Mystery Spheres on Mars Finally Identified

[On the Road]

By Leonard David, Senior Space Writer
posted: 06:46 pm ET 17 March 2004

"Scientists have learned the composition of the mysterious sphere-shaped objects scattered across the crater floor at Meridiani Planum, the landing site of the Opportunity Mars rover. ...a patch of the tiny spherules -- also called "blueberries," although they aren't blue -- received close examination and have now been identified as hematite.

----snip

This new evidence further supports the hypothesis that the hematite mineral was likely formed in a past standing body of water. The Meridiani area, it is thought, was once a shallow lake.

----snip

'This finding further supports the hypothesis that these interesting 'Mars balls' are actually sedimentary concretions, rather than any of the other working hypotheses....'"

http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/mars_blueberries_040317.html

[XNASA]

1. So they're saying............

That Mars does not have blue balls after all. That's a relief, to Mars especially.

[THUNDER HANDS]

2. suck on my chocolate Marsy balls....

sorry...that was wrong.

:)

[ZR2]

3. Those balls may contain oil

quick, send in the Marines.

[papau]

5. A pipeline to Mars - now there is a goal!

:-)

[Zookeeper]

6. Yeah, that would guarantee a boost to the space program!

Welcome to DU, ZR2!

:hi:

[jpak]

4. Bacteria can preciptate minerals here on Earth

Could this have happened on Mars as well?????

[Dudley_DUright]

7. Excellent question!

There several types of magnetic bacteria that use the earth's magnetic field to orient themselves in aqueous environments. The magnetic particles most of these magnetotactic bacteria precipitate to do this are made of magnetite (which is closely related to hemetite). Since Mars no longer has much of a magnetic field (although it may have had one once when it was more geologically active) you might think that magnetotactic bacteria would be unlikely, but there are species of MBT on earth that have magnetic particles, but do not use them for orientation purposes (at least as far as we can tell).

See the following link:

http://www.agu.org/revgeophys/moskow01/node2.html

On edit: I confused hematite (Fe2O3) and magnetite (Fe3O4) in my excitement. Sorry. Also these spheres are much larger than what you find in MTB. For another good source of info on MTB, see:

http://www.calpoly.edu/~rfrankel/mtbcalpoly.html

[jpak]

9. There was obviously some kind of chemical gradient

surrounding these objects (changes in crystal size in the crystal "halo" surrounding these critters).

This implies some kind of chemical reaction center in the blueberries.

Evidence for martian chemolithotrophic bacteria ????

Martian stromatolites???

Boy I'd like to get my hands on a couple of those things....

(all speculation but WTF this is way too cool).

:)

[arcane1]

8. I love hematite

love it more now :)

[Dogmudgeon]

10. Hematite?

Aren't they a little big for hematite?

Man-oh-man, Mars is turning out to be one weird planet! Almost enough to make up for not having any Human weirdness!

--bkl

[tridim]

11. "although they aren't blue"

I could have sworn I've seen color pics on NASA's site that show them as being blue. Can anyone verify?

[On the Road]

12. False Color, I Believe

[Heyo]

13. That was a color-streched picture....

Used to accent the different chemical signatures between different types of rock..

When you're looking at the true color images, they just look like little round pebbles that are brownish orange...

-Heyo

[RedCloud]

14. After a thorough review

I see that these balls are actually fragments from weapons of mass destruction which the Martians obviously used on their leaders who wimpishly allow the USA, not the United Federated Planet (as agreed to by even Klingons) to represent our planet. No nation has the right to fly satellites over other planets. Our whole planet must agree and the vote must be unanimous. What if Mars starts spitting rocks our way again?

I say Bush should go there and get down on his knees and beg forgiveness from the Martians before they come after us.

[Dogmudgeon]

15. That would be a more truthful act than the Iraq war

I also read on Richard Hoagland's website that the Face on Mars was wearing a "Kerry 2004" button on the Lapel on Mars.

You remember what happened to the Mars Orbiter? Yep. It was designed in Republican units, but most engineers are using Democratic ones now.

--bkl
Hello? Testing. Testing. Is this thing on?

[factroid]

17. and . . .

I see that these balls are actually fragments from weapons of mass destruction which the Martians obviously used on their leaders who wimpishly allow the USA, not the United Federated Planet (as agreed to by even Klingons) to represent our planet. No nation has the right to fly satellites over other planets. Our whole planet must agree and the vote must be unanimous. What if Mars starts spitting rocks our way again?

I say Bush should go there and get down on his knees and beg forgiveness from the Martians before they come after us.
==============================================================

This would also explain what happened to the Polar Lander, Deep Space 2 probes, and the Climate Orbiter. Some faction may be holding them for ransom when we finally make it there...

[Buns_of_Fire]

16. Durn. I thought we'd found the source of Happy Fun Balls.

Remember: Do not taunt Happy Fun Ball.

[Voltaire99]

18. Mars, God of War!

What? You didn't think he'd have big balls?