Spherules are not concretions, as previously hypothesized

Philip Simon — 10/11/2004 11:42:31 PM (archived)

Excerpt from abstract of:

Paper No. 241-2
Presentation Time: 1:50 PM-2:10 PM
THE MINERALOGY OF THE MER LANDING SITES AS INVESTIGATED BY THE MINI-TES EXPERIMENT
CHRISTENSEN, Philip R., Geological Sciences, Arizona State Univ, Tempe, AZ 85287-6305, phil.christensen@asu.edu.

"...The spherical granules that are widespread on the plains are essentially pure hematite, with no silica, carbonates, sulfates, encased silicates, or other oxides detected."

The part about "encased silicates" etc, reveals that these are not concretions, which form in situ and enclose the grains of the host rock. The fine rock layers do not show deformation as if the spherules formed in situ by "swelling" and disrupting the host rock. Therefore, it seems most likely that they did not form in situ. Their very even spatial distribution, and narrow size distribution argue for a process of precipitation with distinct limits - be that seasonal concentration, current limited, biological or some other process.

The whole thread (22 posts)

Spherules are not concretions, as previously hypothesized - Philip Simon - 10/11/2004 11:42:31 PM
- They seem localized to the Meridiani region. - REB - 10/13/2004 12:32:09 PM
  - re: They seem localized to the Meridiani region. - Nick Hoffman - 10/14/2004 8:05:11 AM
    - re: They seem localized to the Meridiani region. - REB - 10/14/2004 12:34:05 PM
    - re: They seem localized to the Meridiani region. - REB - 10/14/2004 11:48:28 AM
      - uhhh - here ya go - E.P. Grondine - 10/15/2004 1:10:06 AM
      - Good. - Nick Hoffman - 10/14/2004 2:05:37 PM
        
        re: Good. - REB - 10/14/2004 2:10:35 PM
- re: Spherules are not concretions, as previously hypothesized - REB - 10/12/2004 2:36:49 PM
- re: Spherules are not concretions, as previously hypothesized - Nick Hoffman - 10/12/2004 4:39:29 AM
  - re: Spherules are not concretions, as previously hypothesized - bruced - 10/13/2004 11:30:10 PM
    - increased local crystallinity - Philip Simon - 10/14/2004 11:40:24 PM
      - re: increased local crystallinity - bruced - 10/15/2004 8:25:12 AM
        
        Surface films - Nick Hoffman - 10/15/2004 11:57:50 PM
  - re: Spherules are not concretions, as previously hypothesized - E.P. Grondine - 10/12/2004 2:03:28 PM
- link please, sounds interesting. (n/t) - jms - 10/12/2004 1:56:45 AM
  - re: link please, sounds interesting. - Marcia - 10/12/2004 4:51:50 AM
    - Thanks Marcia, I'll take notes. - jms - 10/12/2004 4:59:50 AM
- Yeah, they're tectites - E.P. Grondine - 10/12/2004 12:55:38 AM
  - re: Yeah, you're a geologist (n/t) - Mark Eby - 10/12/2004 1:43:58 AM
    - No, I just get tired of the Mars Nuts' BS (n/t) - E.P. Grondine - 10/12/2004 2:04:24 AM
      - re: If you explained how they could be tektites it would be more interesting. You Moon Nut. (n/t) - Chris Vancil - 10/12/2004 9:07:21 AM

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