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At least 145 records · Page 8
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1977

High-silica glass inclusions in olivine of Luna-24 samples

Optical examination of nine polished grain mounts of Luna-24 drill-core material (0.09-0.50 mm size) revealed melt inclusions in olivine crystals. Two inclusions consist of clear glass with exceptionally high Si, yet contain no visible daughter minerals and have had no reaction effects with the olivine walls. Their compositions (one has SiO2 93.8, Al2O3 1.51, FeO 2.32, MgO 1.61, CaO 0.06, Na2O less than 0.05, K2O 0.11, total 99.41%; the other is similar) are unique and quite unlike the high-Si high-K melt of granitic composition that is found as inclusions in late-stage minerals of these (and the Apollo) samples, from silicate liquid immiscibility. The host olivines are Fo73 and Fo51. The origin of the melt in the inclusions and the lack of reaction effects are perplexing unsolved problems.

Roedder, E.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Shock-produced olivine glass - First observation

Transmission electron microscope (TEM) observations of an experimentally shock-deformed single crystal of natural peridot, /Mg(0.88)Fe(0.12)/2SiO4, recovered from peak pressures of about 56 billion pascals revealed the presence of amorphous zones located within crystalline regions with a high density of tangled dislocations. This is the first reported observation of olivine glass. The shocked sample exhibits a wide variation in the degree of shock deformation on a small scale, and the glass appears to be intimately associated with the highest density of dislocations. This study suggests that olivine glass may be formed as a result of shock at pressures above about 50 to 55 billion pascals and that further TEM observations of naturally shocked olivines may demonstrate the presence of glass.

Jeanloz, R.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Barred olivine 'chondrules' in lunar spinel troctolite 62295

Several objects have been found in sections of lunar igneous spinel troctolite 62295 that resemble certain meteoritic barred olivine chondrules. Each consists of an apparently spherical single crystal of Fo90 olivine, approximately 0.6-0.8 mm in diameter, containing a set of approximately 30-40 subparallel stringers of An95 plagioclase, whereas the stringers in ordinary meteoritic chondrules consist of glass. The olivine of the 62295 chondrules is also more magnesian, and is radially zoned, having a relatively iron-rich core and rim and an iron-poor intermediate zone. Several possible origins are proposed: impact-generated melt globules solidified in flight, spherical phenocrysts, and meteoritic chondrules, but none of these seems adequate to explain the detailed observations.

Roedder, E.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Shock effects in olivine and implications for Hugoniot data

New observations of shock deformation in single-crystal olivine are presented for the range in peak pressures from about 16 to 75 GPa. A nonequilibrium model is suggested for the behavior of olivine under shock which explains the densification associated with a mixed-phase region and which is consistent with all available observations, yet which bears little similarity to the equilibrium behavior of olivine at high pressure.

Jeanloz, R.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Near-infrared spectral reflectance of mineral mixtures - Systematic combinations of pyroxenes, olivine, and iron oxides

Near-infrared spectral reflectance data are presented for systematic variations in weight percent of two component mixtures of ferromagnesium and iron oxide minerals used to study the dark materials on Mars. Olivine spectral features are greatly reduced in contrast by admixture of other phases but remain distinctive even for low olivine contents. Clinopyroxene and orthopyroxene mixtures show resolved pyroxene absorptions near 2 microns. Limonite greatly modifies pyroxene and olivine reflectance, but does not fully eliminate distinctive spectral characteristics. Using only spectral data in the 1 micron region, it is difficult to differentiate orthopyroxene and limonite in a mixture. All composite mineral absorptions were either weaker than or intermediate in strength to the end-member absorptions and have bandwidths greater than or equal to those for the end members. In general, spectral properties in an intimate mixture combine in a complex, nonadditive manner, with features demonstrating a regular but usually nonlinear variation as a function of end-member phase proportions.

Singer, R. B.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Minor-element signature of relic olivine grains in deep-sea particles - A match with forsterites from C2 meteorites

The results of high-precision electron microprobe analyses on relic forsterites in 13 different deep sea particles (DSP) are described, comparing their 'minor' element (Mn, Cr, Ca, Ti, Al) signatures with those of olivines found in several types of meteorites. The results show that the DSP olivines do not match those from terrestrial and lunar rocks and achondritic meteoroties, match poorly those of the carbonaceous Allende (CV3) and Orgeuil (CI) meteorites, but are well matched with olivines from C2 meteorites, including the unusual Belgica 7904 meteorite.

Steele, I. M.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Origin of olivine at Copernicus

The central peaks of Copernicus are among the few lunar areas where near-infrared telescopic reflectance spectra indicate extensive exposures of olivine. Other parts of Copernicus crater and ejecta, which were derived from highland units in the upper parts of the target site, contain only low-Ca pyroxene as a mafic mineral. The exposure of compositionally distinct layers including the presence of extensive olivine may result from penetration to an anomalously deep layer of the crust or to the lunar mantle. It is suggested that the Procellarum basin and the younger, superposed Insularum basin have provided access to these normally deep-seated crustal or mantle materials by thinning the upper crustal material early in lunar history. The occurrences of olivine in portions of the compositionally heterogeneous Aristarchus Region, in a related geologic setting, may be due to the same sequence of early events.

Pieters, C. M.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Fe-Mg-Mn relations of ureilite olivines and pyroxenes and the genesis of ureilites

Microprobe analyses of ureilite and pigeonite cores are studied. The Fe/Mn-Fe/Mg relationship in the olivine core is examined. It is observed that magnetic processs such as fractional crystallization and partial melting, and FeO reduction contribute to the olivine core composition. The study of the Mg/Mn and Fe/Mn distributions reveals that these two distributions are not in equilibrium in the olivine and pigeonite cores. The effect of a reducing agent, carbon, on the ureilite genesis is investigated. It is concluded that fractional crystallization and FeO reduction are the major processes of ureilite genesis.

Mittlefehldt, D. W.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Calibrations of phase abundance, composition, and particle size distribution for olivine-orthopyroxene mixtures from reflectance spectra

An analytical method for quantifying the characteristics (phase abundances, phase composition, and grain size) of an olivine-orthopyroxene mixture from reflectance spectra is described. The spectral parameters related to reflectance, wavelength position, and albedo are investigated; the absorption bands for the olivine-orthopyroxene mixture is also studied. Primary calibrations useful for the determination of the olivine-orthopyroxene mixture characteristics are examined.

Cloutis, Edward A.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Petrology and geochemistry of olivine-normative and quartz-normative basalts from regolith breccia 15498 - New diversity in Apollo 15 mare basalts

Analysis of mare basalt clasts from Apollo 15 shows a greater diversity than previously recognized and provides new constraints on the petrogenesis of these basalts. The quartz-normative basalts (QNB) from 15498 are divided into four groups based on chemical variations: primitive, intermediate/1, intermediate/2, and evolved. The olivine-normative basalts (ONB) are divided into three groups: low-SiO2, high-SiO2, and olivine-pyroxene cumulates. Least-squares mixing calculations show that the high SiO2 ONBs may be parental to the QNB suite. Variations within the low-SiO2 ONBs are explained by olivine factionation. It is suggested that the presence of these basalt types may result from the position of breccia 15498 near the edge of the mare plain where normal ONBs are scarce, and from its presumed origin as ejecta from Dune Crater.

Vetter, Scott K.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Raman spectra of shocked minerals. I - Olivine

The Raman spectra of olivine contained in a chip of the Twin Sisters Peak (Washington) dunite shocked to 22.2 GPa is shown to be identical to that of unshocked olivine in the same rock. The Raman spectra of powder of the rock shocked to 20.1 GPa and of chips shocked to 59.5 GPa and 60.7 GPa display strong and broad low-frequency features with crests at 475/cm, 556/cm, and 572/cm, and broad high-frequency features near 1100/cm. It is suggested that these features are due to the formation of olivine glass with a considerable degree of three-dimensional Si-O-Si linkage having scattered domains of greatly variable grain size, internal structure, and chemical composition.

Heymann, D.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Charge balancing of trivalent trace elements in olivine and low-Ca pyroxene - A test using experimental partitioning data

Charge-balancing substitution mechanisms are determined for the incorporation of the trivalent cations Al and Sc in low-Ca pyroxene and Al, Sc, Yb, and Cr in olivine. In low-Ca pyroxene, the substitution mechanism is determined by evaluating covariations of trivalent trace cations with Si, Mg, Fe, and Ca. In olivine, substitution mechanisms are determined by comparing the observed compositional dependence of partitioning to the compositional dependence theoretically expected for each substitution reaction. A realistic equilibrium constant is formulated for trace element exchanges between olivines, low-Ca pyroxenes, and melt, making possible improved modeling of the variations of trace element partitioning with temperature and phase composition.

Colson, R. O.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Ultrafine-grained mineralogy and matrix chemistry of olivine-rich chondritic interplanetary dust particles

Olivine-rich chondritic interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) are an important subset of fluffy chondritic IDPs collected in the earth's stratosphere. Particles in this subset are characterized by a matrix of nonporous, ultrafine-grained granular units. Euhedral single crystals, crystals fragments, and platey single crystals occur dispersed in the matrix. Analytical electron microscopy of granular units reveals predominant magnesium-rich olivines and FeNi-sulfides embedded in amorphous carbonaceous matrix material. The variable ratio of ultrafine-grained minerals vs. carbonaceous matrix material in granular units support variable C/Si ratios, and some fraction of sulfur is associated with carbonaceous matrix material. The high Mg/(Mg+Fe) ratios in granular units is similar to this distribution in P/Comet Halley dust. The chondritic composition of fine-grained, polycrystalline IDPs gradually breaks down into nonchondritic, and ultimately, single mineral compositions as a function of decreased particle mass. The relationship between particle mass and composition in the matrix of olivine-rich chondritic IDPs is comparable with the relationship inferred for P/Comet Halley dust.

Rietmeijer, F. J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Unusual olivine and pyroxene composition in interplanetary dust and unequilibrated ordinary chondrites

The presence, in both a number of interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) and in meteorite matrices, of olivine and orthopyroxene grains, low in FeO but containing up to 5 wt pct MnO, is reported. The majority of olivines and pyroxenes in meteorites contain less than 0.5 wt pct MnO. The presence of these low-iron, manganese-enriched (LIME) olivines and pyroxenes in IDPs and meteorites may indicate a link between the origin and history of IDPs and the matrix material of primitive meteorites. The origin of the LIME silicates could be explained by condensation from a gas of solar composition. Forsterite is the first major silicate phase to condense from a solar nebula gas, and Mn, which is not stable as a metal under solar nebula conditions, would condense at about 1100 K as Mn2SiO4 in solid solution with forsterite.

Klock, W.↗
NASA NTRS1989

The identification of crystalline olivine in cometary silicates

An intermediate-resolution spectrum of the 8-13 micron region in comet Halley is obtained which shows a prominent silicate emission feature with structure not observed before in other comets or in interstellar silicates. The presence of a strong 11.3 micron peak reported by Bregman and coworkers is confirmed, and evidence is found for additional structure in the band. By comparison with spectra of interplanetary dust particles and laboratory silicates, it is concluded that small crystalline olivine particles are a major component of the silicates in this comet; other silicates (e.g., amorphous or hydrated) must also be present. The identification of crystalline olivine in this part of the spectrum is supported by the observation of four peaks in 20-50 micron airborne spectra of this comet which have also been attributed to olivine.

Campins, Humberto↗
NASA NTRS1991

Olivine diogenites - The mantle of the eucrite parent body

Two olivine-rich Antarctic diogenites (ALH A77256 and ALH 84001) of the howardite-eucrite-diogenite (HED) meteorite association have olivine/pyroxene ratios similar to normative ratios in devolatilized ordinary chondrites. Based on chemical data and petrological analysis, these meteorites represent the residuum of partial melting of the mantle in the eucrite parent body (EPB). Mineral assemblages in these olivine-rich diogenites record a continuum in thermal histories from initial partial melting (1150-1200 C) to subsolidus reequilibration (795 + or - 55 C). The small number of olivine-rich diogenites known hints that only the outer portion of the EPB has been sampled.

Sack, Richard O.↗
NASA NTRS1991

The influence of bulk composition and dynamic melting conditions on olivine chondrule textures

The effects of the bulk composition and the dynamic melting conditions on the texture of olivine chondrules were investigated in a series of heating experiments. It is shown that variations in the olivine chondrule textures can be produced by varying the FeO/(FeO + MgO) ratio between the average Type IA and Type II chondrule compositions, could affect the texture of a chondrule at a constant initial melting temperature and heating time. A range of the heating times and the masses of precursor spheres caused variations in the degree of melting and in chondrule textures. Chondrule textures were distributed on a graph of initial temperatures vs. FeO/(FeO + MgO) ratios as bands parallel to the olivine disappearance curve. This graph could be used to predict chondrule textures from Fe/(FeO + MgO) ratios at specific initial melting temperatures.

Connolly, Harold C., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Thermal histories of CO3 chondrites - Application of olivine diffusion modelling to parent body metamorphism

The petrologic sequence observed in the CO3 chondrite group has been suggested to be the result of thermal metamorphism on a parent body. A model developed to examine the possibility that chondrule and matrix olivines equilibrated in situ, during parent body metamorphism is presented. The model considers Fe-Mg interdiffusion between chondrule and matrix olivines. Zoning profiles comparable to those observed in chondrule olivines from partially equilibrated members of the series are reproduced successfully. Metamorphism of CO3 chondrites on a parent body is therefore a viable model for the observed equilibration. Results indicate that peak metamorphic temperatures experienced by the CO3 chondrites were around 500 C, and that the range of peak temperatures between unequilibrated and equilibrated subtypes was relatively narrow, around 100 C.

Jones, Rhian H.↗