All we've heard from NASA is that The Outcrop contains alot of sulfur and no (?) silicates, carbonates, or hematite. Therefore I've been reveiwing sulfate mineralogy (anhydrite, gypsum, barite, etc.) and their occurance (evaporitic and volcanogenic).

Also, The outcrop sure as hell looks like some sort of evaporite or sinter (AKA tuffa, exhalites, etc.) to me (seen plenty o' both) so I've been reviewing that stuff too. Thanks for the ever so cool stereo photos NASA, you can keep my tax cut if you send more rovers!

All kinds of interesting stuff is coming through (Gawd I wished I had the web back in grad school!).

Here's some stuff to chew on:

EVALUATION OF ALTERATION ZONES IN ARCHEAN IGNEOUS ROCKS AS POSSIBLE SITES FOR CARBONACEOUS FOSSIL MICROBES

http://www.habitablezone.com/global/WSOS/receive.asp

EVAPORITE MINERALS IN MARTIAN SAMPLES: CLUES TO THE NEAR-SURFACE HISTORY OF MARS

http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2001AM/finalprogram/abstract_24781.htm

MARS REMOTE SENSING ANALOG STUDIES IN THE BADWATER BASIN, DEATH VALLEY: ANALYSIS OF GROUND TRUTH

http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2001AM/finalprogram/abstract_17427.htm

Rye patch: Pleistocene sinter containing gypsum, sulfur, mercury

http://www.nbmg.unr.edu/geothermal/site.php?sid=Rye%20Patch

Yae-Kokonoe and Miharashi open-air baths

Temperature at origin: 68ºC (154.4ºF)
Temperature of bath: 45ºC(114ºF)
Characteristics:
This hydrogen sulfide spring has clear, colorless water with floating particles of metal sulfides and gypsum.

http://www.komaki-onsen.co.jp/komaki-en/onsen-oirase.htm