Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “METAMORPHISM”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 37 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1990

Meteorite impact, cryptoexplosion, and shock metamorphism - A perspective on the evidence at the K/T boundary

A perspective on the evidence of a major impact event at the K/T boundary is proposed using field and laboratory studies of terrestrial impact craters. Recent assertions that diagnostic indications of shock metamorphism are also produced in volcanic environments are challenged. A general geological framework of impact structures is developed and the issue of volcanically induced shock metamorphism is examined. Cryptoexplosion is addressed by assessing the geology of two structures: the Slate Islands and Manson, which are often cited by advocates of an internal origin for shock metamorphism as volcanic structures. It is concluded that the link between shock metamorphism and meteorite impact is now established beyond reasonable doubt. The occurrence and worldwide distribution of shocked minerals at the K/T boundary is considered to be the conclusive evidence for a major impact event.

Sharpton, V. L.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Metamorphism and aqueous alteration in low petrographic type ordinary chondrites

In order to investigate the relative importance of dry metamorphism and aqueous alteration in the history of chondruies, chondruies were hand-picked from the Semarkona (petrographic type 3.0), Bishunpur (3. 1), Chainpur (3.4), Dhajala (3.8) and Allegan (5) chondrites, and matrix samples were extracted from the first three ordinary chondrites. The thermoluminescence (TL) properties of all the samples were measured, and appropriate subsets of the samples were analyzed by electron-microprobe and radiochemical neutron activation and the water and H-isotopic composition determined. The TL data for chondrules from Semarkona and Bishunpur scatter widely showing no unambiguous trends, although group B1 chondrules tend to have lower sensitivities and lower peak temperatures compared with group A5 chondrules. It is argued that these data reflect the variety of processes accompanying chondrule formation. The chondrules show remarkably uniform contents of the highly labile elements, indicating mineralogical control on abundance and volatile loss from silicates and loss and recondensation of mobile chalcophiles and siderophiles in some cases. Very high D/H values (up to approx. 8000% SMOW) are observed in certain Semarkona chondrules, a confirmation of earlier work. With increasing petrographic type, mean TL sensitivities of the chondrules increase, the spread of values within an individual meteorite decreases, and peak temperatures and peak widths show trends indicating that the TL is mainly produced by feldspar and that dry, thermal metamorphism is the dominant secondary process experienced by the chondrules. The TL sensitivities of matrix samples also increase with petrographic type. Chainpur matrix samples show the same spread of peak temperatures and peak widths as Chainpur chondruies, indicating metamorphism-related changes in the feldspar are responsible for the TL of the matrix. The TL data for the Semarkona and Bishunpur matrix samples provide, at best, only weak evidence for aqueous alteration, but the matrix contains H with approximately terrestrial D/H values, even though it contains much water. Secondary processes (probably aqueous alteration) presumably lowered the D/H of the matrix and certain chondrules. While chondrule properties appear to be governed primarily by formation processes and subsequent metamorphism, the matrix of Semarkona has a more complex history involving aqueous alteration as a meteorite-wide process.

Xie, T.↗
DOE OSTI2025

A Tale from the Trenches: Applying Metamorphic and Differential Testing to Bioinformatics Software

Metamorphic and differential testing have been proposed as best practices for testing software that is difficult to test, such as for programs in scientific domains. An assumption is that these approaches can be easily customized and applied to almost any domain. However, scientific software is often data-driven, and metamorphic relations may require significant domain knowledge to develop. In addition, tools are often written for ad-hoc experimentation by the scientists and often embed many assumptions about the importance and representation of different natural phenomena. In this paper, we present our experience applying both metamorphic and differential testing to a set of four computational biology tools that predict the growth of an organism. While our original goal was to evaluate these techniques to improve our system-level testing, we encountered multiple roadblocks along the way. Although we did find faults (some confirmed by developers), we also uncovered a set of challenges, including the considerable manual effort required for (a) defining domain-specific tests, (b) validating correctness, and (c) distinguishing between issues stemming from poor data and those arising from incorrect software.

Marsh, Alexis L [Iowa State University/Ames Labora↗
NASA NTRS1972

Shock metamorphic effects in the Luna 16 soil sample from Mare Fecunditatis.

Diverse lunar soil fragments returned from the Luna 16 mission were examined for evidence in shock metamorphism in order to evaluate the role of meteorite impact in forming the lunar regolith at a new site relatively distant from the Apollo landing sites. It was found that shock metamorphic effects, characteristic of meteorite impact and virtually identical to those observed in Apollo samples, are common in the Luna 16 fragments. Two types of shock effects are present - i.e., a deformation and partial melting features in rock and mineral fragments, and heterogeneous glasses and glassy breccias produced by shock melting. It is concluded that these shock metamorphic effects indicate that regolith formation by meteorite impact has occurred in Mare Fecunditatis and is a general process over the entire moon.

French, B. M.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Carbonaceous chondrites of the Ornans type - A metamorphic sequence

The six identified carbonaceous chondrites classified as C3(O) (also known as the Ornans subtype or ornansites) are studied as a group. The Karoonda meteorite is also examined to determine whether it may be classified as a highly metamorphosed equivalent of the Ornans subtype. Petrographic and chemical similarities among these meteorites are discussed along with such systematic variations as textural, mineralogical, metallurgical, and chemical differences. Three metamorphic grades are delineated, chemical variations are correlated with the grades, and an attempt is made to determine why the Ornans meteorite belongs in a higher metamorphic grade on the basis of its chemical properties than on the basis of its petrographic characteristics. It is concluded that subtle differences among the meteorites may be related to small variations in the thermal metamorphism they have experienced.

Mcsween, H. Y., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Ubiquitous brecciation after metamorphism in equilibrated ordinary chondrites

Ten objects with aberrant Fe/(Fe + Mg) ratios have been found in apparently unbrecciated types 4-6 H and L chondrites. Since the Fe/(Fe + Mg) ratios of these objects are incompatible with the metamorphic history of the host chondrites, it is concluded that a high proportion of ordinary chondrites are breccias that were lithified after peak metamorphism. This is consistent with the results of Scott (1984), who concluded that most type three ordinary chondrites are breccias of materials with diverse thermal histories, even though they do not show prominent brecciation. It is found that the classification scheme of Van Schmus and Wood (1967) does not identify chondrites with similar thermal histories; the petrologic type of a chondrite is only a measure of the average thermal history of its ingredients. Chondrite and achondrite breccias are also compared in order to understand how brecciation of chondrites after metamorphism is so well camouflaged.

Scott, E. R. D.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Chemical and physical studies of type 3 chondrites. VIII - Thermoluminescence and metamorphism in the CO chondrites

A possible relationship between the thermoluminescence (TL) properties of CO chondrites and their metamorphic history was investigated by measuring the TL properties of seven normal CO chondrites and of the Colony and the Allan Hills A77307 (ALHA 77307) CO-related chondrites. With the exception of Colony and ALHA 77307, whose maximum induced TL emission is at approximately 350 C, the CO chondrites were found to exhibit two TL peaks: a 130 C and a 250 C peaks. Among the CO chondrites, the 130 C peak showed a 100-fold range in TL sensitivity and was found to correlate with various metamorphism-related phenomena, such as silicate heterogeneity, metal composition, and McSween's metamorphic subtypes. The peak at 250 did not show these correlations and, with exception of Colony, showed little variation.

Keck, Bradly D.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Planet Alsioff - A problem set for students of phase equilibria or metamorphic petrology

This paper presents a problem set that contains questions for students of phase equilibria or metamorphic petrology concerning a hypothetical planet Alsioff, for which incomplete data are given. On this panet, the SiF4 is the major volatile and Al, Si, O, and F are the only elements present. Progressive metamorphism on Alsioff mainly involves devolatilization of fluid SiF4. The problem set includes ten questions. Some of these are concerned with possible chemical reactions that should affect water, wollastonite, or Ca-SiO3 exposed to the atmosphere of Alsioff; the mechanism of controls of the O2 and F2 contents of the Alsioffian atmosphere; and the devolatilization reactions involving SiF4 with progressive thermal metamorphism.

Burt, Donald M.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Thermal metamorphism

Most chondrites have experienced thermal metamorphism, resulting in changes in texture, mineralogy and possibly chemical composition. The physical conditions for metamorphism range from approximately 400 to 1000 C at low lithostatic pressure. Metamorphism may have resulted from decay of short-lived radionuclides, electromagnetic induction or accretion of hot materials. Several thermal models for chondrite parent bodies have been proposed. The least metamorphosed type-3 chondrites probably carry the most information about the early solar system, but even these have been affected to some degree by thermal processing.

Mcsween, Harry Y., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Oxidation during metamorphism of the ordinary chondrites

It is suggested that some current concepts about the conditions of metamorphism in ordinary chondrites may be flawed. These meteorites display small systematic variations in the oxidation state of Fe. Evidence is presented that oxidation of Fe is linked to metamorphic grade in types 4-6 ordinary chondrites. This conclusion is at variance with a commonly accepted model for chondrite metamorphism that assumes Fe reduction by graphite.

Mcsween, Harry Y., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Traces of Catastrophe: A Handbook of Shock-Metamorphic Effects in Terrestrial Meteorite Impact Structures

This handbook of Shock-Metamorphic Effects in Terrestrial Meteorite Impact Structures emphasizes terrestrial impact structures, field geology, and particularly the recognition and petrographic study of shock-metamorphic effects in terrestrial rocks. Individual chapters include: 1) Landscapes with Craters: Meteorite Impacts, Earth, and the Solar System; 2) Target Earth: Present, Past and Future; 3) Formation of Impact Craters; 4) Shock-Metamorphic Effects in Rocks and Minerals; 5) Shock-Metamorphosed Rocks (Impactities) in Impact Structures; 6) Impact Melts; 7) How to Find Impact Structures; and 8) What Next? Current Problems and Future Investigations.

French, Bevan M.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Eye-Safe 1.5 and 2.0 Micron Laser Power Conversion Using Metamorphic InGaAs Photovoltaic Devices

Laser power transmission at 1.5 and 2.0 microns are considered eye-safe up to 0.1 W/cm2 irradiance. Further, the atmospheric bands at these two wavelengths may provide the highest optical transmission through the atmosphere in hazy conditions. By slowly changing the lattice-constant of InGaAs with a Compositionally Graded Buffer (CGB), we have fabricated InGaAs photovoltaic (PV) devices over a wide range of bandgaps useful for multijunction concentrating photovoltaic devices, thermophotovoltaic devices, and Laser Power Converters (LPC). Here, we have demonstrated monochromatic power conversion of 1.5-micron light with an eye-safe efficiency of 39.8% at 0.1 W/cm2 with InGaAs devices lattice-matched to InP with an Antireflection Coating (ARC). We have also demonstrated 30.2% and 24.5% eye-safe LPC efficiency of metamorphic InGaAs devices grown on GaAs substrates using GaInP and AlGaAsP CGBs, respectively. Finally, we have demonstrated metamorphic InGaAs devices grown on InP and GaAs substrates that are estimated to have eye-safe LPC efficiencies at 2.0 microns of 27.4% and 20.9% respectively. The efficiencies of all these LPC devices continues to increase up to about 30-70 times the eye-safe irradiance.

eye-safe↗
NASA NTRS1972

Metamorphism of Apollo 14 breccias.

All Apollo 14 breccias for which thin sections are available (27 rocks) were studied petrographically. From one sample in each of six groups, electron microprobe analyses were performed on matrix (less than 25 microns) plagioclase, pyroxene, and olivine and of rims and cores of plagioclase and pyroxene clasts (50 to 300 microns). Matrix plagioclase, pyroxene, and olivine in the high-grade rocks display a narrow range of compositions, suggesting an equilibrated or metamorphic origin. However, in the low-grade rocks a wide range of compositions, suggesting a detrital or unequilibrated origin, is observed. Partially equilibrated states are observed in medium-grade samples. It is concluded that the Apollo 14 breccias formed as part of the Imbrium Basin ejecta blanket - the Fra Mauro formation. The continuous nature of the metamorphic series suggests that the medium- and high-grade breccias were derived from unmetamorphosed equivalents by autometamorphism in the thick, hot Fra Mauro formation at the Apollo 14 site.

Warner, J. L.↗
NASA NTRS1973

The age and petrography of two Luna 20 fragments and inferences for widespread lunar metamorphism.

Ages were determined by the Ar-40/Ar-39 method on two metaclastic rocks returned from the lunar highlands north of Mare Fecunditatis by the Luna 20 probe. Both samples gave very well-defined argon retention ages of 3.90 plus or minus 0.04 AE which are indistinguishable from each other within a resolution of 0.02 AE. Both fragments, 22006 and 22007, are highly recrystallized polymict breccias; there is no evidence of radiogenic Ar-40, and the age almost surely dates the time of recrystallization. The cosmic ray exposure ages of these fragments are similar and high: 900 million years for 22006, 1300 million years for 22007. 22007 also contains substantial trapped argon with a high Ar-40/Ar-36. The Luna 20 results greatly extend the area of the moon's surface exhibiting a well-defined record of metamorphism at 3.9 AE. So far, lunar history in the interval from 4.6 to 3.9 AE is not preserved in the ages of surface rocks. This obliteration suggests lunar-wide metamorphic conditions occurring or terminating at this time as a result of major impacts.

Podosek, F. A.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Effects of thermal metamorphism on compositions of lunar spinels

The reported study represents an attempt to evaluate experimentally the compositional and textural changes that are likely to be observed in the Fe-Ti-Cr spinels of lunar igneous rocks by subsequent thermal metamorphism. The Apollo 12 igneous rock, 12018,43, was chosen for this investigation because an earlier study of another fraction of this rock by El Goresy et al. (1971) has reported an almost continuous trend of spinel compositions between Cr-Ulvoespinel and Ti-chromite. The nature of the compositional changes in the heated spinels (and ilmenites) is found to be such that the changes cannot be explained by intragranular adjustments alone. In the heated sample, pyroxene grains adjacent to the high-Ti spinels show a decrease in FeO, and an increase in MgO and Al2O3 at the interface. This may account for the MgO depletion and a part of the FeO enrichment in the high-Ti spinels. It is believed that the heating experiment demonstrates that thermal metamorphism of lunar basalts is likely to modify the compositions of their preexisting spinels (and ilmenites).

Misra, K. C.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Metamorphism, argon depletion, heat flow and stress on the Alpine fault

The Alpine fault of New Zealand is a major continental transform fault which was uplifted on its southeast side 4 to 11 km within the last 5 m.y. This uplift has exposed the Haast schists, which were metamorphosed from the adjacent Torlesse graywackes. The Haast schists increase in metamorphic grade from prehnite-pumpellyite facies 9-12 km from the fault through the chlorite and biotite zones of the greenschist facies to the garnet-oligoclase zone amphibolite facies within 4 km of the fault. These metamorphic zone boundaries are subparallel to the fault for 350 km along the strike. The K-Ar and Rb-Sr ages of the schists increase with distance from the fault: from 4 m.y. within 3 km of the fault to approximately 110 m.y. 20 km from the fault. Field relations show that the source of heat that produced the argon depletion aureole was the fault itself.

Scholz, C. H.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Thermal metamorphism of primitive meteorites. VII - Mineralogy-petrology of heated Murchison /C2/ and alteration of C30 and other chondrites

Alterations caused by week-long heating of Murchison in a low-pressure environment at 400-1400 C are of two types: thermodynamically favored kinetically controlled or thermodynamically controlled rapid processes. Kinetically controlled changes pertinent to chondritic evolution and which vary progressively with temperature in heated Murchison include: chondrule blurring; matrix coarsening; increasing mean Fa and Fs contents of ferromagnesian silicates; equilibration of olivine; increasing Mg/Si, Ca/Si, Al/Si, and Cr/Si and decreasing Fe/Si, Ni/Si, and S/Si in matrix; Cr loss from kamacite; and homogenization and Ni-zoning in taenite at high temperatures. Low-temperature thermodynamically controlled changes include: transformation of high-Ni troilite to low-Ni and formation of Ni- and Co-rich metal from pentlandite. High-temperature changes include formation of Cr-rich magnetite and formation of a Ni-rich sulfide similar to that found in highly altered chondrites. Trends resulting from processes of both kinds in Murchison are consistent with characteristics of a postulated C30 metamorphic suite, while those changes caused by reactions of the second kind are similar to those in heavily shock-heated ordinary chondrites and the heavily metamorphosed C5-6 chondrite, Mulga West. Either the simulations support the metamorphic origin of the C30 suite and other thermally induced changes or the natural alterations support the utility of laboratory simulations in studying meteoritic evolution.

Matza, S. D.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Volatile elements in chondrites - Metamorphism or nebular fractionation

Three of the most highly metamorphosed meteorites of their respective classes, Shaw (LL7), Karoonda (C5), and Coolidge (C4), were analyzed by radiochemical neutron activation analysis for Ag, Au, Bi, Br, Cd, Cs, Ge, In, Ir, Ni, Os, Pd, Rb, Re, Sb, Se, Te, Tl, U, and Zn. Comparison with data by Lipschutz and coworkers (1977) on artificially heated primitive meteorites shows that the natural metamorphism of meteorites cannot have taken place in a system open to volatiles. Shaw, metamorphosed at 1300 C for more than 1 million yr, is less depleted in In, Bi, Ag, Te, Zn, and Tl than Krymka heated at 1000 C for 1 week. Karoonda, metamorphosed at 600 C for many millennia, is less depleted in Bi and Tl than Allende heated at 600 C for 1 week. Data on primordial noble gases also show that the volatile-element patterns of ordinary and carbonaceous chondrites were established by nebular condensation and changed little, if at all, during metamorphism. For enstatite chondrites, the evidence is still incomplete but seems to favor a nebular origin of the volatile pattern.

Takahashi, H.↗