Additional question:
On earth I’ve seen these layered structures as a result of sedimentation or deposition (horizontal) and then folding (vertical).
How do geologists explain these structures (and their change of orientation - if there was any) on Mars? Same (oceans and rivers) or a totally different idea?
From what I can see, the colour image featured in this post is not vertical - it’s actually a close-up image from the microscope on the end of the rover’s robotic arm, which you can see placed over the target in this image, taken less than an hour after the microscopic image. The slope on which this rock/outcrop is found is well below 45º, or the rover’s wheels wouldn’t be resting on it. You can see a wider view of the rock adjacent to the target in this image from the same sol (if you’re interested, here are all the images taken on sol 4513).
That being said, your question is pertinent. Yes, I would call them layers also. There has clearly been deposition here - a lot of it - but erosion has shaped the landscape here in interesting ways too (this latter image was also taken on 4513).
The thing about folding is that it doesn’t occur in insolation, or only in very small areas; it’s generally a response to forces that act on regional scales. If there were folding at the rover’s current location, it would likely be visible in the surrounding countryside, including possibly on the towering layered ridges that now surround the rover.
Even for geologists, this field site makes you think.
Those formations are quite interesting. Funny what heat, cold, wind and radiation can do when you give them enough time.
If I understand you correctly, the camera faces downwards towards towards a horizontal or only slightly sloped surface? In this case the deposition layers are horizontal as they should be, or not?
If they aren’t it would indeed be an interesting geological puzzle to solve.
I’m not a geologist, but as far as I can recall, I’ve not seen any studies from the rovers that have identified folding. Sedimentary rocks have been observed, were laid down in water, streams rivers, river deltas and and lake beds. In addition they have examined sandstone deposits that laid down in dryer times.
MSL team member used to maintain a great list of papers, but it’s not been updated for a while (budget cuts) You’ll find lots of them on the following link
Additional question: On earth I’ve seen these layered structures as a result of sedimentation or deposition (horizontal) and then folding (vertical).
How do geologists explain these structures (and their change of orientation - if there was any) on Mars? Same (oceans and rivers) or a totally different idea?
I just want to make sure I understand what/how you’re seeing this, I hope you don’t mind:
When you say you’re seeing vertical structure, are you talking about those protruding (and rather phallic) parts in the upper half of the image?
EDITED TO ADD image with relevant features outlined in yellow:
Not quite. I mean those layers.I tried to mark the edges in the image.
Since we are looking at a wall, these layers are vertical. If they are layers. :)
If you will pardon the late reply:
From what I can see, the colour image featured in this post is not vertical - it’s actually a close-up image from the microscope on the end of the rover’s robotic arm, which you can see placed over the target in this image, taken less than an hour after the microscopic image. The slope on which this rock/outcrop is found is well below 45º, or the rover’s wheels wouldn’t be resting on it. You can see a wider view of the rock adjacent to the target in this image from the same sol (if you’re interested, here are all the images taken on sol 4513).
That being said, your question is pertinent. Yes, I would call them layers also. There has clearly been deposition here - a lot of it - but erosion has shaped the landscape here in interesting ways too (this latter image was also taken on 4513).
The thing about folding is that it doesn’t occur in insolation, or only in very small areas; it’s generally a response to forces that act on regional scales. If there were folding at the rover’s current location, it would likely be visible in the surrounding countryside, including possibly on the towering layered ridges that now surround the rover.
Even for geologists, this field site makes you think.
:)
Those formations are quite interesting. Funny what heat, cold, wind and radiation can do when you give them enough time.
If I understand you correctly, the camera faces downwards towards towards a horizontal or only slightly sloped surface? In this case the deposition layers are horizontal as they should be, or not?
If they aren’t it would indeed be an interesting geological puzzle to solve.
I’m not a geologist, but as far as I can recall, I’ve not seen any studies from the rovers that have identified folding. Sedimentary rocks have been observed, were laid down in water, streams rivers, river deltas and and lake beds. In addition they have examined sandstone deposits that laid down in dryer times.
MSL team member used to maintain a great list of papers, but it’s not been updated for a while (budget cuts) You’ll find lots of them on the following link
https://mars.nasa.gov/internal_resources/840/
Nothing about folding but a lot about sedimentary rocks. Thanks.:)
👍