A VISUAL CASE FOR CONTEMPORARY

FORMATION OF ROCKS AT SOME

SITES ON MARS
FROM DEBRIS FLOWS TO TERRACES TO ROCKS

LYALL WINSTON SMALL

NOVEMBER 2015

I think there is a remarkable ongoing process of rock formation that is occurring on the surface of Mars.
The process is in clear view in several images from the MER and MSL rovers and appears to be the
most active process on Mars surface today but seems to be somehow invisible to most observers.
This presentation, albiet with no geology underpinning, is an attempt to elicit reasoned contrary or
positive comments on the above from fellow MRB posters.
The process appears to be made up of the following elements:
a dark fluid flows down the slopes from underneath some rocks on elevated slopes
The fluid congeals into a characteristic shape not far from where it originated
More episodes of fluid expression leads to buildup of characteristically shaped laminae
Groups of laminae form terraces downslope from the rocks where the flows originated
Terraces develop into rock formations. Veins are probably involved in this process
The cycle probably continues with new flows from below new rock formations carrying on the
process which must have a renewable energy source besides wind or gravity to sustain it over
decades and millennia.
This alternative explanation suggests that such rocks on Mars are younger than currently estimated.

Fluid flows from

under Rocks

Rocks form
from Terraces

Terraces form
from groups of
Laminae

Fluid sublimes and

leaves solid
erosion resistant
residues

Residues build up
to form Laminae
with characteristic
textures

THE DEBRIS FLOWS

The process starts with dark fluid debris
flows emerging from under rocks that are
relatively high up slopes on the sides of hills
or craters.
GIF animations of the flows resulting from
the drilling process of sol 615 are on my
Smugmug photosite, eg:https://lws.smugmug.com/Other/MSL-Curiosity/ih3r9xSR/0/O/0615%20soil%20slips-crop3-x2.gif

The slide shows a phase of the process

where the subsurface flows are partially
covered by broken crusts
All images in this presentation are taken from the
Curiosity raw images archives of NASA/JPL/Caltech.

Sol 627; 0627MH0003900000203473E01

THE DEBRIS FLOWS

The slide here shows several debris flows / slope streaks
The debris flows appear to be made up of liquid brines,
like RSLs and move down the slopes. The liquid quickly
sublimes leaving a dark stain, possibly composed mainly of
dissolved salts, on the surface. These stains remain visible
under a light dust covering for an indeterminate period
The typical shape of the leading edges of the flows is
retained even while viewed through the dust cover
suggesting that they quickly become hardened and
somewhat resistant to wind erosion.
Sol 1155; 1155MR0052190200601925E02_DXXX

What is that bonding agent on a sterile Mars?

DEBRIS FLOWS EVAPORATE AND FORMS SOLID RESIDUE

This is a close-up image of one debris
flow. Note the characteristic shapes of
the leading edges of the dark solid
remnants of the flow. These shapes are
characteristic of the surface textures of
several rocks and other objects on the
surface of Mars.
The flows characteristically emerge from
under a rock where the adjacent
protective soil crust is damaged.

Sol 585; 0584MR0024410000400355E01_DXXX

Several examples of flows have been

imaged by all Mars rovers, some distant
from the rover suggesting that rover
movement is not the only factor that
triggers the phenomenon

DEBRIS FLOWS EVAPORATE AND FORMS SOLID RESIDUES

This is an area on the side of a slope that
displays several flows. Some of the
shapes gives some idea of how they
might have been formed.
They are formed from the salts left
after sublimation of brines
They emerge from under rocks
They emerge from under crusts left
by hardened earlier flows
The flows are not easily removed by
wind erosion but retain their shape
and other attributes

Sol 574; 0574ml2329006000e1_dxxx

RESIDUE BUILDS UP TO FORM LAMINAE

New debris flows emerge from
under rocks and sometimes from under
older solidified flow remnants thereby
building up laminar layers usually from
under existing earlier debris flow
remnants. These remnants have a
characteristic texture.

Sol 1155; 1155MR0052190280601933E01_DXXX

Note
The origins of the darker flows
Note the difference between the
texture of the solidified crust and
the normal soil surface as well as the
liquid appearance of the new flows
Note the accretion of the flows into
the beginnings of laminar structures

RESIDUE BUILDS UP TO FORM LAMINAE

This slide shows the typical shape and
conformation of the debris flows which can
be seen in what appears to be a stage of
chemical induration or hardening of the
flows.
Note
The appearance of a congealing of the
liquid flows into the bluish structure in
the foreground sitting on top of the
existing similarly textured lamina.
The V-shaped leading edges of the flow
on adjacent sides of the lamina in the
foreground suggesting that the object is
a result of fluid action rather than
erosion of some type
Sol 1033; 1033MR0045210160304175E01_DXXX

RESIDUE BUILDS UP TO FORM LAMINAE

This slide shows the characteristic shape
and texture of the indurated flows and their
placement downslope of rocks from
underneath which they probably originated.
It also shows the presence of the debris
flows in the vicinity.
The alternative explanation is that they
somehow survived wind erosion with their
margins intact and still showing the Vshaped feature of the leading edges of the
debris flows

Sol 1059; 1059ML0046580020306158E01_DXXX

Some also appear to be quite thin and

fragile and unlikely to have survived billions
of years of cycles of immersion and
exhumation by dust assisted by wind.

RESIDUE BUILDS UP TO FORM LAMINAE

This slide is another example of what
looks like relatively new laminae
protected from wind erosion under
massive rock overhangs.
The new laminae, as usual, appear to
be arising from flows emanating from
under the nearby rocks.
Note:
Again, The topmost and younger
appearing lamina in the foreground
seems pale and fragile while the
lower lamina appear to be more
sturdy
There are a number of other fragile
looking objects under the rock that
seem to have been born in situ
Sol 1065; 1065MR0046870130104851C00_DXXX

TERRACES DEVELOP FROM GROUPS OF LAMINAE

Here is a group of laminae downslope from a rock

Note
The characteristic shape
The seeming fragility of the laminae that suggests
they might not be the products of erosion from
a preexisting rock face
The appearance of the group of laminae is more
suggestive of the laminae being in the process of
formation than of them being stripped of
material by wind erosion.
The presence of debris flows
Sol 1153

; 1153MR0052140130601874E01_DXXX

TERRACES DEVELOP FROM GROUPS OF LAMINAE

A later stage of terrace formation where the
terraces are separated in space from each
other.
Also of note is:
The possible appearance of debris flows
coming from between the terraces
The existence of fairly massive rocks on
the sides of the amphitheatre that are
not as significantly eroded. This suggests
that, even though all the rocks may be
sedimentary, the amphitheatre might
be a product of something more than
traditional wind erosion
The amphitheatre layers appear to be
less fragile than the earlier ones pictured
Sol 1144; 1144ML0051850870501574E01_DXXX

TERRACE GROUPS AGGREGATE INTO ROCKS

This slide is included to show the texture
of the upper side of a lamina. It shows
the upper side of a rock which has been
dislodged and thrown onto the soil
surface with its upper side on top.
Note:
The shapes of the indentations on the
rock surface are totally consistent with
the lamina having been formed from
the accretions of multiple layers of
debris flows over time.
The edges of other lower laminae can
be seen
Sol 1047; 1047ML0046000210306023E01_DXXX

TERRACE GROUPS AGGREGATE INTO ROCKS

This slide shows laminae or layers that
might be in the process of development
into rocks.
Note:
The dark colouration and sturdy
appearance of most of the layers
The Vein that seems to be growing
down the edges of the layers on the
left side and might be involved in the
process
The debris flows on the ledges of the
laminae
Concretions at leading edges of the
flow

Sol 1090; 1090MR0047860080600556E01_DXXX

TERRACE GROUPS AGGREGATE INTO ROCKS

The process of induration continues.
Note
The sub spherical concretions that mimic Meridiani
blueberries might be signs of microbial action
The more solid, harder, appearance of the layers
The textures on the surfaces of the lower rocks,
that are similar to debris flow textures, perhaps
indicative of having been formed from debris flows
The relatively large spaces between the groups of
terraces

Sol 751; 0751MR0032280630403655E01_DXXX

TERRACE GROUPS AGGREGATE INTO ROCKS

The process of induration continues.
Note
This massive rocks main mass is of vein material
I think veins might be another component of the
expression of life in these images and has a major
function in the development of the rock which
might be actually a veined stromatolite
The dark areas made up of advancing terraces of
laminae, covered by debris flow material, appear to
be in the process of formation
Note the dark leading group of laminae in the
foreground is covered with what looks like debris
flow material or muds. This protrusion appears to
be now being formed
It would be a strange erosive process that would
leave that outgrowth there untouched while
eroding the other portions of the rock face.
Sol 1157; 1157MR0052290140601973E01_DXXX

TERRACE GROUPS AGGREGATE INTO ROCKS

This slide shows an area where terraces
can be seen downslope of older rocks.
Are those terraces that seem to be arising
out of the dark soil merely products of
erosion of a rock which has undergone
millions of years of erosion and can now be
seen peeping through the soil?
Or could they be products of a relatively
young process of induration of debris flows?
Oh if only Curiosity had a shovel!

Sol 1087; 1087ML0047760190500020E01_DXXX

TERRACE GROUPS AGGREGATE INTO ROCKS

No shovel, but this slide shows a rock that
has been dislodged by Curiositys wheel
and affords a partial look at the subsoil.

Sol 1167; 1167MR0052840030602189E01_DXXX

Note:
Shallow emplacement of rock
Dark debris flows around the rock
Debris flow coming from under subsoil
portion of rock
Eroded surface of rock (bluish colour)
Broken layers under rock surface
consistent with debris flow origin
Solid base of rock around which dark
friable looking soil adheres
Distinct difference between aerial
portion of rock and subsoil portion
which is solid and immersed in dark soil

TERRACE GROUPS AGGREGATE INTO ROCKS

This slide shows a rock that was broken
and dislodged by Curis wheel.

Sol 173; 0173MR0926103000E1_DXXX

Note:
The roughly circular concave interior of
the portion of the rock left in the soil at
the left side of the overturned piece
The layering around the wall of the rock
of the intact and the broken pieces
Layers are suggestive of a stromatolite
The texture of the layers at the base of
the raised bluish rock on the left side of
the image.
The raised crust at the base of the blue
rock seems to be made up of layers of
debris flows which were not dislodged
by the force which uplifted the rock.

THE CLIMAX STAGE MERIDIANI TYPE PAVEMENT SURFACES

The final climax stage in the development of
some martian surfaces might be as pictured
in this slide, bottom right side.
A pavement of rocks, with upper surfaces
planed to flat or domal shapes, separated
from each other by channels containing the
dust that is rich in water and with direct
access to the underlying soil on which the
rocks are emplaced and which might contain
materials and act as a niche for microbial life.

Sol 1174; 1174ML0053240040502493E01_DXXX

THE CYCLE CONTINUES UNDERGROUND

The generally shallow rocks sit on a
subsurface in which brines exist and
which exude forceably onto the
surface when rocks are disturbed
resulting in debris flows.
The subsurface microenvironment
might provide closed conditions
under which microbes can exist.
This slide shows the quite complex
structure of the undersurface of a
rock that was probably overturned by
Curiositys wheels. Also note the fine
debris flow that exuded from under
the rock.
Sol 141; 0141ML0820012000E1_DXXX