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Are they IGNIOUS? METAMORPHIC? SEDIMENTARY?
How and when were they formed?
The present accepted theory [Doelling, 1968] states:
"... In the geologic past, a scum of iron gel apparently formed at the top of the water table within the then-unconsolidated sand of the Navajo Sandstone. Later the sand was compacted by some local disturbance, such as an earthquake.
Air or water forced between the sand grains frothed the iron gel as it passesd through it, creating much the same effect as occurs when one blows through a straw in a glass of soapy water. Later reactions hardened the bubbles 'freezing' them in place, and the iron concretions were formed."
I believe the "local disturbance" was a Meteorite Impact, which provided the iron and HEAT!
As you view the evidence, What Do You Think happened?
"Moqui Marbles" were named for the Moqui Indian children who were supposed to have played with these interesting spheres, but they are not all spheres.
In the above photo you can see some marbles that were broken during formation, and the broken face was covered with the same iron/silicate coating that makes their outer shells. Some broke as they recently tumbled down the slopes around them, and you can see their sand filled interiors. Notice the odd "Associated Rocks" in the photo.
Moqui Marbles are found over a large area beginning 10 miles east of Escalante Utah and reported from Scofield Reservoir on the north to Arizona on the south, to Lake Powell on the east, where they are eroding out of sand, sandstone, and limestone formations. Just south of Crosby Crater they are still weathering out of multi-colored sandstone perched just on top of previously weathered Navajo Sandstone.