[asb3pe]

My take is that perhaps any remaining iron in the "iron oxide suface material" is slightly magnetized.

If you've ever played with iron filings and a magnet, I think you'll know where I'm coming from. The apparent cohesiveness of the soil may not be due to liquid content, which everyone obviously has a hard time with given the extremely low temps on mars...

Just my two cents, which is about all a wild guess is worth. :)

[Frank_Discussion]

I don't think iron oxide is magnetic. Along the same lines, though, a really fine dust might stick via static electricity. I am not really seeing that as the cause of this, however.

It looks darker than the surrounding soil, as if it is wet. We may have found a covered layer of liquid slightly below the dust.

I AM INTRIGUED!!

[null and void]

Damm you! We want life! Pond scum, fungus, algae, anything!

[RightWhale]

There should be a magnet on the end of the geology arm. I forget what's supposed to be in any geology field kit. Streak plate, magnet, scratcher . . .

[Agamemnon]

An interesting speculation. How the magnetism might effect the instrumentation of this craft might might explain other previous less-successful missions.

[contrarian]

"My take is that perhaps any remaining iron in the "iron oxide suface material" is slightly magnetized" THANK YOU, I HAD THE SAME THOUGHT ( I guess great minds think alike) My thinking goes like this--Cold and extremely dry air blowing across the iron composition soil builds up a static charge that eventually develops a magnetic field effect and then (TA DAAAH) you have magnetized dirt..well,,,,it COULD happen.... : 0

[MissCalico]

..."perhaps any remaining iron in the "iron oxide suface material" is slightly magnetized. If you've ever played with iron filings and a magnet, I think you'll know where I'm coming from..."