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Van Schmus, W. R.

Publications and source records attributed to Van Schmus, W. R..

The Galatia, Kansas, chondrite

The paper describes the Galatia meteorite found August 1971 approximately 7 km ENE of Galatia, Barton County, Kansas (98 deg 53 min W, 38 deg 39.5 min N). The single stone weighed 23.9 kg and is partially weathered. Olivine (Fa 24.9) and pyroxene (Fs 20.9) compositions indicate L-group classification, and textural observations indicate that the stone is of petrologic type 6. While Galatia is similar in many respects to the Otis L6 chondrite found 20 miles to the west, Galatia does not have the brecciated structure of Otis and is therefore not part of the same fall.

Van Schmus, W. R.↗

A structural study of the Kentland, Indiana impact site

The Kentland, Indiana impact structure includes a central uplifted area about 4 km in diameter with the most intense deformation confined to a core slightly greater than 1 km in diameter. Stratigraphic uplift in the core region is probably greater than 600 m. A large quarry located on the northern flank of the central uplift exposes in detail some of the complexities which occur as a result of structural modifications of an original transient cavity. Shock deformational features produced by the impact event, including monomict and polymict breccias and shatter cones, are exposed in the quarry. It is suggested that the probable mechanism producing central uplift formation in impact craters in sedimentary rocks is some type of rebound of the impact-compressed material.

Laney, R. T.↗

Chemical and petrographic correlations among carbonaceous chondrites

Detailed study of the petrographic and chemical properties of carbonaceous chondrites shows that the four distinct petrographic subtypes may be related to one of two distinct chemical subdivisions. These subdivisions are recognized primarily by the relative abundances of the nonvolatile elements Si, Ca, Al, Ti, Cu and Fe. C1, C2 and C3(O) chondrites form one subdivision. Vigarano subtype chondrites form the other subdivision and include chondrites previously referred to as C2, C3 and C4. Normalized to silicon, the abundances of Ca, Al and Ti are relatively enriched in Vigarano subtype chondrites, whereas Fe and Cu are relatively more abundant in C1, C2 and C3(O) chondrites. Volatile elements tend to correlate with petrographic subtypes rather than with chemical subdivisions.

Van Schmus, W. R.↗