Isn't the meniscus effect due to a liquid being in a container?

I would imagine there is either some moisture involved (not likely) or some sort of magnetic/electrostatic mechanism here. Perhaps due to the fineness of the powder. Or being mixed about perhaps.

Unless of of course the 'container' refers to my nose, in which case you shall be hearing from my lawyer in due course!

While we will find out the composition of the material in due course we do know two things for sure. The powder is extremely fine and absolutely desiccated. So we can disregard capillary action leaving electrostatic and van der Waals forces. The material has been shaken about and poured so formation of spherical accumulations is no surprise.

Well perhaps I just overlooked seeing this reaction in all the other drill dumps.

This is our location after the sol 896 drive - a proper map update will come later.

Phil

The Navcam L view on Sol 896.

Jan van Driel

Nice pan! - it's good to be moving again. This is Jan's pan in circular form:



Phil

reminds me how a package of powdered sugar always ends up with assorted spheres of many sizes inside, presumably from agitation causing compression clumping in turn rounded by agitation. the spheres are similarly hardened and don't shatter by the fall on the bedrock. in this detail crosseye you can see a 'socket' where one rolled away and a 'hole' a bit below that where the pile left void somehow, perhaps a sphere sunk deeper?

Good point, but this is the first very low percussion, reduced energy drilling and this would leave larger particles in the mix to serve as nuclei. Also unlike all other drill locations, the initial CheMin analysis indicates significant jarosite. ChemMin sample processing involves vibration of the sample which results in tribocharging and agglomeration (from the latin "to form into a ball").

In a similar way, vibration and turbulent mixing of particles that are already naturally sticky (owing, e.g., to condensing moisture and/or appreciable salt content) can lead to the agglomeration of spherical accretionary lapilli in the sandy or dusty deposits of impacts or volcanic explosions.
Don Burt

Inadequate mixing of the added corn starch in the powder sugar may also contribute to particle adhesion after repeated bag openings..

The MASTcam L view on Sol 896.

Jan van Driel

The Navcam L panoramic view on Sol 901.

Jan van Driel

Great view - here it is in circular form. Very close to the new drill target.

Phil

Yikes, particularly white patch on a rock:

There's no obvious sign of wheel tracks to suggest that we snapped off part of the rock to expose a white interior, but I suppose that's still a possibility.

There is a small, non-embedded stone at the bottom of the linked image that shows one side of white, as well. Sure looks like a piece of whatever broke off the main rock.

-the other Doug