Buck,

Here is a picture that compares two of the types of lava rock. On the left side is a piece of the rock itself that was removed a few days ago when the magazine people were here looking at the rock. The piece on the right is one of the pieces from within the rock that was enclosed in the sand. This is the piece I would like to get tested for elemental oxides.

The pitted texture of the rock and the clay like material that adheres to it makes me believe that this second rock has been wet. But if you examine it closely, there are still fragile edges that stick out, so I don't think it has spent much time in running water, but just small amounts of water that weren't able to tumble the rock much. The piece on the left shows no water effects at all, only the effects of the sand molding the rock as the lava moved and cooled around the sand.

These two pictures are pictures of the samples that I took the other day. I think they very clearly show that every edge of this material is covered by a fine layer of sand. The sand stuck to the hot lava when the rock was formed. This means that every test I have done is contaminated by the sand. If you look carefully at the walls of the lava where they have been broken, you can see that the inner material is more red in color than the color of the rock with the sand stuck all over it.

Also, these two rocks represent material from the inner most part of the rock, and both of them had the little things growing in the rock when I removed the samples. The little while spots were actually supported by the three dimensional structure of these little things. I kept trying to get a picture of these things supporting the white (or yellow) "rocks," and finally ruined them by moving the rock too much. Anyway, I have always realized that these things could be from Earth, but why would an Earthly organism be interested in a rock that falls from space? And how could they get to the middle of the rock without ever having any sunlight or water? And why do they seem so interested in the pieces of debris that exist within the rock? These characteristics seem better suited to life that has evolved on Mars because that life would have to do with less water and less light than Earthly counterparts. Anyway, to get accurate measurements of the elements within this rock, one would have to use the probe method you spoke of the other day. I wish I knew someone that did this type of analysis, so that we could get several different spots analyzed. I think one could get different results at different locations and there is actually a metal that shows in many places on the rock, including one place on the outside in the fusion crust. It would be nice to know what metal that is.

You asked if I was perturbed the other day. I guess I was. My main perturbation comes from not having anyone to talk to about this rock. I am single and have finally gotten rid of my last child and so I live alone now. And none of the geologist I have contacted will talk to me even though I have offered to pay them for their time if they would just help me understand what is going on. So it is very frustrating to me that I can't express my ideas and opinions about this rock to others. I guess that is why I was a little testy when I spoke to you the other day and you didn't exactly sound happy to hear from me. I realize I am a pest, but I believe that I have good reason to pester someone. I really appreciate your good nature and the fact that you didn't get mad at me, even if I was perturbed. Thanks you again for all that you are doing. I will contact you again shortly.

Your friend,