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At least 19 records

Age-Orientation Relationships of Northern Hemisphere Martian Gullies and "Pasted-on" Mantling Unit: Implications for Near-Surface Water Migration in Mars' Recent History

The finding of abundant, apparently young, Martian gullies with morphologies indicative of formation by flowing fluid was surprising in that volumes of near-surface liquid water in sufficient quantities to modify the surface geology were not thought possible under current conditions. Original hypotheses on origin of gullies were mostly centered on groundwater seepage and surface runoff and melting of near-surface ground ice. More recently, melting of snow deposited in periods of higher obliquity has been proposed as a possible origin of the gullies. Tied to this hypothesis is the supposition that the "pasted-on" mantling unit observed in association with many gullies is composed of remnant snowpack. The mantling unit has distinct rounded edge on its upper boundary and exhibits features suggestive of flow noted that the uppermost part of the mantle marks where gullies begin, suggesting that the source of water for the gullies was within the mantle. The mantle is found preferentially on cold, pole-facing slopes and, where mantled and non-mantled slopes are found together, gullies are observed incised into the latter. In other cases, the mantling material lacks gullies.

Bridges, N. T.↗

The transient oxidation of single crystal NiAl+Zr

The 800 C oxidation of oriented single crystals of Zr doped beta-NiAl was studied using transmission electron microscopy. The oxide phases and metal-oxide orientation relationships were determined to characterize the transient stages of oxidation prior to the transformation to or formation of alpha-Al2O3. On (001) and (012) metal orientations, NiAl2O4 was the first oxide to form followed by delta-Al2O3 which becomes the predominant oxide phase. All oxides were highly epitaxially related to the metal; the orientation relationships being function of parallel cation close-packed directions in the meta and oxide. On (011) and (111) metal orientations, gamma-Al2O3 became the predominant oxide phase rather than delta-Al2O3, indicating a structural stability from the highly epitaxial oxides. The relative concentration of aluminum in the oxide scales increased with time indicating preferential gamma-or delta-Al2O3 growth. The striking feature common to the orientation relationships is the alignment of 100 m and 110 ox directions, believed to result from the minimal 3 percent mismatch between the corresponding (100)m and (110)ox planes.

Doychak, J. K.↗

Deciphering Extreme Mineral Records; Microstructural Phase Heritage of Shocked Materials

High-pressure minerals such as coesite, stishovite, and reidite are often used as indicators of shock metamorphism. However, high-pressure and high-temperature phases are metastable at ambient conditions and, therefore, often revert to a more energetically favorable phase. During solid-state transformations, the crystallographic orientations of the stable polymorph are controlled by the transformation pathway from the parent. Microstructural orientation analysis using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) of the stable phase can reveal systematic intercrystalline orientation relationships (OR) diagnostic of solid-state transformations from these high-pressure or high-temperature polymorph phases (Cayron et al., 2006). Knowledge of polymorph stability fields for a given system can thus be used to infer minimum shock P and/or T conditions that rocks have experienced, which are otherwise unavailable using traditional thermobarometers such as element partition coefficients. Using orientation relationships to infer the former presence of mineral phases has been termed microstructural “phase heritage”, and has successfully been used to probe for evidence of extreme pressures and temperatures resulting from hypervelocity impacts. The reconstruction of polymorphs of ZrSiO4 (zircon, reidite) and ZrO2 (baddeleyite) have further elucidated the behavior of these phases under hypervelocity impact conditions (Timms et al., 2017a; White et al., 2018), and OR analysis of shocked monazite has identified a previously unrecognized tetragonal high-P polymorph (Erickson et al., 2019). Zircon will convert to the low tetragonal polymorph reidite at shock stresses above ~21 GPa. However, upon decompression at temperatures above 1200 °C reidite will revert to zircon (Kusaba et al., 1985). Recrystallized zircon neoblasts encased in impact melt often show systematic misorientation relationships of 90° about <110> indicative of reversion from the reidite (Fig. 1), and preserving cryptic evidence of the high-P history that is often erased by the post shock thermal spike (Cavosie et al., 2016). Microstructural OR analysis of a dissociated zircon corona composed of baddeleyite (monoclinic-ZrO2) has identified the former presence of cubic zirconia within impact melt glass from the Mistastin Lake impact structure, Labrador, CA. Based on stability fields in the ZrO2-SiO2 binary phase diagram, cubic zirconia records thermal conditions in excess of 2370 °C at ambient P, indicating that the Mistastin impact melt is the hottest rock identified on Earth’s surface (Timms et al., 2017b). Shock-deformed monazite (monoclinic La,Ce,ThPO4) containing lamellae comprised of interlocking laths has been identified from the Haughton Dome impact structure, Nunavut, Canada and Nördlinger-Ries Crater, southern Germany. The lath-structured lamellae are composed of four systematic orientation variants, which OR analyses indicate originate from a tetragonal parent whereby the [010]monoclinic aligns with either [100] or [010]tetragonal (Erickson et al., 2019). These results highlight utility of microstructural phase heritage analyses for the identification of unstable high-P or high-T polymorphs that uniquely record the extremely transient shock conditions produced by hypervelocity impacts.

Timmons Erickson↗

High temperature oxidation of beta-NiAl

The oxidation of single crystal beta-NiAl has been studied primarily using electron microscopy. Oriented metastable Al2O3 phases form during transient oxidation at 800 C. Specific orientation relationships exist on all metal orientations studied and are a result of the small mismatch along aligned close-packed directions in the cation sublattices of the metal and oxide. Transformation of the metastable Al2O3 phases at 1100 C results in an oxide morphology described as the 'lacey' structure of alpha-Al2O3 scales. This structure results from impingement of oriented patches of alpha-Al2O3 as the transformation initiates and moves radially parallel to the surface. Scale growth occurs by diffusion along high angle grain boundaries. A drastic reduction in oxidation rate accompanies the change in oxide morphology.

Koychak, J. K.↗

Crystallographic Texture and Orientation Variants in Al2O3-Y3Al5O12 Directionally Solidified Eutectic Crystals

Eutectic rods of Al2O3 and Y3Al5O12 were grown by a laser-heated float zone method, and their microstructure and crystallographic texture were studied by scanning electron microscopy, electron backscattered diffraction and x-ray diffraction. The composites were found to be highly textured with two twin-related crystallographic orientation relationships between the phases. Electron backscattered diffraction was employed to determine the spatial distribution of the orientational variants within the samples and to define the crystallographic orientation of various microstructural features.

Frazer, Colleen S.↗

A Record of Low-Temperature Asteroidal Processes of Amoeboid Olivine Aggregates from the Kainsaz Co3.2 Chondrite

Amoeboid olivine aggregates (AOAs) from the Kainsaz CO3.2 chondrite were analyzed using transmission electron microscopy in order to gain a more complete understanding of thermal metamorphism on the parent body and the role of fluids during metamorphic heating. The Kainsaz AOAs are dominated by strongly zoned, fine-grained, olivine grains (Fa2-31) with heterogeneous Fe enrichments along the grain boundaries, which are interpreted as the result of 26Fe2+-Mg2+ interdiffusion with the matrix during thermal metamorphism. However, our diffusion calculations show that such AOA olivine zoning and compositions cannot be produced by a simple diffusional exchange during metamorphic heating, unlike chondrule olivine zoning and compositions. In addition, fine-grained ferroan olivine overgrowths occur heterogeneously in crystallographic continuity with olivines on the AOA exteriors. The overgrowths (Fa33-36) are compositionally distinct from the underlying AOA olivines and are not fully equilibrated with the matrix olivines (Fa~20-55).The ferroan olivine overgrowths likely formed by precipitation from fluids in an epitaxial relationship with forsteritic olivine on the edges of AOAs. Texturally and compositionally diverse chromite grains are also observed along olivine grain boundaries, in olivine grains, and in pore spaces between olivine grains. They share a similar crystallographic orientation relationships with adjacent olivine, suggestive of their formation by exsolution and/or epitaxial growth. Collectively, these observations provide evidence for the mobilization of Fe, Mg, Si, Cr, and Al in the presence of fluids along olivine grain boundaries and into olivine grains during thermal metamorphism. We conclude that in Kainsaz AOAs, the strong zonation development in individual olivine grains and the formation of ferroan olivine overgrowths and chromite grains were a fluid-driven process that occurred at relatively low temperatures (<500°C), during the cooling history of the CO3 chondrite parent body, following the peak of thermal metamorphism.

Amoeboid olivine aggregates↗

Structural relationships between the T and O phases in Ti-24Al-11Nb

TEM and electron diffraction are presently used to characterize the structural relationships between the ordered tetragonal (T) and ordered orthorhombic (O) phases of a rapidly solidified Ti-24Al-11Nb alloy. It is established that the transition from the T to the O phase is explainable in terms of a shape-deformation mechanism, and that the T/O interface (habit) plane approximates -2 2 3 sub T. Attention is given to the orientation relationships between the two phases.

Hsiung, L. M.↗

Reaction between nitric oxide and ozone in solid nitrogen

Nitrogen dioxide, NO2, is produced when nitric oxide, NO, and ozone, O3, are suspended in a nitrogen matrix at 11-20 K. The NO2 is formed with first-order kinetics, a 12 K rate constant of (1.4 + or - 0.2) x 0.00001/sec, and an apparent activation energy of 106 + or - 10 cal/mol. Isotopic labeling, variation of concentrations, and cold shield experiments show that the growth of NO2 is due to reaction between ozone molecules and NO monomers, and that the reaction is neither infrared-induced nor does it seem to be a heavy atom tunneling process. Reaction is attributed to nearest-neighbor NO.O3 pairs probably held in a specific orientational relationship that affects the kinetic behavior. When the temperature is raised, more such reactive pairs are generated, presumably by local diffusion. Possible mechanisms are discussed.

Lucas, D.↗

The relative stress-corrosion-cracking susceptibility of candidate aluminum-lithium alloys for aerospace structural applications

The microstructure and tensile properties of two powder metallurgy processed aluminum-lithium alloys were determined. Strength properties of 480 MPa yield and 550 MPa ultimate tensile strength with 5% strain to fracture were attained. Very little reduction in area was observed and fracture characteristics were brittle. The magnesium bearing alloy exhibited the highest strength and ductility, but fracture was intergranular. Recrystallization and grain growth, as well as coarse grain boundary precipitation, occurred in Alloy 2. The fracture morphology of the two alloys differed. Alloy 1 fractured along a plane of maximum shear stress, while Alloy 2 fractured along a plane of maximum tensile stress. It is found that a fixed orientation relationship exists between the shear fracture plane and the rolling direction which suggests that the PM alloys are strongly textured.

Pizzo, P. P.↗

A study of tetrataenite

The tetrataenite in Dayton was examined using conventional transmission (TEM) and analytical electron microscopy (AEM). Tetrataenite was also simulated in terrestrial Fe-Ni alloys through electron irradiation of thin-foil specimens on the high voltage electron microscope (HVEM). The purpose was to correlate the results of the TEM, AEM and HVEM studies on Dayton and on terrestrial iron-nickel alloys to the low temperature iron-nickel phase diagram. Oxide forms spontaneously on the surfaces of thin-foil iron-nickel specimens. By determining the metal/oxide orientation relationships the reflections due to the oxide and the superlattice are distinguished. In Dayaton, the clear taenite (I) is fully ordered until near the cloudy zone interface. The ordered domains ranged in size from 30 to 650 nm with the largest domains corresponding to the highest Ni content and the smallest domain size corresponding to the lowest Ni content. In terrestrial alloys irradiated on the HVEM, the extent of electron irradiation induced ordering was determined as a function of temperature and composition. Ordering occurred in every specimen irradiated.

Reuter, K. B.↗

Characterization of precipitates in a niobium-zirconium-carbon alloy

A niobium alloy with 1 percent zirconium and 0.063 percent carbon by weight was investigated in the as-rolled and annealed conditions, and after high-temperature (1350 and 1400 K) exposure with and without an applied stress. In the as-rolled and annealed conditions, large metastable carbides were observed in addition to a regular distribution of small particles. During the high-temperature exposure, the majority of the large carbides were dissolved and a more stable carbide phase formed. This finely dispersed phase had a composition determined to be approximately 70 percent ZrC and approximately 30 percent NbC and showed some evidence of an orientation relationship with the matrix. The precipitates appeared to coarsen slightly after approximately 5000 hr exposure in the presence of an applied stress resulted in a decrease in the size and in the interparticle spacing of the stable precipitates. However, the composition of the precipitate phase and its ability to pin dislocations were not affected by the temperature or stress conditions.

Grobstein, T. L.↗

Precipitation in a rapidly solidified and aged Ni-Al-Mo alloy

The early stages of decomposition of a highly supersaturated nickel-base alloy have been studied using TEM, SEM, and X-ray diffraction. The material was produced as a metastable solid solution by chill-block melt-spinning. On aging, the material exhibited a number of decomposition products appearing in series or concomitantly. Some of the decomposition products of this alloy, Ni4Mo, Ni3Mo, and Ni2Mo, are related to those found in Ni-Mo binary alloys. Alpha-Mo formed during solidification was distinguished from that formed by precipitation in the solid state by orientation relationships.

Nash, P.↗

Transient oxidation of single-crystal beta-NiAl

The transient oxidation of beta-NiAl in air at 800 C and 1100 C has been studied using electron microscopy. The oxide scale consists predominantly of metastable Al2O3 phases. Theta-Al2O3 is the major oxide phase within 10.0 hr of oxidation at 800 C and 0.1 hr at 1100 C. The scales form epitaxially on (001) sub beta and (012) sub beta specimens throughout the transient stage, whereas the degree of preferred oxide orientation decreases with oxidation time on (011) sub beta and (111) sub beta specimens. The orientation relationships reflect the small mismatch between parallel close-packed directions in the metal and in the cation sublattice of the oxides. The correlation of distinctive oxide surface morphologies with internal structural defects indicates the strong tendency of the Al2O3 scale to grow via short-circuit diffusion paths.

Doychak, J.↗

Ductility enhancement from interface dislocation sources in a directionally solidified beta + gamma + gamma-prime Ni-Fe-Al composite alloy

A directionally solidified beta + gamma + gamma-prime Ni-Fe-Al in situ composite alloy of composition Ni50Fe30Al20 has been used to investigate the effect of a plastically soft second phase on the mechanical behavior of a B2 ordered intermetallic alloy. This material exhibits extensive plasticity during compressive deformation at room temperature and fails in shear with extensive gamma + gamma-prime lamellar or rod pullout. The material also exhibits about 10 percent tensile elongation to fracture at room temperature, with final fracture that includes substantial necking of the gamma + gamma-prime lamellae or rods. Observation of slip lines and dislocation substructures discloses that the normally brittle beta matrix undergoes extensive plasticity in order to deform compatibly with the more ductile gamma phase. The plasticity of the beta matrix is accomplished by the generation of glissile dislocations into the beta matrix from the beta/gamma interface region and is enhanced because of a favorable beta-gamma orientation relationship for slip transfer. Ductility enhancement from interface-generated mobile dislocations generated from beta-gamma interfaces is compared to that observed in film-coated beta-NiAl single crystals and FeAl polycrystals.

Larsen, M.↗

Propagating orientation constraints for the Hubble Space Telescope

An observing program on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is described in terms of exposures that are obtained by one or more of the instruments onboard the HST. Many requested exposures might specify orientation requirements and accompanying ranges. Orientation refers to the amount of roll (in degrees) about the line of sight. The range give the permissible tolerance (also in degrees). These requirements may be (1) absolute (in relation to the celestial coordinate system), (2) relative to the nominal roll angle for HST during that exposure, or (3) relative (in relation to other exposures in the observing program). The TRANSformation expert system converts proposals for astronomical observations with HST into detailed observing plans. Part of the conversion involves grouping exposures into higher level structures based on exposure characteristics. Exposures constrained to be at different orientations cannot be grouped together. Because relative orientation requirements cause implicit constraints, orientation constraints have to be propagated. TRANS must also identify any inconsistencies that may exist so they can be corrected. We have designed and implemented an orientation constraint propagator as part of TRANS. The propagator is based on an informal algebra that facilitates the setting up and propagation of the orientation constraints. The constraint propagator generates constraints between directly related exposures, and propagates derived constraints between exposures that are related indirectly. It provides facilities for path-consistency checking, identification of unsatisfiable constraints, and querying of orientation relationships. The system has been successfully operational as part of TRANS for over seven months. The solution has particular significance to space applications in which satellite/telescope pointing and attitude are constrained and relationships exist between multiple configurations.

Bose, Ashim↗

Crystallography of the NiHfSi Phase in a NiAl (0.5 Hf) Single-Crystal Alloy

Small additions of Hf to conventionally processed NiAl single crystals result in the precipitation of a high density of cuboidal G-phase along with a newly identified silicide phase. Both of these phases form in the presence of Si which is not an intentional alloying addition but is a contaminant resulting from contact with the ceramic shell molds during directional solidification of the single-crystal ingots. The morphology, crystal structure and Orientation Relationship (OR) of the silicide phase in a NiAl (0.5 at.%Hf) single-crystal alloy have been determined using transmission electron microscopy, electron microdiffraction and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Qualitative elemental analysis and indexing of the electron microdiffraction patterns from the new phase indicate that it is an orthorhombic NiHfSi phase with unit cell parameters, a = 0.639 nm, b = 0.389 nm and c = 0.72 nm, and space group Pnma. The NiHfSi phase forms as thin rectangular plates on NiAl/111/ planes with an OR that is given by NiHfSi(100))(parallel) NiAl(111) and NiHfSi zone axes(010) (parallel) NiAl zone axes (101). Twelve variants of the NiHfSi phase were observed in the alloy and the number of variants and rectangular morphology of NiHfSi plates are consistent with symmetry requirements. Quenching experiments indicate that nucleation of the NiHfSi phase in NiAI(Hf) alloys is aided by the formation of NiAl group of zone axes (111) vacancy loops that form on the NiAl /111/ planes.

Garg, A.↗

Situational Leadership in Air Traffic Control

In high-risk environments such as air traffic control, leadership on different levels plays a certain role in establishing, promoting, and maintaining a good safety culture. The current study aimed to investigate how leadership styles, leadership style adaptability, and over and under task leadership behavior differed across situations, operative conditions, leadership structures, and working tasks in an air traffic control setting. Study locations were two air traffic control centers in Sweden with different operational conditions and leadership structures, and an administrative air traffic management unit. Leadership was measured with a questionnaire based on Leader Effectiveness and Adaptability Description (LEAD; Blanchard, Zigarmi & Zigarmi, 2003; Hersey & Blanchard, 1988). The results showed that the situation had strong impact on the leadership in which the leadership behavior was more relationship oriented in Success and Group situations than in Hardship and Individual situations. The leadership adaptability was further superior in Success and Individual situations compared with Hardship and Group situations. Operational conditions, leadership structures and working tasks were, on the other hand, not associated with leadership behavior.

Arvidsson, Marcus↗

Phase Heritage: Deciphering Evidence of Pre-Existing Phases via Inherited Crystallographic Orientations

The concept of 'phase heritage' (e.g., Timms et al., 2017a) involves microstructural recognition of the former presence of a phase that has since transformed to another via evidence encoded in crystallographic orientations. Phase heritage relies on the phenomenon that newly grown (daughter) phases nucleate with particular crystallographic orientation relationships with the preceding (parent) phase. This phenomenon is common for displacive (i.e., shear or martensitic) transformations, well documented in the metals and ceramics literature, but is relatively uncommon in geosciences. This presentation outlines the concepts behind this approach, showcases results from software for automated analysis of EBSD data, and illustrates examples of polymorphic and dissociation phase transformations in the ZrSiO4-ZrO2-SiO2 system, which has particularly useful applications for 'extreme thermobarometry' in impact environments (Timms et al., 2017a).

Timms, Nicholas E.↗