Rob and List,
I did notice the whole team was getting much better at rejecting the pillow lavas at increasing distance as time progressed. The light absorbing nature of lava can help but I cautioned the group not to wholesale reject non-reflecting black rocks because a brand new crust can be dull in appearance; I handed example end cuts of reflecting (wind polished?) and non-reflecting crust to each member and encouraged them at first to stop often and look at them, even place them on the ground to gauge contrast. Eventually they handed them back saying they no longer needed them (I never got that comfortable, I still keep mine handy). We found we were getting some false returns (just until getting real close) from lava with elongated, yet thin vescicles as they reflect light differently; almost a shine.
It was rather interesting searching Roach as the locals apparently use it as a speed track. To that end, it seems they sweep the track for rocks like the Navy used to sweep for FOD (Foreign Objects of Destruction) on the flight decks. So we adapted to searching for thier sweep piles to examine them for possibles . . . no luck of course but it was fun trying (100 mph in a Cavalier wagon with an X-Cargo on top!) . . . we stopped traffic on I-15. :-) . . . j/k
Thanks for the good words Rob; you guys set the standard out here and reading of your searches and Bob's were a good part of my inspiration for attempting it. Thanks!
Mark Jackson
Chaosity Meteoritics
Do you Yahoo!?
New Yahoo! Photos - easier uploading and sharing
