What nickname was given to the small, spherical iron oxide concretions Opportunity first encountered on Meridiani Planum?
Answer
Blueberries
Upon landing on Meridiani Planum, Opportunity immediately began analyzing features that provided compelling initial evidence of past liquid water. The rover encountered small, spherical concretions composed primarily of iron oxide embedded in the surrounding sandstone. These distinctive formations were quickly given the informal but memorable designation 'blueberries' by the science team. These spherules are known to form on Earth through processes involving liquid water, often where groundwater precipitates minerals around a central nucleus, thus serving as immediate, visual confirmation that aqueous activity had occurred in that location.
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