If the Mars marbles are similar to Moqui marbles or Entrada berries it could be bigger news than if they are oolites. The marbles/berries form in sediments around decaying organic detritus. (At least if my poor memory serves me). More local ties between geology and astronomy: One of the lead geologists for the current Mars missions wrote a paper (MS thesis?) on Upheaval Dome in Canyonlands as a meteorite impact site; coauthor was Gene Shoemaker (a geologist by training, got into astronomy from studying the geology of Meteor Crater). One of the professors at the U, Dr. Marjorie Chan, wrote a paper saying the deformed bedding in the Entrada Formation north of Moab was caused by the Upheaval Dome impact. She also calculated the orbital period of the moon during the PreCambrian by studying the rocks near Storm Mountain in Big Cottonwood Canyon. That was a fine article on geology in a rock wall. It must be fun job to be paid to talk to scientists in as many fields as possible. The geology in a wall piece is similar to Gene Shoemaker's story of discovering (recognizing) a big meteorite impact crater in Germany by looking at the rocks in the walls of a cathedral. Bill Biesele On Mar 9, 2004, at 10:39 AM, Joe Bauman wrote:
Rob Ratkwski sent me a great photo of "moqui balls" or moqui marbles that he collected near Kanab. I have to admit, there is an amazing similarity, though they are on a different scale (the Mars "blueberries" are much smaller). I gather some scientists believe these were formed by natural processes involving groundwater and iron. So maybe what I have been so excited about is nothing more than another indication of water on irony old Mars. -- Best wishes, Joe
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