Data from the Phobos 2 Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (ISM), compiled by Mustard et al. [1993>, and other observations support the existence of komatiitic lavas on Mars. Mustard et al. [1993> determined from ISM data that the composition of the low-albedo materials covering the Syrtis Major plateau originally consisted of augite-bearing basalt containing both augite and pigeonite, with no appreciable amount of olivine. This description is consistent with a komatiitic basalt. Komatiite is significant for the Earth because it contains a high amount of MgO, implying generation under unique circumstances compared to more typical basaltic compositions and may be similarly important for Mars. ¿ American Geophysical Union 1994