Unusual Looking Martian Rock

NONE | 1-9-04 | Orion78

[Orion78]

The original image from NASA is HERE

Location of Rock in Question

Close Up

[Joe Hadenuf]

Good observation!

[Joe Hadenuf]

Image isn't posting. Could you try that again. Or is it my system?

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

Hows that ?

[Joe Hadenuf]

No, nothing.

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

Oh well it shows up here try refreshing the page ! here the link maybe you can put it in your browser and pick it up !

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-1/86899/newguy2.jpg

[RightWhale]

Regolith is dirt. That is, pulverized rock as found on the surface of alien worlds. Or, dirt is a kind of regolith. Soil is regolith mixed with organics.

[tet68]

Nope, access denied, poster has exceeded bandwidth.

Saaaaaayy, you don't think that's the message they're getting from MARS do you?

[RightWhale]

There are bandwidth problems on certain Mars related sites, servers are jammed. Seems like people are very interested in this: even if NASA is doing next to nothing to get the word out, others are. Some are putting out opinion as proprietary info, which is a little presumptuous on their part unless they have an inside track to the upcoming multi-billion dollar contracts. Yes, the ugly battle for contracts is already underway.

[Miss Marple]

From Encyclopedia.com:

"Most geodes are partly filled with mineral matter; they have a thin layer of chalcedony ( “wavy” quartz) covering an inner lining of inward-projecting crystals. These spectacular crystals, generally quartz or, less often, calcite, make geodes highly prized by collectors. Geodes are formed in a cavity such as might be found inside a fossil shell buried in sediment. At the beginning, this cavity is probably filled with a concentrated salt solution. The first step in the creation of a geode is the formation along the inner cavity wall of a layer of gelatinous silica, which will eventually be transformed into the chalcedony layer. As the water surrounding the layer becomes less salty, osmosis induces migration of fluids into the cavity. This results in a buildup of pressure, causing the cavity to expand until the water inside and outside is equally salty. When the silica gel dehydrates, crystallizes to form chalcedony, and cracks, mineral-bearing water enters to slowly deposit the inward-projecting crystals. "

If it's a ggeode, then we have evidence of water. I am not certain that is what it is, though.

[Joe Hadenuf]

There are bandwidth problems on certain Mars related sites, servers are jammed. Seems like people are very interested in this: even if NASA is doing next to nothing to get the word out, others are

I've had similar experiences lately.

[LPM1888]

The "rock" with the square "hole" reminds me of petrified wood! We had a lot of petrified wood in my backyard when I was a kid. The square "hole" is either a hole or a discoloration. It's definitely not a shadow.

[edwin hubble]

"My guess is there are very few of us Freepers who even know who the heck quidam is/was.....I am just sorry I couldn't come up with some cryptic message, such as"
Yes... here's another attempt at Quidam:


JPL has only appearance of control
men in grey suits direct the Spirit
from 15 light-minutes across the void

[FireTrack]

Looks like a skull to me! Not sure what the other objects could be. Very interesting site. I think Spirit is going too be to busy...

Looks like a skull to me! Not sure what the other objects could be. Very interesting site. I think Spirit is going too be to busy...

Looks like a skull to me! Not sure what the other objects could be. Very interesting site. I think Spirit is going too be to busy...

[Orion78]

I have only been interested in geology for about the last 5 years and everything that I know about it has been from reading on the web and from my father, who has been a rock hound for probably over 30 years. It is very easy to spot fossil shells and that is probably the kind of fossil I found most and have the most of sitting in various spots in my house.

Fossilized bones were always harder to spot, but the ones I have found usually have a distinctive texture to the rock and once I learned to recognize it, they were way easier to find. There were lots of fossilized whale bones where I used to live and the texture of them is very similar to what I am seeing on the rock on Mars. The main differences that I can see are that the rock on Mars has a square or rectangle shaped discoloration/hole and every fossilized bone I have ever found has a round discoloration/hole in the center. The other difference is the discoloration/hole is almost always in the center of the rock, and the one on Mars appears to be off to the side.

However, like another poster pointed out, who knows what a Martian fossil would look like and who is to say they would be anything like the fossils here on Earth.

Thanks for your input. IMHO, the more geologists we have posting on this thread, the better it's content will be. Please check back in later because I expect a few more pictures in the coming days and also some from different angles once the rover moves to its first target "Andirondack". I would appreciate any comments you might have to add.

Orion78

[irish guard]

Yes, I am sure the grey suits know who planted the mysterious rocks

the turtle will make sure they are brought to justice

he may be slow, but he will succeed

look for her fingerprints on the rocks

she will be caught

quidam

[Orion78]

Thank you.

You have been added to the ping list for this thread. If you wish to be removed at any time just Freepmail or post "REMOVE".

[Miss Marple]

I am so grateful that you are taking the time to post these photos with enlargements.

I find this fascinating, both from a geologic and a space perspective. I am interested in the differences in erosion in the Mars environment, as well as what the rock record can tell us.

For example, how does wind erosion work in an environment that has 1/3 the gravity of Earth?

[Orion78]

Yes, color pictures would be very nice, especially since the newest pictures of this rock show that it isn't a trick of the light and shadows.

I am looking over the picture you linked and I'm not sure I see what it is your are trying to point out. It is a shame you can't post pictures with arrows pointing to what you are looking at, it would make things so much easier.

Also, I am just curious, how is it that you figure they could be metal from looking at black and white photos?

P.S. The big pyramid shaped rock in the picture you linked is a close up of "Andirondack" which, from what I read, is to be the first target for the Spirit and the "RAT" or Rock Abrasion Tool.

[Miss Marple]

Oh, and please put me on your ping list for this thread!! Thanks!

[Orion78]

No. The pictures I posted in the last update were taken from the current location of Spirit, which I believe is 10 feet in front of the lander. NASA has not moved the rover since they drove it off the lander pad. The next target for Spirit is to be the rock "Andirondack". Please see the Update in POST #326 for more details.