What early discovery, nicknamed "blueberries," indicated groundwater flow at Meridiani Planum?
Answer
Hematite spherules embedded in the bedrock.
One of the rover's most recognizable early findings involved numerous small, spherical concretions embedded within the bedrock, popularly referred to as 'blueberries.' Scientific analysis determined that these hematite spherules formed when groundwater circulated through the soil and minerals subsequently precipitated around tiny nucleation points. The existence and abundance of these concretions provided powerful, tangible evidence that substantial, flowing liquid water environments were present in the Meridiani Planum region a very long time ago, moving beyond mere ice presence.
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