MARS OUTCROP SOURCE OF TINY SPHERES

JPL ^ | sol 13, opportunity, mars | JPL

[doodad]

It would be hard to argue that these mini-craters are not related to the spheres

No doubt you are correct. I have seen many examples of this here on Earth where resistant crystals or minerals or stones (like a conglomerate) can easily be plucked from the matrix.

[FireTrack]

The more I look at this, the more I'm leaning toward the idea that they are growing in place and are not eroding from the rock. Almost all appear in areas where there is at least some soil if only a tiny amount.

Another thing is the even dispersal seems to indicate some type of competition is either going on if they are actually growing in place or they were somehow deposited here by some other means or event.

One last thing that is strange to me is how they manage to adhere to the slope above. Some don't appear to be very well embedded into the soil and should have rolled down and collected in groups.

[FireTrack]

One last thing though minor, is that I don't see any tracks where some spheres may have rolled down. Given any tracks would have been obliterated very soon after a sphere had rolled down there still should be some indications of this.

[quantim]

"do not believe the formation of the spheres and the layering are contemporaneous."

I absolutely agree, it seemed so obvious I failed to mention it.  I am mesmerized by these sorts of things.  Although this photo and thread are topical to these spheres (short of a couple of wisecracks from me and others) the real news is in the stratification of the larger rocks.  The spheres are secondary to the big story.  I'd bet the real scientists are measuring the layers of strata with all kinds computers and graphical measuring software, and we haven't been treated to the digitally enhanced color versions yet as they are still being processed.  The reason the stratification is so important is that it says without equivocation that Mars, at one time was a living planet, whether organic or not.

[steve86]

When he's cutting something with a torch or welding, thousands of little metallic "spheres" result.

Soldering frequently creates spheres, too. Amazing how they can cool en-route to landing on the floor.

Interesting history in your back yard.

[FireTrack]

"Any chance this could be a lifeform? Silica based even?"

Dare I say some appear to by dying in some images?

[doodad]

the real news is in the stratification of the larger rocks

Well, maybe. There are many reasons that rocks have layers. Find the thread from yesterday where I gave several examples of metamorphic foliation or google phyllite. From a geologists viewpoint, the spheres are, quite frankly, mind-boggling! I keep harping because I really can't convey to all of you how truly rare it is to see an example. This will in all probability create a new term in geology once it is properly studied. And, once again, I stand in awe of creation no matter how it happened.

[doodad]

They should call them Barsooms; I think I will email NASA with my vote.

[FireTrack]

They should call them Barsooms; I think I will email NASA with my vote.

The hell with NASA, if they can name something then so can we!

Barsooms it is, they should've said something already.

Hehehe...

[FireTrack]

LOL, Doodads works for me as well!

[Bernard Marx]

They should call them Barsooms

If they're truly something new I agree. It's been a long time since I read Burroughs. They could also be called Percivals or Lowells but only if they formed in flowing water.

[quantim]

you reason a sedimentary answer to these.

Ponder the highest mountains on Earth, say Everest, dwarf the highest volcanoes.  And on the summit of Everest is (was) a sea floor.  Geology needs a whole lotta' time to make it interesting.  However, what is particularly poignant is that none of these spheres or mini-craters are crushed it appears, unless of course, Mars died overnight.  

Hitherto fore, it shall be understood that there is no discourse in the actual formation of these spheres as they originated in the "doodadasphere."

[John H K]

Well, this is the first area of Mars that any lander or rover has seen that, if it was on Earth, a geologist would find interesting. Scattered basalt rocks? Bah...

But geology professors would take field trips to go see this outcrop if it was on earth.

[FireTrack]

Now that we can land there; we should get a fleet(5 to 6) of those rovers there!

With thermo-isotopic electrical generators and lights so they could explore 24/7.

[VRWC_minion]

Yep, maybe they are growing (which doesn't mean biologically) in the soil.

Even if they were they would still be gathered more in one place than another. These seem to be so evenly spread that they either were made very recently of the wind and gravity pretty much have no effect on them.

[Merdoug]

If one looks at the large picture, look at the right lower of that large out-crop of rock. Isn't there a sphere sitting on a corner edge of it? How in the Mar's-world could a "free-moving" sphere stay sitting on an edge like that, given wind gusts, etc? It must be either "attached" to the out-cropping or sticking to it somehow.

[FireTrack]

They indeed seem to be evenly spread. Competition for a scarce resource comes to mind. Mind boggling!

[djf]

It is sticking out from it. You can see the rounded shadow below. I count about 9 spheres at various points of exposure being eroded from the rock. I think that plainly indicates this is sedimentary strata of some type.