Post Conjunction: Santa Maria to Cape York, The Journey to 'Spirit Point' |
Post Conjunction: Santa Maria to Cape York, The Journey to 'Spirit Point' |
May 30 2011, 07:20 PM
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#481
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Senior Member Group: Moderator Posts: 2262 Joined: 9-February 04 From: Melbourne - Oz Member No.: 16 |
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Guest_Sunspot_* |
May 30 2011, 07:44 PM
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#482
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Guests |
What would these crystals look like if they were still in place in the rock?
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May 30 2011, 07:46 PM
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#483
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Senior Member Group: Moderator Posts: 2262 Joined: 9-February 04 From: Melbourne - Oz Member No.: 16 |
Oh, very funny, chopping the tops of the hills off like that when we're all panting to make new colour pics of them... I believe that is what is referred to on 'teh internets' as FAIL! Anyway, it's still worth stitching: -------------------- |
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May 30 2011, 08:19 PM
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#484
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The Poet Dude Group: Moderator Posts: 5551 Joined: 15-March 04 From: Kendal, Cumbria, UK Member No.: 60 |
3D view of Valdivia's funky textured ( © E Lakdawalla 2011 ) surface...
http://twitpic.com/54r38v/full -------------------- |
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May 30 2011, 08:45 PM
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#485
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2173 Joined: 28-December 04 From: Florida, USA Member No.: 132 |
What would these crystals look like if they were still in place in the rock? I have no idea if the missing crystals were gypsum, but these crystals with matrix removed do look like they would fit nicely into the Meridiani specimen of matrix with crystals removed. Gypsum, without associated rock matrix. Size: 5 1/4" wide, 3 3/4" high, 3" thick. http://www.minresco.com/special/spec3.htm |
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Guest_Sunspot_* |
May 30 2011, 08:50 PM
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#486
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Guests |
mmm interesting.
I thought they might have looked sparkly and gem like |
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May 30 2011, 09:40 PM
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#487
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2173 Joined: 28-December 04 From: Florida, USA Member No.: 132 |
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May 30 2011, 10:07 PM
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#488
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 3516 Joined: 4-November 05 From: North Wales Member No.: 542 |
That's very good centsworth. I don't know if it pins down the mineral because I don't know if there are other minerals that do similar things in sandy environments with who-knows-what chemistry, but I think you've highlighted a very plausible general explanation.
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May 30 2011, 10:17 PM
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#489
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The Poet Dude Group: Moderator Posts: 5551 Joined: 15-March 04 From: Kendal, Cumbria, UK Member No.: 60 |
Can I just say how much I love this place? A picture gets posted, people look at it, suggest explanations and theories, hunt down pics of their own, post them, the discussion moves on...
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May 30 2011, 10:33 PM
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#490
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2173 Joined: 28-December 04 From: Florida, USA Member No.: 132 |
An alternative hypothesis:
MERIDIANI PLANUM VUGS AS A CONSEQUENCE OF ICE CRYSTAL FORMATION FOLLOWED BY THAW AND DESICCATION |
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May 31 2011, 06:04 AM
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#491
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2228 Joined: 1-December 04 From: Marble Falls, Texas, USA Member No.: 116 |
Every time I see these vugs I am struck by how similar they appear compared to the ice crystals in mud I often saw in the winter in the midwest. From what I have read, sulphate crystals seem to be the top contender for the formation of these vugs, though. By the way, there is a free electronic book about fossil ice crystals that contains some photos and sketches that look very much like the vug patterns in these rocks.
I can't help but wonder how the team targeted this outcrop. There is no way they could have seen the vugs from any distance, but it seems that they knew exactly what they were going for before Opportunity got there. When we first saw these vugs I was hoping that the MIs would show them filled with some hydrated sulfate mineral. That would have been an interesting way to discover the polyhydrated sulfates that are supposed to appear as we approach Endeavour. -------------------- ...Tom
I'm not a Space Fan, I'm a Space Exploration Enthusiast. |
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May 31 2011, 02:45 PM
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#492
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Senior Member Group: Admin Posts: 4763 Joined: 15-March 05 From: Glendale, AZ Member No.: 197 |
-------------------- If Occam had heard my theory, things would be very different now.
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May 31 2011, 03:29 PM
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#493
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Founder Group: Chairman Posts: 14431 Joined: 8-February 04 Member No.: 1 |
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May 31 2011, 06:59 PM
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#494
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 4246 Joined: 17-January 05 Member No.: 152 |
I'm guessing this means that all (or most) of the outcrops around here have similar vugs. I don't think they somehow honed in on the only one that had vugs.
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May 31 2011, 07:45 PM
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#495
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Senior Member Group: Moderator Posts: 2262 Joined: 9-February 04 From: Melbourne - Oz Member No.: 16 |
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