• SpecialSetOfSieves@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        4 days ago

        They’ve already done an abrasion patch at the 1333 site, and given the mission’s emphasis on Pico Turquino, one would assume that they’re going to core here as well, but the rover team has been surprising me lately. I must say that the exposed interior we’re seeing on 1334 isn’t what I expected, but I’d like to see the night-time LED images before getting too caught up here.

          • SpecialSetOfSieves@lemmy.worldEnglish
            2·
            3 days ago

            Thanks! They’re being thorough with SuperCam and the UV imager again, even if (I suspect) they don’t expect fluorescent minerals up here. I imagine this site will get the “full treatment”, as Mars Guy puts it.

            This latest abrasion hole, with the fair-sized mineral grains it exposes, really makes me wonder about the dark massive rocks capping the hill, which Prof. Ruff tentatively identified as ignimbrites. Everyone came into this mission jazzed about sedimentary geology, but the volanic/igneous history of this place is proving to be pretty interesting, even mysterious.

            EDITED an erroneous adjective.

        • paulhammond5155@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
          2·
          4 days ago

          Agreed, the LED images will tell a tale. I’m guessing they may have a small walk about and possibly another abrasion (or two) before deciding to core, but it’s hard to read their minds. With the job cuts, I’m assuming any chance of more frequent mission updates has little chance