We finished up with examination of  the big outcrop ("Copper Cliff") and moved to the next target over the weekend.

With that drive Opportunity completed the loop around Matijevic Hill and is now back where it started on the big loop to examine the outcrops. It is now resuming detailed observations of the outcrop Whitewater Lake. The object of the return to Whitewater Lake are small bright veins throughout the outcrop there. The hope is that we will be able to get an assessment of the composition of the veins. Once we are done here we plan to try to find a good outcrop where we can determine the composition of the the so-called “newberries” or “not-blueberries” that were identified back around sol 3060. We did see some dispersed newberries in the last outcrop  where there was a distinct contact between Whitewater Lake and overlying impact breccias. The newberries could be related to the impact process and might e similar to the lapilli or volcanic “hailstones” common in certain volcanic eruptions.

Below is a part of the Navcam panorama at the end of the drive this week. The bright squarish outcrop is the target outcrop, Whitewater Lake. The rim of endeavour crater continues to the south.

Here is a look at the status of the of the traverse around the hill as recorded in my geologic mapping based on rover observations.