East side of Cape York, Sol 3040 - 3056 Options

[Bill Harris]

...how we could differentiate between ballistically emplaced Endeavour impact ejecta... and uplift rim, which would be the Miyamoto ejecta field materiel.

...if we can identify clays did they develop within the rim or were they formed in the pre Endeavour impact environment?

Precisely the quandry here, Serpens. This area has a complex and long history running from the Noachian to the present. Starting out as extrusive basalts (and possibly intrusive gabbros) the surface has been modified by impact and other erosive processes, chemically and physically weathered, transported by fluvial and aeolian processes and the resulting mix has been subjected to secondary lithogenesis. Endeavout Crater is a recent event in a long line of continuing processes. Without a decent geologic cross-section here we need to be very clever and make good assumptions. I think that the James Wray paper noted by centsworthII a couple of posts up is a good beginning.

I'm glad to see taht Oppy is taking a look at these shiny features, outcrops, beds, lithologies and lineations that we've been drooling over since we left the Whim feature. The very name "Half Fin" (P2402) is intriguing...

--Bill

[walfy]

A hazcam shot from sol 3051. Besides the wonderful shadow, it looks like the right-front wheel was used to plow up the soil.



Edit: just noticed that it plowed through a vein, kicking up some of the bright rocks.

[RoverDriver]

I don't think it was intentional. This happens because the RF steer actuator is locked and when we do a turn in place clockwise the RF wheel plows the soil with the outside wall. When we turn counterclockwise the RF wheel scoops soil in the wheel well. We used to limit turn in place turns because of that, apparently they don't anymore.

Paolo

[ElkGroveDan]

These are the droids you've been looking for.

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