Meridiani Ice theory, New theory for the formation of the Meridiani bedrock |
Meridiani Ice theory, New theory for the formation of the Meridiani bedrock |
Feb 17 2009, 12:48 PM
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#1
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Member Group: Members Posts: 276 Joined: 11-December 07 From: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Member No.: 3978 |
Hi all, long time no see.
Yet another theory to explain the origin for the bedrock encountered by Opportunity. I first heard of this new theory from Universe Today; http://www.universetoday.com/2009/02/16/ne...t-mars-equator/ An abstract is available at http://www.nature.com/ngeo/journal/vaop/nc...bs/ngeo438.html The theory is interesting, but I would really be interested to know how it explains the spherules seen by Opportunity not to mention the vugs. Thoughts any one? -------------------- |
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Feb 17 2009, 04:36 PM
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#2
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Newbie Group: Members Posts: 15 Joined: 28-November 08 From: Germany Member No.: 4498 |
Regarding the vugs, the article says they originate
"presumably from recrystallization and dissolution processes that occurred during diagenesis". The implication seems to be that the sediments only were altered by water some time after their deposition in the Late Noachian or Early Hesperian. Concerning the spherules it is stated that "The thermal infrared spectrum of each of these areas [Meridiani Terra] shows an alignment of the haematite c axis, which is rare in terrestrial rocks and is probably caused by spherule growth." Is this alignment anyhow related to a specific formation mechanism for the spherules? |
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Feb 17 2009, 04:45 PM
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#3
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2173 Joined: 28-December 04 From: Florida, USA Member No.: 132 |
Concerning the spherules it is stated that "The thermal infrared spectrum of each of these areas [Meridiani Terra] shows an alignment of the haematite c axis, which is rare in terrestrial rocks and is probably caused by spherule growth." This looks to me like a description of how the spherules affect IR spectra of the area taken from orbit and not a description of how they were formed. |
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