THE ZONE OF INTERACTION BETWEEN WATER OR ICE AND LAVA HAS BEEN PROPOSED AS A POTENTIAL HABITAT FOR MICROBES ON MARS THEREFORE THE ABILITY TO DETECT REGIONS OF PAST WATER OR ICE-LAVA INTERACTION ON MARS WILL HELP FUTURE MISSIONS TARGET SPECIFIC AREAS WHERE SIGNS OF LIFE MAY BE FOUND. THESE INTERACTIONS ARE PRESERVED IN THE ROCK RECORD BECAUSE LAVA THAT INTERACTS WITH WATER OR ICE EVEN BRIEFLY WILL QUENCH OR FREEZE RAPIDLY PREVENTING FURTHER CRYSTALLIZATION FROM OCCURRING AT THAT MARGIN.