SOME MORE IMAGES OF PUTATIVE
MICROBIALITES FROM MARS
LYALL WINSTON SMALL
DECEMBER 2015
INTRODUCTION
There have been a number of new rocks posted that might potentially be
classed as MSLRs or Microbialite Induced Sedimentary Structures (MISS)
since I completed the Living Rocks of Mars book.
The following is a presentation of a number of putative MSLRs or MISS
that were not included in that book. These include recently released
NASA/JPL Curiosity and Opportunity images as well as some earlier
images from the MER rover archives.
.
YELLOWKNIFE BAY CURIOSITY SOL 162 TO 296
This slide shows a putative
microbialite that was
broken and dislodged by
Curis wheel.
It shows the characteristics
of a domal stromatolite as
well as tafoni type holes
exposed by the breakage of
the rock at right.
The texture of the base on
which it sits is characteristic
of stromatolitic veined
boxwork structures
Sol 173; 0173MR0926103000E1_DXXX
YELLOWKNIFE BAY CURIOSITY SOL 162 TO 296
This slide is a 3D anaglyph of a portion of
the previous image.
Note:
The roughly circular concave interior of
the portion of the rock still anchored in
the soil at the left side of the overturned
piece of rock
Laminar make up of the circular wall
Tafoni type holes inside structure
Smooth internal floors
Texture at base of rough domal large
rock
Sol 173; 0173MR0926103000E1_DXXX 3D anaglyph
YELLOWKNIFE BAY CURIOSITY SOL 162 TO 296
This slide is a putative MISS from sol
173
Note:
The veined stromatolite boxwork
at bottom left
Texture of rock surfaces
Fine grains reminiscent of frass
emerging from under the rocks in
the middle of the picture
Sol 173; 0173MR0926084000E1_DXXX
YELLOWKNIFE BAY CURIOSITY SOL 162 TO 296
This slide is a 3D anaglyph of a
portion of the previous image.
Note the boxwork structure at
the bottom left of the picture.
Such boxwork is typical of
microbialites
Sol 173; 0173MR0926103000E1_DXXX 3D anaglyph
YELLOWKNIFE BAY CURIOSITY SOL 162 TO 296
This slide is from sol 173. The broken
rocks show characteristics that suggest that
they might be fossil bones of some
unknown martian organism or alternatively
that they might be tafoni type rocks
Note:
The holes in the rocks
Sol 173; 0173MR0926136000E1_DXXX
YELLOWKNIFE BAY CURIOSITY SOL 162 TO 296
This slide is a 3D anaglyph of the preceding
slide
Sol 173; 0173MR0926136000E1_DXXX 3D anaglyph
YELLOWKNIFE BAY CURIOSITY SOL 162 TO 296
This slide, from sol 173, shows rocks with the
typical surface wrinkles that are typical of MISS
Microbialite Induced Sedimentary Structures
Sol 0173; 0173MR0926041000E1_DXXX
YELLOWKNIFE BAY CURIOSITY SOL 162 TO 296
A 3D anaglyph rendition of the preceding image
Sol 0173; 0173MR0926041000E1_DXXX 3D anaglyph
YELLOWKNIFE BAY CURIOSITY SOL 162 TO 296
Another slide of a rock from sol 173. This
rock exhibits the typical holey texture of a
Tafoni type rock
Sol 0173; 0173MR0926083000E1_DXXX
YELLOWKNIFE BAY CURIOSITY SOL 162 TO 296
A 3D anaglyph representation of the last
image.
Sol 0173; 0173MR0926083000E1_DXXX 3D anaglyph
CURIOSITY, KIMBERLEY SITE SOL 632
This slide is an example of an outcrop
showing polygonal oscillation cracks filled
by veins. Similar cracks have been
identified as being formed by ancient
microbial action in the Pilbara region,
Australia.
Look carefully to see the raised edges of
the hexagons. There are several of them.
Sol 632; 0632MR0026150000401754E01_DXXX.jpg
CURIOSITY AT PAHRUMP, BOOK CLIFFS SITE SOL 950
This slide shows what looks like an
outcrop of veined stromatolites.
Sol 950; 0950MR0041750080502069E01_DXXX.jpg
CURIOSITY - NEAR THE DUNES
3D anaglyph of a sol 1153 rock
The texture and relative
colouration of the rock in the
foreground is suggestive of an
MISS
Sol 1153; 1153ML0052140260501830E01_DXXX 3D anaglyph
CURIOSITY - NEARING THE DUNES
Rock formation suggestive of veined
stromatolites
Sol 1166; 1166MR0052750200602172E01_DXXX
CURIOSITY - NEAR THE DUNES
Surface texture and internal layering of rock
is suggestive of an MISS.
Note also the exudation of the dark debris
flow from under the rock resulting from the
breakage and pushing down of the rock by
Curiositys wheels.
Curiositys tracks can be clearly seen on the
right hand side of the image.
Sol 1167; 1167MR0052840030602189E01_DXXX
CURIOSITY - NEAR THE DUNES
The fine layered internal structure of the
broken section of the rock from the
previous slide is displayed here.
The debris flows caused by the breakage of
the rock and its depression into the soil can
also be seen more clearly.
Sol 1167; 1167MR0052840030602189E01_DXXX
OPPORTUNITY DUCK BAY
A sol 1177 rock showing the typical surface
texture of an MISS
Sol 1177; 1P232677379RAD82__P2554L2C1
OPPORTUNITY DUCK BAY
A rock from sol 1178 showing a
number of layers as well as
differential colouration of several
of the layers
Sol 1178; 1P232764230RAD82__P2557L2C1
OPPORTUNITY DUCK BAY
Another rock from sol 1178 showing some
features of an MISS
Sol 1178; 1P232764691RAD82__P2558L2C1
OPPORTUNITY SANTA MARIA CRATER
A possible Bumpy Stromatolite. Angular
flakes at bottom are however suggestive of
a vesiculated basalt
Sol 2695; 1P367435611ESFBMLVP2597L2M1
OPPORTUNITY MARATHON VALLEY
An outcrop on Marathon Valley with a
number of rocks reminiscent of MISS
Sol 4183; 1P499543963EFFCONIP2369L2M1
OPPORTUNITY MARATHON VALLEY
Another outcrop of possible MISS
rocks in Marathon valley
Note
The microchannels that appear
to be damp
The brownish red colouration
of some rocks at the right of
the image suggestive of clays
The protuberances at the ends
of some rocks that might be
mini blueberry objects
MI images from this series of
images showed objects
reminiscent of newberries
Sol 4217; 1P502562768EFFCOPRP2372L2M1
OPPORTUNITY MARATHON VALLEY
This slide is a 3D anaglyph of an
area in Marathon Valley that
appears to be damp. The
foreground rock displays a
texture and general appearance
of a MISS
Sol 4222; 1N503000834EFFCOQIP1975L0M1 3D anaglyph
SPIRIT COLUMBIA MEMORIAL STATION
Layered rock above debris flow
that might be source of rocks
lower down the slope.
Sol 42; 2P130088011RAD0514P2538L2C1
SPIRIT LARRYS LOOKOUT
This slide shows a rotten rock that is
a putative MISS.
Sol 488; 2P169684777RADAACIP2420L2C1.jpg
SPIRIT ON THE WAY TO HOME PLATE
This 3D anaglyph of a number of
rocks at a site near to home plate
shows their typica;l domal
stromatolite shape and texture
reminiscent of Wopmay
Sol 712; 2N189581102EFFALBUP1795L0M1; 3D anaglyph
SPIRIT TORQUAS AREA NEAR HOME PLATE
Another rock which might be a
Tafoni type rock or a fossil bone
Sol 1144; 2P227920933RADAS4JP2436L2C1.jpg
SPIRIT TORQUAS AREA NEAR HOME PLATE
This slide shows rocks with characteristic
surface texture wrinkles that are
characteristic of MISS.
Sol 1145; 2P228009708RADAS4JP2437L2C1.jpg
SPIRIT TORQUAS AREA NEAR HOME PLATE
This slide shows the surface texture
of a rock panorama at the Torquas
site taken with Spirits Microsopic
Imager camera.
Note:
MI image reminiscent of
Newberries
Bumpy texture of rock surface
Bumps are generally sub spherical
Bumps are gebnerally smooth and
form relatively uniform layers
Dark fuzzy growth on rock
surface reminiscent of mycelium
Sol 1146; 2M228101073MRDAS4JP2936M2M1.jpg
SPIRIT TORQUAS AREA NEAR HOME PLATE
This slide shows the surface texture of a similar rock
at the Torquas site after RAT brushing.
Note:
Effects of RATTING
Some bumps broken
Broken bumps are hollow
Pale microspheres around bumps
