Thanks Bjorn. I missed Dr. Squyres comments. Certain terrestrial limestones are oolitic, but it sounds as though JPL is looking for evidence of so-called "dropstones."
I wonder where the spheroids evident in the soil ABOVE the outcrop came from. Perhaps younger sedimentary layers have already weathered away. Very interesting stuff. Mark > 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, > Bj�rn S�rheim > > > 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, > >> Bj�rn S�rheim > >> > > > >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 > > > ______________________________________________ > Meteorite-list mailing list > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list > -- CoreComm Webmail. http://home.core.com ______________________________________________ Meteorite-list mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
