A SHERLOC WATSON and NavCam image of the latest abrasion patch acquired on sol 1375 (January 1, 2025).

The patch has a diameter of roughly 2 inches (5cm). The close up from the SHERLOC WATSON image shows the rough granular texture of the abraded surface.

Image credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech

  • SpecialSetOfSieves@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    3
    ·
    4 days ago

    Geologist lingo:

    • Coring - Drilling in order to acquire a “core sample”, in this case for return to Earth (hopefully). Often proves difficult, on every planet we’ve tried it.
    • Conglomerate - Sedimentary rock that contains rounded pebbles surrounded by finer-grained stuff (e.g. mud, sand), like raisins sprinkled in dough. Not surprising to find these where a river flowed, naturally.
    • Delta fan - the flattish “platform” of sediment dumped by a river entering a larger, calmer body of water.
    • Vug - Small cavity inside a rock, as distinct from a mineral vein (which are long, narrow, and filled in). Can be created by a variety of causes. Sometimes filled in later, by agents such as flowing groundwater.