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Dave Beedon | all galleries >> Places >> Utah >> Moab (environs) >> Negro Bill Canyon ("NBC") >> NBC Fins >> NBC Fins, River Overlook > Carbonate concretions (1 of 2)
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23-OCT-2006 Dave Beedon

Carbonate concretions (1 of 2)

Fin landscape above Negro Bill Canyon (near Moab, Utah)

How did the "balls" form? Why are they only here, on this narrow shelf atop a huge sandstone fin?

They are similar to hematite concretions, stone balls formed from minerals that
precipitated from flowing water. These, though, were most likely formed with
carbonate rather than hematite (evaluation provided by Marjorie Chan---thank you!).

The University of Utah has more information on marbles.
.

Nikon D80 ,Nikkor 20mm f/2.8 AF
1/500s f/7.1 at 20.0mm iso100 full exif

other sizes: small medium large auto
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Guest 17-Mar-2007 21:51
We find a simiilar thing is AZ, called a "desert rose" formed when lightening strikes sand. Could these have rolled down into this indentation from a higher strike point?
Guest 11-Mar-2007 11:24
The are found on Mars and called "blueberries" Dave.
1moremile27-Jan-2007 00:59
Mountain oysters?
Again, I've only heard of their existence.
kimberly borchardt05-Jan-2007 20:55
weird. could be alien 'pods'.
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