dust composed mostly of iron and small amounts of other elements such as chlorine and sulhpur. The rocks and soil were eroded by wind and the dust was blown across the surface by ancient volcanoes.read more >>