Water Flows or Just Dry Dust??
In the course of my sifting through the thousands of Mars images, I frequently come across inexplicable 'stains' which NASA explains as dark dry dust as a result of dry landslides. Looking at these images I find it hard to see how dust can exit from the side of a mountain or crater from a very small point and fan out as it goes downhill. As well, I have come across images showing different shades of these stains from very black to light gray, which would indicate that one could be fresher or newer than the others. On July 20th, 2000, I posted my first query about the stains of Mars to my Cydonia egroup, since then i have been on an exciting odyssey to learn more about this enigma.
I am not a scientist or a geologist. I am a layman astronomer and an artist. I also understand that one can be fooled by optical illusions, with that in mind, I still find it hard to understand how dry dust can act just like water. Another factor to consider; if these are fine dust deposits then why doesn't the wind disperse the stain trails??
A landslide would most of the time start out fairly large and wind up smaller as it wound down hill. Most of the images I have found indicate a tiny starting point which continues fanning out as it goes downhill. How could dry dust act like this?
My theory is that these are veins of ice water mixed with an unknown black material which exits from a small fissure (like a spring) under pressure, melts and flows downhill until the source dries up or is blocked. I would also postulate that the black-dark colored material acts as an antifreeze, keeping the water liquid in the coldness of Mars, or it could be some other unknown black liquid.
Recently NASA announced..."Identification of the mineral hematite, indicating a past surface-hydrothermal environment that may be an analog for the kinds of areas in which early life developed on Earth." This may be the mineral responsible for the blackness of these flows.
Another scenario to investigate is the temperature differential between the black material and Mar's regular surface. Black materials absorb more infrared energy and therefore has a higher temperature than a lighter colored material. This may act as a warm base for life. The Mars Global Surveyor has instruments to measure temperatures so this theory can be easily checked out (i.e. THEMIS - Thermal Emission Spectrometer)
There is also the possibility that if this action is the result of a water based liquid then life may exist in or on these deposits. Algae or a type of fungus may exist in these areas and may also be the cause of the dark coloration.
All I am asking is that one looks at these images and makes up their own mind. It may well be that these are indeed some form of exotic Martian magic dust, but take a look for yourself at the collection of images and tell me what you think.
It is hoped that NASA takes a closer look at what may be proof positive of abundant water and/or life on Mars.
Addenda:
Now that NASA has determined that water and life may have existed on Mars with the recent discovery of organic magnetite in a Mars meteorite, some attention is being focused with the online investigative community on the 'stains' that NASA has stated are just dust slides. Mr. Hoagland had published an initial analysis of the "stains" in July, 2000. So there already had been some question raised about NASA's claims by him and others.
I have been working on this line of investigation as a lay enthusiast and forwarding my findings to Mac Tonnies for his Cydonia Imperative web site. What has started out as a hobby and interest may be of some importance to possibly divert some public (and NASA) attention to these mysterious stains.
More work on these stains by independent investigators who come to the same conclusion may be enough one day to interest NASA into a further study of this anomaly. I would urge anyone interested, who has come to these same conclusions, to write NASA ask them to further their investigation of the stains of Mars.
Efrain Palermo
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