Image analysis is not easy. In fact, it is very difficult.

What you say is "clearly metallic" is not clear at all; all you know is that it is bright, not what it is made of. The image may be exposed for darker reddish dirt, and something whiter would look very bright (or the picture may have had the contrast adjusted that way). I'll note I spent ten years doing image analysis, and have learned many of the minefields involved.

I heard Hoagland on the radio last night making all sorts of ridiculous claims about the images. His track record with image analysis is very, very low. I will be curious to hear his nonsense tonight again on Coast to Coast AM.