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At least 523 records · Page 29

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NASA NTRS1987

The trace element chemistry of CaS in enstatite chondrites and some implications regarding its origin

The trace element distribution in oldhamite (CaS) extracted from enstatite chondrites was determined by INAA. Prior to extraction, the petrologic setting of the grains was studied microscopically, and their minor element contents determined by microprobe analysis; samples that displayed a wide range of minor element contents were selected for detailed elementary analysis. Those samples of CaS suspected to be more primitive on the basis of their minor element and petrologic siting contain the entire inventory of the host meteorite's light REE (LREE) and Eu, plus 30-50 percent of the heavy-REE inventory. In less primitive samples, the LREE are less enriched although Eu remains highly concentrated. Several other elements, including lithophiles and chalcophiles, are most enriched in the most primitive CaS. It is suggested that oldhamite played a key role in the redistribution of these elements during the metamorphism and evolution of enstatite-rich material.

Larimer, John W.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Aqueous alteration in S-N-C meteorites and implications for weathering products on Mars

Is shergottite, nakhlite, and chassignite (SNC) meteorites are rocks propelled to earth by large meteoroid impacts on Mars, then it is possible to deduce much about Martian igneous petrology and geochemistry. Because SNCs are igneous rocks, however, it was not obvious that they could reveal much about sedimentary and soil petrology and low-temperature geochemistry of Mars. It is important, though, that at least four of eight SNCs carry evidence for low-temperature, extraterrestrial weathering product phases. Evidence is reviewed for Martian weathering and alteration products in SNCs and possible inferences for volatile/regolith interactions, regolith mineralogy, and sinks for the putative hidden volatiles on Mars are outlined.

Gooding, J. L.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Crustal underplating in the North American Craton: Evidence from the Petrogenesis of anorthositic rocks in the Middle Proterozoic Midcontinent Rift System

Circumstantial evidence for underplating as a significant mechanism for the growth of continental crust continues to accumulate, particularly from considerations of thermal, seismic, and density contraints on the lower crust and upper mantle. Compelling geochemical and petrological arguments were made that in continental flood basalt provinces, the volume of underplated cumulates may be at least as large as the expression of surface lavas. Geological, petrological, and geochemical data are presented on anorthositic rocks in the Duluth Complex, which indicates that underplating processes similar to those postulated by Cox played a significant role in their origin. The interpretations may be applicable to the origin of anorthositic rocks in general.

Weiblen, P. W.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Apollo 16 regolith breccias and soils - Recorders of exotic component addition to the Descartes region of the moon

Using the subdivision of Apollo 16 regolith breccias into ancient (about 4 Gyr) and younger samples (McKay et al., 1986), with the present-day soils as a third sample, a petrologic and chemical determination of regolith evolution and exotic component addition at the A-16 site was performed. The modal petrologies and mineral and chemical compositions of the regolith breccias in the region are presented. It is shown that the early regolith was composed of fragments of plutonic rocks, impact melt rocks, and minerals and impact glasses. It is found that KREEP lithologies and impact melts formed early in lunar history. The mare components, mainly orange high-TiO2 glass and green low-TiO2 glass, were added to the site after formation of the ancient breccias and prior to the formation of young breccias. The major change in the regolith since the formation of the young breccias is an increase in maturity represented by the formation of fused soil particles with prolonged exposure to micrometeorite impacts.

Simon, S. B.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Nature and origin of C-rich ordinary chondrites and chondritic clasts

The abundance and the isotopic compositions of C, O, and noble gases were investigated together with the petrologic characteristics of four carbon-rich ordinary chondrites (Sharps and Allan Hills A77011, A78119, and A81024) and three C-rich chondritic clasts. The results of the analyses suggest that all of the chondrites and clasts analyzed belong to petrologic type 3 and contain abundant carbon-rich aggregates, which, in at least two of these samples, consist of poorly graphitized carbon commonly associated with metallic Fe,Ni. The data also suggest that the four C-rich chondrites originated on the H, L, and LL parental bodies, but that clasts in Dimmitt and Plainview and other regolith breccias may come from different bodies. The results obtained are consistent with the view that graphite is not a common nebular phase.

Scott, E. R. D.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Petrogenesis of mesosiderites. I - Origin of mafic lithologies and comparison with basaltic achondrites

New petrologic and trace element data on basaltic and gabbroic clasts in mesosiderites and basaltic achondrites, combined with existing petrologic and trace element data, have served as a basis for interpretation of the petrogenesis of mesosiderite clasts. Compared with the basaltic achondrites, the mesosiderite basaltic and gabbroic clasts contain more abundant modal tridymite and merrilite, and more commonly contain augite as a late magmatic phase. Their pyroxenes tend to be more MgO-rich, and have lower Fe/Mn ratios which are positively correlated with the Fe/Mg ratio. Some of the mesosiderite basaltic and gabbroic clasts contain xenocrystic plagioclase. The basaltic clasts commonly show superchondritic Eu/Sm ratios and slight LREE depletions. The cumulate gabbro clasts are extremely depleted in LIL, have very high Eu/Sm ratios and high Lu/Sm ratios. All of these features can be explained by a model in which the mafic lithologies of mesosiderites were formed by remelting of a mixed basalt-cumulate gabbro-metal source region near the parent body surface.

Mittlefehldt, David W.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Chemical characterization of a unique chondrite - Allan Hills 85085

Allan Hills 85085 is a new and very important addition to the growing list of unique carbonaceous chondrites because of its unique chemical and mineralogical properties. This chemical study provides more precise data on the major, minor, and trace element characteristics of ALH85085. ALH85085 has compositional, petrological, and isotopic affinities to AL Rais and Renazzo, and to Bencubbin-Weatherford. The similarities to Al Rais and Renazzo suggest similar formation locations and thermal processing, possibly in the vicinity of CI chondrites. Petrologic, compositional and isotopic studies indicate that the components that control the abundance of the various refractory and volatile elements were not allowed to equilibrate with the nebula as conditions changed, explaining the inconsistencies in the classification of these meteorites using known taxonomic parameters.

Gosselin, David C.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Melt solidification and late-stage evaporation in the evolution of a FUN inclusion from the Vigarano C3V chondrite

Results are presented on a detailed petrologic, chemical, and isotopic study of the so-called FUN inclusion (1623-5) from the Vigarano C3V chondrite. It is shown that the precursor material from which the Vigarano 1623-5 has formed contained some nuclear isotopic anomalies; this precursor was composed of melted and crystallized spinel, olivine, fassaite, and melilite. The results on the petrologic and isotopic properties of 1623-5 indicate unambiguously the action of volatilization in the evolution of this inclusion.

Davis, Andrew M.↗

NASA NTRS1991

The evolution of volcanism, tectonics, and volatiles on Mars - An overview of recent progress

Significant results of the 'Mars: Evolution of Volcanism, Tectonics, and Volatiles' (MEVTV) project are presented. The data for the project are based on geological mapping from the Viking images, petrologic and chemical analyses of SNC meteorites, and both mapping and temporal grouping of major fault systems. The origin of the planet's crustal dichotomy is examined in detail, the kinematics and formation of wrinkle ridges are discussed, and some new theories are set forth. Because the SNC meteorites vary petrologically and isotopically, the sources of the parental Martian magma are heterogeneous. Transcurrent faulting coupled with the extensional strains that form Valles Marineris suggest early horizontal movement of lithospheric blocks. A theory which connects the formation of the crustal dichotomy to the Tharsis region associates the horizontal motions with plate tectonics that generated a new lithosphere.

Zimbelman, James R.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Crustal structure interpreted from magnetic anomalies

This review, discusses publications during the last quadrennium (1987-1990) that used aeromagnetic data, marine magnetic data, satellite magnetic data, and rock magnetic and petrologic data to provide information on the sources of magnetic anomalies. The publications reviewed reflect increased integration of rock magnetic property and petrologic studies with magnetic anomaly interpretation studies, particularly in deep crustal magnetization, exploration for hydrocarbons, and inversion of marine magnetic anomalies. Interpretations of aeromagnetic data featuring image display techniques and using the horizontal gradient method for locating magnetization boundaries became standard.

Phillips, Jeffrey D.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Martian parent craters for the SNC meteorites

Information on the petrology and ages of the SNC meteorites, together with geological data derived from Viking Orbiter images, are used to identify 25 candidate impact craters in the Tharsis region of Mars that could possibly be the source craters for these meteorites. The craters chosen as candidate source craters had diameters greater than 10 km, morphologies indicative of young craters, and satisfied both the petrological criteria of the SNCs and the proposed 1.3 Ga crystallization ages. On the basis of the constraints implied by the identification of the candidate source craters, interpretations of the absolute chronology of Mars are proposed.

Mouginis-Mark, P. J.↗

NASA NTRS1993

An Integrated XRF/XRD Instrument for Mars Exobiology and Geology Experiments

By employing an integrated x-ray instrument on a future Mars mission, data obtained will greatly augment those returned by Viking; details characterizing the past and present environment on Mars and those relevant to the possibility of the origin and evolution of life will be acquired. A combined x-ray fluorescence/x-ray diffraction (XRF/XRD) instrument was breadboarded and demonstrated to accommodate important exobiology and geology experiment objectives outlined for MESUR and future Mars missions. Among others, primary objectives for the exploration of Mars include the intense study of local areas on Mars to establish the chemical, mineralogical, and petrological character of different components of the surface material; to determine the distribution, abundance, and sources and sinks of volatile materials, including an assessment of the biologic potential, now and during past epoches; and to establish the global chemical and physical characteristics of the Martian surface. The XRF/XRD breadboard instrument identifies and quantifies soil surface elemental, mineralogical, and petrological characteristics and acquires data necessary to address questions on volatile abundance and distribution. Additionally, the breadboard is able to characterize the biogenic element constituents of soil samples providing information on the biologic potential of the Mars environment. Preliminary breadboard experiments confirmed the fundamental instrument design approach and measurement performance.

Koppel, L. N.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Thermal history of chondrites - Hot accretion vs. metamorphic reheating

The thermal evolution of chondrules is investigated for the stages including primary heating through accretion to parent-body processing to determine whether the chondrules could be hot during accretion. Theoretical attention is given to whether chondrites of different petrologic types could have originated by means of hot accretion or metamorphic reheating. Data are presented from cooling-rate experiments and from calculations of heat retention required for the hot-accretion scenario. The accretion of chondrules hotter than 800 C is shown to be inconsistent with constraints on chondrule thermal evolution, in particular the slow cooling environment of chondrules vs the apparent cooling of chondrites in cold environments. It is argued that petrologic chondrites are formed by cold accretion and subsequently by metamorphic heating.

Haack, Henning↗

NASA NTRS1993

Effect of metamorphism on isolated olivine grains in CO3 chondrites

The presence of a metamorphic sequence in the CO3 chondrite group has been shown previously to result in changes in properties of chondrule silicates. However, the role of isolated olivine grains during metamorphism of these chondrites has not been addressed. Isolated olivine grains in two metamorphosed CO3 chondrites, Lance and Isna, have been investigated in this study in order to assess the compositional properties of isolated olivine grains that may be attributable to metamorphism. Compositional changes in isolated olivines with increasing petrologic subtype are very similar to changes in chondrule olivines in the same chondrites. Olivine compositions from all occurrences (chondrules, isolated grains, and matrix) converge with increasing petrologic subtype. The degree of equilibration of minor elements is qualitatively related to the diffusion rate of each element in olivine, suggesting that diffusion-controlled processes are the most important processes responsible for compositional changes within the metamorphic sequence. The data are consistent with metamorphism taking place in a closed system on the CO3 chondrite parent body. Fe-poor olivine grains in metamorphosed chondrites are characterized by an Fe-rich rim, which is the result of diffusion of Fe into the grains from Fe-rich matrix. In some instances, 'complex', Fe-rich rims have been identified, which appear to have originated as igneous overgrowths and subsequently to have been overprinted by diffusion processes during metamorphism. Processes experienced by CO3 chondrites are more similar to those experienced by the ordinary chondrites than to those encountered by other carbonaceous chondrites, such as the CV3 group.

Jones, Rhian H.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Post-impact alteration of the Manson impact structure

Core materials from the Manson impact site (Manson, Iowa) are examined in order to evaluate post-impact alteration processes. Diagenetic interpretation of post-impact events is based on petrologic, mineralogic, and geochemical investigation of core materials including the following: target strata, disturbed and disrupted strata, ejecta, breccias, microbreccias, and impact melt. The diagenetic study utilizes research cores obtained by the continental scientific drilling project (CSDP) at the Manson structure, as well as core and cuttings of related materials. Samples include impactites (breccias, microbreccias, and melt material), crater fill material (sedimentary clast breccias), disturbed and disrupted target rocks, and reference target material (Amoco Eisheid No. 1 materials). The study of multiple cores will permit development of a regional picture of post-impact thermal history. The specific objectives are as follows: (1) provide a detailed description of authigenic and alteration mineralogy from diverse lithologies encountered in research drill cores at the Manson impact structure, and (2) identify and relate significant post-impact mineral alteration to post-impact thermal regime (extent and duration). Results will provide mineralogical and geochemical constraints on models for post-impact processes including the following: infilling of the crater depression; cooling and hydrothermal alteration of melt rocks; and subsequent long-term, low-temperature alteration of target rocks, breccias, and melt rocks. Preliminary petrologic and x-ray diffraction examination of fracture linings and void fillings from research core M1 indicate the presence of quartz, chlorite, mixed-layer clays, gypsum/anhydrite, calcite, and minor pyrite.

Crossey, L. J.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Oxygen isotopic relationships between the LEW85332 carbonaceous chondrite and CR chondrites

LEW85332, originally described as a unique C3 chondrite, was shown to be a C2 chondrite with important linkages to the CR clan. An important petrologic aspect of LEW85332 is that it contains anhydrous chondrules and hydrated matrix, and new oxygen isotopic data on chondrules, matrix and whole rock are consistent with the petrology. Chondrules fall on the equilibrated chondrite line (ECL), with a slope near 1, which goes through ordinary chondrite chondrules. This contrasts with the CR chondrule line which has a lower slope due to hydrated components. LEW85332 chondrules define a new carbonaceous chondrite chondrule line, parallel to the anhydrous CV chondrule line (CCC), consistent with the well-established concept of two oxygen isotopic reservoirs. Matrix and whole rock fall on the CR line. The whole rock composition indicates that the chondrite is dominated by chondrules, and that most of them contain light oxygen similar to that of anhydrous olivine and pyroxene separates in the Renazzo and Al Rais CR chondrites.

Prinz, M.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Micrometeorite dynamic pyrometamorphism: Nonstoichiometric clinoenstatite (CLEN)

Polymorphs of enstatite are common phases in many meteorites. They contain clues on their formation and the thermal evolution of their host rock which includes shock metamorphism. Rare, micron-sized, CLEN whiskers and thin platelets in chondritic porous micrometeorites were interpreted as solar nebula condensates that remained unaffected during atmospheric entry flash-heating. This CLEN formed by protoenstatite (PEN) inversion whereby the surface energy of the micron-sized PEN crystals aided the OREN-CLEN transformation or by metastable growth. Ca-poor, Mg,Fe-pyroxene with unequilibrated, intraparticle, Mg/(Mg+Fe) distributions occur in most chondritic micrometeorites. These distributions are a parent body signature that survived dynamic pyrometamorphism because the duration of the thermal spike during atmospheric entry is too short but this conclusion does not consider the ultrafine grain size of micrometeorites. The maximum temperature and duration of the heating event will depend on the kinetic energy and entry angle of the incoming micrometeorite. But lacking detailed petrological data for an individual particle, its thermal profile during atmospheric entry can not be deduced from its mass alone as a function of entry angle. In order to constrain dynamic pyrometamorphism in unmelted micrometeorites, I determined the petrological composition and silicate mineralogy in non-chondritic micrometeorites L2005T13, L2005E40, and L2006A28.

Rietmeijer, Frans J. M.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Post-metamorphic brecciation in type 3 ordinary chondrites

Type 3.1-3.9 ordinary chondrites can be divided into two kinds: those in which the compositions of chondrule silicates are entirely consistent with metamorphism of type 3.0 material, and those in which the computational heterogeneity appears to be too extreme for in situ metamorphism. We present petrologic data for three LL3 chondrites of the second kind--Ngawi, ALH A77278 (both type 3.6), and Hamlet (type 3.9)--and compare these data with results for the first kind of LL3-4 chondrites. Given that chondrules form in the nebula and that metamorphic equilibration occurs in asteroids, our new data imply that Ngawi, A77278, Hamlet, and many other type 3 ordinary chondrites are post-metamorphic breccias containing materials with diverse metamorphic histories; they are not metamorphic rocks or special kinds of 'primitive breccias.' We infer also that metamorphism to type 3.1-3.9 levels produces very friable material that is easily remixed into breccias and lithified by mild shock. Thus, petrologic types and subtypes of chondrites indicate the mean metamorphic history of the ingredients, not the thermal history of the rock. The metamorphic history of individual type 1 or 2 porphyritic chondrules in type 3 breccias is best derived from olivine and pyroxene analyses and the data of McCoy et al. for unbrecciated chondrites. The new chondrule classification schemes of Sears, DeHart et al., appears to provide less information about the original state and metamorphic history of individual porphyritic chondrules and should not replace existing classification schemes.

Scott, E. R. D.↗