NASA JPL 2010-096 - 2010 March 24
Weird coatings on rocks beside a young Martian crater remain puzzling after a preliminary look at data from examination of the site by NASA's Opportunity rover.
The rover spent six weeks investigating the crater called "Concepción" before resuming its long journey this month. The crater is about 10 meters (33 feet) in diameter. Dark rays extending from it, as seen from orbit, flagged it in advance as a target of interest because the rays suggest the crater is young.
The rocks ejected outward from the impact that dug Concepción are chunks of the same type of bedrock Opportunity has seen at hundreds of locations since landing in January 2004: soft, sulfate-rich sandstone holding harder peppercorn-size dark spheres like berries in a muffin. The little spheres, rich in iron, gained the nickname "blueberries."
PIA12969: Opportunity at 'Concepción' Crater, Seen from Orbit
(NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona) 2010-03-24
PIA12971: Rock with Odd Coating Beside a Young Martian Crater, False Color
(NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell University) 2010-03-24
PIA12970: Coating on Rock Beside a Young Martian Crater
(NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell University) 2010-03-24
