Nick:

Excellent question.

I am not familiar with the term "braided ripple." I did a quick google and found nada. If I get the chance I'll do a search on GSA articles or ask a sedimentologist I know.

A quick look at the rock known as Pyrrho suggests that we are viewing this rock in cross-section (or an oblique angle) therefore it will take more than just observing ripples on a beach, unless you are digging for clams and checking out the strata. The braided ripples may refer to the crossbedding relationships of overlapping successions of ripples; not the relationship of ripple crests within a single bedding plane. I know the folks in sedimentology are getting better and better at interpreting these bedforms.

I agree, on Earth, I'd get every view I could of this rock from every angle then look for more.

I disagree, however, with your statement about soft-sediment deformation having to be wet to occur. I have observed dry, soft-sediment deformation in both modern and ancient aeolean environments. I've observed some beautiful slumps in gypsum dunes. Invoking a totally different model, an ice cap can exert stresses upon bedrock that result in thrusting and other deformation of soft (or hard) sediments.

I'm a big fan of the sabkha model. Not totally convinced, but I believe it fits much of the data to date. I'd like to see some lateral compositional variation, but we'll see. Geysers huh? I'll give that some thought and stare at more pictures.

But your post must invoke a short comment of a principle of geology - Uniformitarianism:

As those with training in geology know, the "law of uniformitarianism" is more a guide, as the difficulties of time and changing environments requires a careful application of present day processes to the geologic past. Did Plate Tectonics operate the same way in the Archean? How can we truly understand the long-term effects of slow strain processes that take millions of years? Care must be taken with this fundamental principle. More so when applied to another planet!

If the "present is the key to the past", is Earth the key to Mars? The answer is yes and no. Geologic processes involve many variables. Some are the same from planet to planet, others are not. As we observe Mars through filtered eyes we will come to understand the differences as well as the similarities. How many bedform studies have a gravity variable?

I've only been able to spend a limited time on rover images lately. Pyrrho is a most interesting rock. I can't wait to see down-section, even if going in there is dangerous. How many stupid, dangerous traverses have I taken for a sample or a strike/dip measurement?

~jms~