Naked Science Forum
Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: neilep on 17/05/2024 11:55:58
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Dearest Marsologists,
As a sheepy I maintain a rotund, circular, plumpy figure. So there I was, day dreaming about all things round when it dawned on me that I don't recall seeing circular rock deposits on Mars.
As a firm believer in empirical study I caught the bus to Mars and it's true!.. Where are all the round rocks ?
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczPGsTMVrKjXZLx4GGaxID5YyzFv-779zrOTQSgvyn4DAsBJq-jv96H9mnqxVsZn8d8CyfluDKrngVirSoBfraTBjKf0k1cq8sdj4wH6Rm_F53saj1T6=w2400)
Mars with no round rocks just minutes ago !!
So, have all the Flerfs gone up there to remove them ? or are there no round rocks on Mars ?
Please to be letting me know
Thank ewe hugs
Sheepy
xxxxxxx
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They probably never existed, or haven't yet evolved.
Rocks tend to fracture with straight edges. You need the erosive action of grit-laden water or wind to polish them into smooth shapes, and Mars seems somewhat deficient in both.
The alternative source of mineral rotundity can be a volcanic eruption of liquid that freezes slowly as it descends through a viscous atmosphere. but again Mars isn't the best place to manufacture lead shot by that traditional process.
Umpteen years ago the New Scientist published a question about the distribution of flat stones on a seashore. My 6-year-old son pointed out that all the good ones will have been thrown into the sea by small boys, so you won't find many above the high water mark. Extrapolating from that wisdom, and from the Apollo program of exporting human stupidity to other planets, I think you might find round rocks inside the so-called craters that form the Mars crazy golf course.
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They probably never existed, or haven't yet evolved.
Rocks tend to fracture with straight edges. You need the erosive action of grit-laden water or wind to polish them into smooth shapes, and Mars seems somewhat deficient in both.
The alternative source of mineral rotundity can be a volcanic eruption of liquid that freezes slowly as it descends through a viscous atmosphere. but again Mars isn't the best place to manufacture lead shot by that traditional process.
Umpteen years ago the New Scientist published a question about the distribution of flat stones on a seashore. My 6-year-old son pointed out that all the good ones will have been thrown into the sea by small boys, so you won't find many above the high water mark. Extrapolating from that wisdom, and from the Apollo program of exporting human stupidity to other planets, I think you might find round rocks inside the so-called craters that form the Mars crazy golf course.
Your son is amazing !
I would have thought over the zillions of years with all the epic sand storms that weathering would have happened by now. However, I acquiesce to your your sons prodigious wisdom ! 😉
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They probably never existed, or haven't yet evolved.
Rocks tend to fracture with straight edges. You need the erosive action of grit-laden water or wind to polish them into smooth shapes, and Mars seems somewhat deficient in both.
The alternative source of mineral rotundity can be a volcanic eruption of liquid that freezes slowly as it descends through a viscous atmosphere. but again Mars isn't the best place to manufacture lead shot by that traditional process.
Umpteen years ago the New Scientist published a question about the distribution of flat stones on a seashore. My 6-year-old son pointed out that all the good ones will have been thrown into the sea by small boys, so you won't find many above the high water mark. Extrapolating from that wisdom, and from the Apollo program of exporting human stupidity to other planets, I think you might find round rocks inside the so-called craters that form the Mars crazy golf course.
Your son is amazing !
I would have thought over the zillions of years with all the epic sand storms that weathering would have happened by now. However, I acquiesce to your your sons prodigious wisdom ! 😉
The "dust" storms on Mars are not all that epic. The highest wind speeds have only reached ~60mph, and this isn't typical. And given that the atmosphere is only 1/100 as dense as the Earth's they don't have much punch. They may be "epic" in size, covering vast areas of Mars, but not in strength.
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I would say any created are in the same place they are on earth after a while, buried. Dust after all could be very very small rounded stones. It is a good point though, if they could excavate some it would be proof. Different types of sand (sharp sand, play sand) come from different processes, desert sand is very round.
Why is there dust on mars? It has been massivley volcanic.