Mystery: Mars soil/sand seems to stick together!?!

[Kedas]

PASADENA, Calif. -- Scientists are puzzled about a patch of soil near the Mars rover Spirit lander that they now call "Magic Carpet". The intrigue has been stirred up by how soil behaved when the lander’s airbags scraped across the martian soil. That soil appears to have been peeled away.

 

This odd performance of the soil, some speculate, could provide a window into the existence of subsurface water and, maybe, clues about whether Mars could sustain life.

 

There’s one thing for sure. Whatever the lander’s airbags have caused, the result is a "spirited" debate.

 

http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/spirit_gusev_040116.html

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/mer2004/rover-images/jan-16-2004/captions/image-8.html

[blike]

Can't wait to see the final analysis

[fafalone]

Seems like it would be easier to just collect a soil sample...

[Cap'n Refsmmat]

Like, send the rover a little bit to it. Though, I thought it was for rocks only?