Search NASA⌕ Search

Engineering topics

Stolper, E.

Publications and source records attributed to Stolper, E..

17 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2011

Using the Abitibi Greenstone Belt to Understand Martian Hydrothermal Systems and the Potential for Biosignature Preservation in High Temperature Aqueous Environments

Metabolic bone diseases like osteoporosis result from the disruption of normal bone mineral balance (BMB) resulting in bone loss. During spaceflight astronauts lose substantial bone. Bed rest provides an analog to simulate some of the effects of spaceflight; including bone and calcium loss and provides the opportunity to evaluate new methods to monitor BMB in healthy individuals undergoing environmentally induced-bone loss. Previous research showed that natural variations in the Ca isotope ratio occur because bone formation depletes soft tissue of light Ca isotopes while bone resorption releases that isotopically light Ca back into soft tissue (Skulan et al, 2007). Using a bed rest model, we demonstrate that the Ca isotope ratio of urine shifts in a direction consistent with bone loss after just 7 days of bed rest, long before detectable changes in bone mineral density (BMD) occur. The Ca isotope variations tracks changes observed in urinary N-teleopeptide, a bone resorption biomarker. Bone specific alkaline phosphatase, a bone formation biomarker, is unchanged. The established relationship between Ca isotopes and BMB can be used to quantitatively translate the changes in the Ca isotope ratio to changes in BMD using a simple mathematical model. This model predicts that subjects lost 0.25 +/- 0.07% (+/- SD) of their bone mass from day 7 to day 30 of bed rest. Given the rapid signal observed using Ca isotope measurements and the potential to quantitatively assess bone loss; this technique is well suited to study the short-term dynamics of bone metabolism.

Hurowitz, J.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Test and Delivery of the Chemin Mineralogical Instrument for Mars Science Laboratory

The CheMin mineralogical instrument on MSL will return quantitative powder X-ray diffraction data (XRD) and qualitative X-ray fluorescence data (XRF; 14<Z<92) from scooped soil samples and drilled rock powders collected on the Mars surface. The geometry of the source, sample, and detector is shown. A transmission geometry was chosen so that diffracted intensities in the low-20 region (5-15 deg), important for phyllosilicate identification, could be detected.

Blake, D. F.↗
NASA NTRS1994

The stability of hibonite, melilite and other aluminous phases in silicate melts: Implications for the origin of hibonite-bearing inclusions from carbonaceous chondrites

Phase fields in which hibonite and silicate melt coexist with spinel CaAl4O7, gehlenitic melilite, anorthite or corundum at 1 bar in the system CaO-MgO-Al2O3-SiO2-TiO2 were determined. The hibonites contain up to 1.7 wt% SiO2. For TiO2, the experimentally determined partition coefficients between hibonite and coexisting melt D(sub i)(sup Hib/L), vary from 0.8 to 2.1 and generally decrease with increasing TiO2 in the liquid. Based on Ti partitioning between hibonite and melt, bulk inclusion compositions and hibonite-saturated liquidus phase diagrams, the hibonite in hibonite-poor fluffy Type A inclusions from Allende and at least some hibonite from hibonite-rich inclusions is relict, although much of the hibonite from hibonite-glass spherules probably crystallized metasably from a melt. Bulk compositions for all of these CAIs are consistent with an origin as melite + hibonite + spinel + perovskite phase assembalges that were partially altered and in some cases partially or completely melted. The duration of the melting event was sufficient to remove any Na introduced by the alteration process but frequently insufficient to dissolve all of the original hibonite. Simple thermochemical models developed for meteoritic melilite and hibonite solid solutions were used to obtain equilibration temperatures of hibonite-bearing phase assemblages with vapor. Referenced to 10(exp -3) atm, hibonite + corundum + vapor equilibrated at approximately 1260 C and hibonite + spinel +/- melilite + vapor at 1215 +/- 10 C. If these temperatures reflect condensation in a cooling gas of solar composition, then hibonite +/- corundum condensed first, followed by spinel and then melilite. The position of perovskite within this sequence is uncertain, but it probably began to condense before spinel. This sequence of phase appearances and relative temperatures is generally consistent with observed textures but differs from expectations based on classical condensation calculations in that equilibration temperatures are generally lower than predicted and melilite initially condenses with or even after spinel. Simple thermochemical modes for the substitution of trace elements into the Ca site of meteoritic hibonites suggest that virtually all Eu is divalent in early condensate hibonites but that Eu(2+)/Eu(#+) decreases by a factor of 20 or more during the course of condensation primarily because the ratio is proportional to the partial pressure of Al, which decreases dramatically as aluminous phase condense. The relative sizes of Eu and Yb anomalies in meteoritic hibonites and inclusions may be partly due to this effect.

Beckett, J. R.↗
NASA NTRS1993

The stability of hibonite and other aluminous phases in silicate melts: Implications for the origin of hibonite-bearing inclusions

Phase fields in which hibonite (Hib) and silicate melt coexist with spinel (Sp), CaAl4O7 (CA2), gehlenitic melilite (Mel), anorthite (An), or corundum (Cor) in the system CaO-MgO-Al203-SiO2-TiO2 (CMAST) were determined and activity models developed for Mel and Hib solid solutions. Experimentally determined partition coefficients for Ti between Hib and coexisting melt, D sub t, vary from 0.8 to 2.1 and generally decrease with increasing TiO2 content in the liquid (L). Based on Ti partioning between Hib and melt, bulk inclusion compositions and Hib-saturated liquid use phase diagrams, the Hib in Fluffy Type A inclusions (FTA's) from Allende and at least some of the Hib from Hib-rich inclusions is relict; much of the Hib from Hib-glass spherules probably crystallized from a melt under nonequilibrium conditions. Bulk compositions for all of these Ca-Al-rich inclusions (CAI's) are consistent with an origin as Mel + Hib + Sp + perovskite (Pv) proto-inclusions in which Mel was partially altered. In some cases, the proto-inclusion was partially or completely melted with vaporization occurring over a period of time sufficient to remove any Na introduced by the alteration process but frequently insufficient to dissolve all of the original hibonite. If equilibration temperatures based on Hib-bearing CAI's reflect condensation in a cooling gas of solar composition, then Hib + Cor condensed at approximately 1260 C (referenced to 10 exp -3 atm) and Hib + Sp + Mel at approximately 1215 +/- 10 C. Simple thermochemical models for the substitution of trace elements into the Ca-site of meteoritic Hib suggest that virtually all Eu is divalent in early condensate Hibs but that Eu(2+)/Eu(3+) decreases by a factor of 20 or more during the course of condensation, primarily because the ratio is proportional to the partial pressure of Al, which decreases dramatically as aluminous phases condense. The relative sizes of Eu and Yb anomalies in meteoritic Hibs and CAI's may be influenced by this effect.

Beckett, J. R.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Crystallization sequences of Ca-Al-rich inclusions from Allende - The effects of cooling rate and maximum temperature

The crystallization sequences, mineral chemistries, and textures resulting from the cooling in air from 1275-1580 C to below 100 C at rates between 0.5 and 100 c/hr of an average Type B Ca-Al-rich inclusion composition are investigated. Comparison of experimental results with petrographic observations of Type B CaIs indicates that most inclusions were partially melted and then cooled at rates of the order of a few tenths to tens of degrees per hour, with maximum temperatures of about 1400 C suggested for intermediate Type B Allende inclusions. Data are consistent with the drag heating of particles falling though nebular gas, heating in nebular shock fronts, or other thermal heterogeneities in the early nebula allowing time scales for heating of CAIs much shorter than those for the nebular cloud as a whole.

Stolper, E.↗
NASA NTRS1986

The color of meteoritic hibonite - An indicator of oxygen fugacity

Hibonites similar in composition to those found in Ca-Al-rich inclusions change color from blue, to green, to orange, to nearly colorless as oxygen fugacity is increased at high temperature from below the iron-wustite buffer up to air. The development of the blue color is correlated with the growth of an absorption band at 715 nm in the optical spectra of the hibonites as the oxygen fugacity is reduced. The growth of this band is attributed to the increasing concentration of Ti(3+) in these hibonites with decreasing oxygen fugacity. The blue hibonites in meteorites reflect equilibration under reducing conditions based on the intensity of 715 nm band, it is estimated that the hibonite in the Blue Angel inclusion indicates an oxygen fugacity four to five orders of magnitude more oxidizing than that expected in the early solar nebula. This may be due to formation in an anomalously oxidizing region of the nebula or to oxidation during cooling or later alteration. The orange hibonites in Allende reflect oxygen fugacities approximately ten or more orders of magnitude more oxidizing than the expected primitive nebula; this color probably indicates alteration of initially more reduced (blue?) hibonites. The colorless hibonite in the HAL inclusion reflects highly oxidizing conditions and/or its low Ti content.

Ihinger, P. D.↗
NASA NTRS1984

The origin and significance of reverse zoning in melilite from Allende Type B inclusions

Many of Type B Allende inclusions are found to have reverse zoning over restricted portions of each crystal, in contrast to those in Type A's, which are reversely zoned throughout. Results of dynamic crystallization experiments on compositions similar to an average Type B inclusion are reported in which reversely zoned melilite rims were grown on normally zoned cores. The fact that these zoning patterns have been duplicated is interpreted as evidence that natural melilites having such zoning were formed by crystallization from a melt. Since reverse zoning could only be produced over a restricted range of experimental conditions, the presence in natural inclusions of the kinds of zoning patterns described here may place constraints on the conditions under which the inclusions formed.

Macpherson, G. J.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Crystallization sequences of Ca-Al-rich inclusions from Allende - An experimental study

The results of equilibrium crystallization experiments at one atmosphere on a sample of the Type B Ca-Al-rich inclusions (CAI) of the Allende meteorite are reported. All the experiments were performed on a synthetic sample approximating the Allende CAI characteristics. The crystallization sequence observed comprised spinel at 1550 C, then melilite at 1400 C, anorthite at 1260 C, and then Ti-Al-rich clinopyroxene, formed at 1230 C. The observation that pyroxenes similar to the titaniferous fassaites found in Type B inclusions can be formed by equilibrium crystallizations of melts with Type B composition indicate that some Type B CAIs were at least partially molten. If the temperatures were not too far above the solidus, the molten condensate compositions would be similar to that occurring in gas-to-solid condensation.

Stolper, E.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Melt segregation from partially molten source regions - The importance of melt density and source region size

An investigation is conducted regarding the changes expected in the density contrast between basic melts and peridotites with increasing pressure using the limited data available on the compressibilities of silicate melts and data on the densities of mantle minerals. It is concluded that since compressibilities of silicate melts are about an order of magnitude greater than those of mantle minerals, the density contrast between basic melts and mantle minerals must diminish significantly with increasing pressure. An earlier analysis regarding the migration of liquid in partially molten source regions conducted by Walker et al. (1978) is extended, giving particular attention to the influence of the diminished density contrast between melt and residual crystals with increasing source region depth and to the influence of source region size. This analysis leads to several generalizations concerning the factors influencing the depths at which magmas will segregate from their source regions and the degrees of partial melting that can be achieved in these source regions before melt segregation occurs.

Stolper, E.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Melt density and the average composition of basalt

Densities of residual liquids produced by low pressure fractionation of olivine-rich melts pass through a minimum when pyroxene and plagioclase joint the crystallization sequence. The observation that erupted basalt compositions cluster around the degree of fractionation from picritic liquids corresponding to the density minimum in the liquid line of descent may thus suggest that the earth's crust imposes a density fiber on the liquids that pass through it, favoring the eruption of the light liquids at the density minimum over the eruption of denser more fractionated and less fractionated liquids.

Stolper, E.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Predictions of mineral assemblages in planetary interiors

It is shown that mineral compatibilities in the model system CaO-MgO-Al2O3-SiO2 can be applied to deduce the mineral assemblages expected in planetary interiors and their variation with depth. In general, the available estimates of bulk composition of the terrestrial planets suggest that the terrestrial planets can be divided into two groups based on their predicted mineral assemblages. The terrestrial, Venusian, and lunar bulk compositions are expected to display the following sequence of mineral assemblages with increasing pressure: plagioclase lherzolite, spinel lherzolite, and garnet lherzolite. The sequences expected in Martian and Mercurian are different: spinel-plagioclase wehrlite, spinel lherzolite, and spinel-garnet wehrlite. These assemblages have a major influence on the compositions of liquids produced by melting of these planetary interiors, on the solidus temperatures, and thus on the nature of planetary differentiation and the types of magmas extruded at planetary surfaces.

Stolper, E.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Petrology and origin of the shergottite meteorites

The results of petrographic studies and 1 atmosphere melting experiments of Shergotty and Zagami shergottites, the origin and evolution of the shergottites, and the relationship of the shergottite parent body to the parent bodies of the other achondrites and to the earth are examined. Shergotty and Zagami differ in the proportions of cumulus pyroxenes and crystallized intercumulus liquid, but their compositions are similar. Shergottites can be distinguished from other achondrite groups by their mineralogies, crystallization sequences, and inferred source region compositions, but their source regions can be related to other achondrite types by addition or loss of volatile components. Shergottites and terrestrial basalts show similar oxidation states and minor element concentrations which may be accounted for by accretion of similar materials to produce the terrestrial upper mantle and the shergottite parent body, or by accretion of the earth's upper mantle from planetisimals similar to the shergottite parent body.

Stolper, E.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Theoretical petrology

In the present paper, some areas of growing interest in the American efforts in petrology during the 1975-1978 quadrennium are reviewed. In igneous petrology, studies of structures and thermodynamic properties of silicate melts and of kinetics of igneous processes are in a period of rapid growth. Plate tectonic concepts have had (and will no doubt continue to have) an important influence by focusing interest on specific problems and by providing a framework for the understanding of petrogenesis. An understanding of mantle processes and evolution through the integration of petrological, geophysical, and geochemical constraints has been developed over the past 20 years, and will undoubtedly provide direction for future petrological studies.

Stolper, E.↗
NASA NTRS1979

A petrogenetic model of the relationships among achondritic meteorites

Petrological evidence is used to support the hypothesis that although the magma source regions and parent bodies of basaltic achondrite, shergottite, nakhlite, and chassignite meteorites are clearly distinct, they may be simply related. It is proposed that the peridotites which on partial melting generated the parent magmas of the shergottite meteorites differed from those which gave rise to eucritic magmas by being enriched in a component rich in alkalis and other volatiles. Similarly, the source regions of the parent magmas of the nakhlite and chassignite meteorites differed from those on the shergottite parent body by being still richer in this volatile-rich component. These regions could have been related by processes such as mixture of variable amounts of volatile-rich and volatile-poor components in planetary or nebular settings, or alternatively by variable varying degrees of volatile loss from volatile-rich materials.

Stolper, E.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Trace elements in shergottite meteorites - Implications for the origins of planets

The average concentrations of 19 siderophile and volatile elements in shergottite meteorites differ from those in terrestrial basalts by less than a factor of ten. This observation undermines claims that the abundances of siderophile and volatile elements in the Earth's upper mantle are uniquely terrestrial. Claims that similarities in the Moon's siderophile element pattern imply a terrestrial origin for the Moon are also weakened. The implication that basalt source regions on the asteroidal parent body of the shergottites resembled the terrestrial upper mantle constrains models of planetary formation and evolution. Heterogeneous accretion models may explain many of the similarities between these planets. Alternatively, separation of sulfide from basaltic magmas or their source regions on the Earth and the shergottite parent body may explain some of these similarities.

Stolper, E.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Experimental petrology and origin of rocks from the Descartes Highlands

Petrographic studies of Apollo 16 samples indicate that rocks 62295 and 68415 are crystallization products of highly aluminous melts. 60025 is a shocked, crushed and partially annealed plagioclase cumulate. 60315 is a recrystallized noritic breccia of disputed origin. 60335 is a feldspathic basalt filled with xenoliths and xenocrysts of anorthosite, breccia, and anorthite. The Fe/(Fe+Mg) of plagioclase appears to be a relative crystallization index. Low pressure melting experiments with controlled Po2 indicate that the igneous samples crystallized at oxygen fugacities well below the Fe/FeO buffer. Crystallization experiments at various pressures suggest that the 62295 and 68415 compositions were produced by partial or complete melting of lunar crustal materials, and not by partial melting of the deep lunar interior.

Walker, D.↗