Spheres coming from bedrock?

If we read between lines then, it would seem that the MER project
scientists are leaning towards a palagonitized, volcaniclastic
(re-sedimented tuff/ash) origin for the bedrock, and a subsequent
diagenetic/hydrothermal alteration origin for the sulfur anomaly and
hematite-rich spherules.

... lands (bunny comes to investigate); 10) speculation ensues.


Could someone please explain or speculate for me about why the soil
structure looks so "tubular" - indeed almost segmented by miniscule
spherules - and these "tubes" have shapes of straight, curved,
self-crossing and what even appears to be "spiral" in some instances?
Perhaps that's typical of many soil structures, or it's especially so
for sulfur-rich ones, or ? Just a curious lurker here, tia..

Spirit
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/galle...0P2953M2M1.JPG
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/galle...0P2953M2M1.JPG

Opportunity:
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/galle...0P2953M2M1.JPG
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/galle...0P2953M2M1.JPG

Some Sol 28 spheres evidently from the "El Capitan" location--pretty
interesting:

http://www.copperas.com/astro/capsphere1.jpg
http://www.copperas.com/astro/capsphere2.jpg

Full image:
http://tinyurl.com/2mbdc

Joe

Weird erosion pattern, no?

Spherule on a stick:

http://www.copperas.com/astro/stalk.jpg

Joe

"Joe Knapp" wrote in message
.com...
Weird erosion pattern, no?

Spherule on a stick:

http://www.copperas.com/astro/stalk.jpg

Joe


Don't post too many of those. The kooks will come along and suggest that it
is their long lost grandpa who was buried on Mars by little green aliens,
and has finally been found! Oops. I guess I just let the cat out of the
hat.

Joe Knapp wrote:

Weird erosion pattern, no?

Spherule on a stick:

http://www.copperas.com/astro/stalk.jpg

Isn't that to be expected if the spherical object is harder than
the matrix it's embedded in?

Any explanation for the differences between these two pics?

http://home.comcast.net/~johang/ChangeBetweenDays.gif


The top image is from Sol 30
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/galle...4P2949M1M1.JPG

The bottom image is from Sol 31 and at a differnt time of the day.
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/galle...4P2953M2M1.JPG

The most obvious difference is at the edge of the sphere, between 7
and 8 o'clock, but there are also several other apparent movements.

Different light or electrostatic or wind or the rover nudged it or ?
Thanks for anything, just curious.

Stumped in Seattle

-j

"Johan" wrote in message
om...
Any explanation for the differences between these two pics?

http://home.comcast.net/~johang/ChangeBetweenDays.gif


The top image is from Sol 30

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/galle...4P2949M1M1.JPG

The bottom image is from Sol 31 and at a differnt time of the day.

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/galle...4P2953M2M1.JPG

The most obvious difference is at the edge of the sphere, between 7
and 8 o'clock, but there are also several other apparent movements.

Different light or electrostatic or wind or the rover nudged it or ?
Thanks for anything, just curious.

Stumped in Seattle

-j

Difference in lighting, that's all it is.

"Icarus" wrote in message
...
Joe Knapp wrote:

Weird erosion pattern, no?

Spherule on a stick:

http://www.copperas.com/astro/stalk.jpg

Isn't that to be expected if the spherical object is harder than
the matrix it's embedded in?


Yes. In fact, I'd be very surprised if we didn't see this at all.