[meteorite-list] What are those blueberries on Mars?

From: (wrong string) ørn Sørheim <bsoerhei_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:31:22 2004
Message-ID: <200402132217.XAA15893_at_mail48-s.fg.online.no>

Mark,
It certainly is the science team at JPL's idea that
the 'round guys' are embedded in the outcrop.
For instance Dr. Squyres were talking about wheter they could
see the layers curving above or below the balls, or wheter it is
possible to see if the balls have made a small dent in the layering
when they, possibly, fell down from above.
Also the closeup pictures suggest the balls are firmly embedded
in there.
The big question is how did they all get so perfectly round, and
what kind of geologic process would produce such a weird 'bedrock'.

Regards,
Bjørn Sørheim
   

At 15:40 13.02.04 -0500, you wrote:
>> Hello List,
>> I guess you all have seen those pictures coming from Mars at the
>> the Meridiani Planum/Opportunity site.
>>
>> Embedded in, and eroding out of the bedrock in the sidewall of the
>> 20 m crater where Opportunity is located, are those <5mm perfect
>> spherical stones.
>
>> Regards,
>> Bjørn Sørheim
>>
>
>Curious stuff, and this was my initial reaction, too. But, on closer
>examination, I remain unconvinced these spherules are actually
>weathering out of the exposed bedrock. It looks to me as though they're
>everywhere, including on and in the "soil" above the outcrop. Assuming
>these things gradually migrate downslope, I don't suppose it is
>impossible for some of them to lodge in the cracks and bedding planes of
>the exposed rock.
>
>Stay tuned ...
>
>Mark
Received on Fri 13 Feb 2004 05:17:25 PM PST