HiRis Simulation for sol 1041 with Tesheiner's Map

It is amazing that Spirit has now found blueberries in Gusev,very similar to the ones covering most of Meridiani on the other side of the planet.The haematite rich berries in Gusev most likely to have formed(I presume) from volcanic activity .Would this make scientists rethink the source of the haematite in Meridiani.Is the haematite water related or volcanic in origin?It seems that with the new opportunity findings of bigger sized blueberries around Victoria are making scientists having second thoughts as to the role of subsurface or surface or if any water playing a role in the formation of haematite??Would you agree that haematite in gusev is more likely to be volcanic in origin or is it a clue to the watery past of Gusev basin?

From sol25, in a wheel-dug trench, so no brushing. http://marsrovers.nasa.gov/gallery/all/opportunity_m025.html

Here is the 360 degree panoramic view taken by Spirit

with the L0 Navcam on Sol 1041.

jvandriel

Here's a Sol 1041 polar derived from Tesheiner's version of the panorama.

Phil

Can someone point out Esperanza, our next target, on one of the maps/pictures? Thanks

It's probably this one (in front):

http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/mro/gallery/press...notated_br2.jpg

Phil

I hadn't noticed before, but the new HiRISE image makes the Faget-Korolev area look like a second Home Plate, half buried under the flanks of McCool Hill. If Home Plate is the site of an explosive eruption (magma encountering ground ice as it nears the surface, as seems to be the picture now), there might have been several places where this happened. Maybe Goddard (just south of this image) is another smaller vent... have we stumbled on a field of small volcanoes? That would be quite a finding in itself for Spirit (the interpretation relies on Spirit data, not HiRISE).

Phil

Yes I do think Goddard are another feature of the same kind, and in images from MGS there seems to be yet another fourth one also - I have to give a good look of new hirise imagery for this area.

But the idea that ground ice have been found here at one point would not suprise me the slightest, theres some parts in the area that look eerily similar to places I know of on Earth which have been grinded by not only one but several ice ages.

As for Julius question, there are already one alternative theory for the creation of the hematite in Meridiani also. Personally I dont think it will stand up expecially well, blueberries found there originates in the bedrock which have a wet origin. (Even though many have eroded out of same bedrock)

Its good to have many competing theories though, for some it is confusing but personally I start to worry when someone claim it have to be this way or that. Its better when you have the question 'Are we looking at this in the right way.'
We know Gusev have been wet at one point, images from orbit show that, the area have later been pelted by volcanic rocks from eruptions that happened quite some distance away and covered most but not all - we might have seen a few samples of the rocks from the 'wet' period and one or two of those were really odd.

"Mini homeplate" just south of Eldorado. We passed by fairly close to it on our drive but I believe it was hidden behind a ridge.

Yes I remember it was discussed back then and if we could see it or not at the time.
Having looked at the medium resolution image (the 1.2 GB are out of question for me sadly)
The one east of Homeplate got one arrow, then I feel somewhat less certain but still havnt ruled out the southern one might be another here its pointed out with one arrow though.

I added one arrow with a question mark for yet another feature even further to the southeast that very well just can be one imposter 'Homeplate look-alike'.

I wasn't aware of that press release. I was looking to the pancams and navcams searching for any imaging sequence which include Esperanza but with no luck.

BTW, sol 1051 was driving day and it looks Spirit is finally there. Esperanza within the IDD work volume.
http://nasa.exploratorium.edu/mars/spirit/...AFP1214R0M1.JPG

Winter's vestiges :



This is the place of the work volume of Spirit during the winter.

Perhaps this King George rock was blasted here by an impactor from elsewhere on the planet? (I believe that is what Bounce Rock is).

If not. If King George formed where Spirit found it, then it still could have a watery origin. Don’t forget, the main reason Spirit is here is because Gusev is believe to have contained a lake at one time.

Side note: Up close, the Spirit Blueberries do resemble the Opportunity Blueberries. They have that same nice sheen to them.