Publications
114 results found
Jenkins LEE, Lee MRR, Daly L, et al., 2023, Winchcombe: An example of rapid terrestrial alteration of a CM chondrite, METEORITICS & PLANETARY SCIENCE, ISSN: 1086-9379
Genge MJ, Alesbrook L, Almeida NV, et al., 2023, The fusion crust of the Winchcombe meteorite: A preserved record of atmospheric entry processes, METEORITICS & PLANETARY SCIENCE, ISSN: 1086-9379
Suttle MD, Daly L, Jones RH, et al., 2022, The Winchcombe meteorite-A regolith breccia from a rubble pile CM chondrite asteroid, METEORITICS & PLANETARY SCIENCE, ISSN: 1086-9379
King AJ, Daly L, Rowe J, et al., 2022, The Winchcombe meteorite, a unique and pristine witness from the outer solar system., Science of Advanced Materials, Vol: 8, Pages: 1-17, ISSN: 1947-2935
Direct links between carbonaceous chondrites and their parent bodies in the solar system are rare. The Winchcombe meteorite is the most accurately recorded carbonaceous chondrite fall. Its pre-atmospheric orbit and cosmic-ray exposure age confirm that it arrived on Earth shortly after ejection from a primitive asteroid. Recovered only hours after falling, the composition of the Winchcombe meteorite is largely unmodified by the terrestrial environment. It contains abundant hydrated silicates formed during fluid-rock reactions, and carbon- and nitrogen-bearing organic matter including soluble protein amino acids. The near-pristine hydrogen isotopic composition of the Winchcombe meteorite is comparable to the terrestrial hydrosphere, providing further evidence that volatile-rich carbonaceous asteroids played an important role in the origin of Earth's water.
Rudraswami NG, Pandey M, Genge MJ, et al., 2021, Extraterrestrial dust as a source of bioavailable iron contributing to the ocean for driving primary productivity, METEORITICS & PLANETARY SCIENCE, Vol: 56, Pages: 2175-2190, ISSN: 1086-9379
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- Citations: 1
Chernonozhkin SM, de Vega CG, Artemieva N, et al., 2021, Isotopic evolution of planetary crusts by hypervelocity impacts evidenced by Fe in microtektites, NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, Vol: 12
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- Citations: 3
Wozniakiewicz PJ, Bridges J, Burchell MJ, et al., 2021, A cosmic dust detection suite for the deep space Gateway, ADVANCES IN SPACE RESEARCH, Vol: 68, Pages: 85-104, ISSN: 0273-1177
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- Citations: 1
Van Ginneken M, Goderis S, Artemieva N, et al., 2021, A large meteoritic event over Antarctica ca. 430 ka ago inferred from chondritic spherules from the Sor Rondane Mountains, SCIENCE ADVANCES, Vol: 7, ISSN: 2375-2548
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- Citations: 4
Suttle MD, Folco L, Genge MJ, et al., 2021, The aqueous alteration of GEMS-like amorphous silicate in a chondritic micrometeorite by Antarctic water, GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA, Vol: 293, Pages: 399-421, ISSN: 0016-7037
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- Citations: 5
Suttle MD, Folco L, Genge MJ, et al., 2020, Flying too close to the Sun - The viability of perihelion-induced aqueous alteration on periodic comets, ICARUS, Vol: 351, ISSN: 0019-1035
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- Citations: 6
Rudraswami NG, Genge MJ, Marrocchi Y, et al., 2020, The Oxygen Isotope Compositions of Large Numbers of Small Cosmic Spherules: Implications for Their Sources and the Isotopic Composition of the Upper Atmosphere, JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-PLANETS, Vol: 125, ISSN: 2169-9097
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- Citations: 9
Genge MJ, Van Ginneken M, Suttle MD, 2020, Micrometeorites: Insights into the flux, sources and atmospheric entry of extraterrestrial dust at Earth, Planetary and Space Science, Vol: 187, Pages: 1-12, ISSN: 0032-0633
Micrometeorites (MMs) provide constraints on the flux and sources of extraterrestrial dust falling on Earth as well as recording the processes occurring during atmospheric entry. Collections of micrometeorites have been recovered from a wide variety of environments including Antarctic moraine, rock traps, ice and snow and on roof tops in urban areas. Studies of the mineralogy and composition of MMs suggest that most particles (>98%) >50 μm in diameter have asteroidal sources, whilst ~50% of particles smaller than 50 μm are likely to be derived from comets. The relative abundance of S(IV)-type asteroid materials, similar to ordinary chondrites increases with size, although C-type asteroidal materials, similar to carbonaceous chondrites dominate over all. Although MMs provide excellent evidence on the nature and abundance of extraterrestrial dust at the Earth’s orbit they are not without bias and uncertainty. Mineralogical and compositional change during atmospheric entry makes the exact nature of their precursors uncertain complicating evaluation of source beyond basic classes of material. This is particularly true at larger sizes when complete melting to form cosmic spherules occurs, however, unmelted MMs >50 μm in size are also often thermally altered. Mixing with atmospheric oxygen and mass fractionation by evaporation furthermore complicates the use of oxygen isotope compositions in identifying parent bodies. All MM collections are suggested to exhibit biases owing to: (1) collection method, (2) terrestrial weathering, (3) terrestrial contamination, and (4) erosion and deposition by terrestrial surface processes. Even in the least biased collections, those collected by dedicated melting of Antarctic snow, erosive loss of material is suggested here to make fluxes uncertain by factors of up to ~2. The abundance of asteroid-derived MMs observed in collections contradicts models of the orbital evolution of interplanetary dust to Earth, whic
Genge M, 2019, Geological Field Sketches and Illustrations: A Practical Guide, Publisher: Oxford University Press, ISBN: 978-0198835929
Madden-Nadeau AL, Genge MJ, 2019, Fiamme degassing structures and their implications for the post-emplacement temperatures and H2O contents of high-grade ignimbrites, Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, Vol: 384, Pages: 251-262, ISSN: 0377-0273
A new process in post-emplacement ignimbrite degassing is proposed from observations of unusual structures in a high-grade ignimbrite in Sardinia. The structures consist of fiamme decorated above and below by vesicles, termed here Fiamme Degassing Structures (FDS). The relative volumes of vesicles and fiamme have a positive, linear correlation, and the ratio between the volume of vesicles above and below fiamme (asymmetry ratio) is <1 for a significant number of structures. The positive relationship between the volume of fiamme and vesicles implies that the vesicles were produced by the degassing of fiamme post-emplacement. An equal volume of vesicles would be expected above and below fiamme under simple degassing under compression, contrary to observation in many FDS. The low asymmetry ratio is, therefore, related to a secondary process; vesicle loss and capture is proposed as an explanation. A numerical model of vesicle migration within rhyolitic ignimbrites is used to show that vesicles can rise further than the average separation distance between the fiamme, allowing them to be trapped by overlying fiamme. Sufficient migration of vesicles to result in trapping, however, requires a restricted range of H2O contents and temperatures on emplacement (e.g > 1 wt% at <860 °C), explaining the rare occurrence of FDS. The H2O contents required to form these structures post-emplacement are relatively high for pyroclasts, suggesting they are indicators of unusually large supersaturation in water resulting from rapid excavation rate. These structures also illustrate that interaction of volatiles with fiamme occurs during post-emplacement degassing; FDS may act as baffles that channel volatiles into fumarole columns, slowing volatile loss.
Wilson A, Genge M, Krzesińska A, et al., 2019, Atmospheric entry heating of micrometeorites at Earth and Mars: implications for the survival of organics, Meteoritics and Planetary Science, Vol: 54, Pages: 1-19, ISSN: 1086-9379
The atmospheric entry heating of micrometeorites (MMs) can significantly alter their pre-existing mineralogy, texture and organic material. The degree of heating depends predominantly on the gravity and atmospheric density of the planet on which they fall. For particles falling on Earth the alteration can be significant, leading to the destruction of much of the pre-entry organics, however, the weaker gravity and thinner atmosphere of Mars enhances the survival of MMs and increases the fraction of particles that preserve organic material. This paper investigates the entry heating of MMs on the Earth and Mars in order to examine the micrometeorite population on each planet and give insights into the survival of extraterrestrial organic material. The results show that particles reaching the surface of Mars experience a lower peak temperature compared to Earth and, therefore, experience less evaporative mass loss. Of the particles which reach the surface, 68.2% remain unmelted on Mars compared to only 22.8% on Earth. Due to evaporative mass loss, unmelted particles that reach the surface of Earth are restricted to sizes <70 µm whereas particles >475 µm survive unmelted on Mars. Approximately 10% of particles experience temperatures below ~800 K, i.e. the sublimation temperature of refractory organics found in MMs. On Earth this fraction is significantly lower with less than 1% expected to remain below this temperature. Lower peak temperatures coupled with the larger sizes of particles surviving without significant heating on Mars suggests a much higher fraction of organic material surviving to the martian surface.
Tomkins AG, Genge MJ, Tait AW, et al., 2019, High survivability of micrometeorites on Mars: Sites with enhanced availability of limiting nutrients, Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, Vol: 124, Pages: 1802-1818, ISSN: 2169-9097
NASA's strategy in exploring Mars has been to follow the water, because water is essential for life, and it has been found that there are many locations where there was once liquid water on the surface. Now perhaps, to narrow down the search for life on a barren basalt‐dominated surface, there needs to be a refocusing to a strategy of “follow the nutrients.” Here we model the entry of metallic micrometeoroids through the Martian atmosphere, and investigate variations in micrometeorite abundance at an analogue site on the Nullarbor Plain in Australia, to determine where the common limiting nutrients available in these (e.g., P, S, Fe) become concentrated on the surface of Mars. We find that dense micrometeorites are abundant in a range of desert environments, becoming concentrated by aeolian processes into specific sites that would be easily investigated by a robotic rover. Our modeling suggests that micrometeorites are currently far more abundant on the surface of Mars than on Earth, and given the far greater abundance of water and warmer conditions on Earth and thus much more active weather system, this was likely true throughout the history of Mars. Because micrometeorites contain a variety of redox sensitive minerals including FeNi alloys, sulfide and phosphide minerals, and organic compounds, the sites where these become concentrated are far more nutrient rich, and thus more compatible with chemolithotrophic life than most of the Martian surface.Plain Language SummaryNASA's exploration program has allowed the scientific community to demonstrate clearly that Mars had a watery past, so the search for life needs to move on to identifying the places where water and nutrients coincided. We have investigated the relative abundance of micrometeorites on Mars compared to the Earth because these contain key nutrients that the earliest life forms on Earth used, and because their contained minerals can be used to investigate past atmospheric chemistry. We sugge
Suttle M, Genge M, Salge T, et al., 2019, A microchondrule-bearing micrometeorite and comparison with microchondrules in CM chondrites, Meteoritics and Planetary Science, Vol: 54, Pages: 1303-1324, ISSN: 1086-9379
We report the discovery of a partially altered microchondrule within a fine-grained micrometeorite.This object is circular, <10μm in diameter and has a cryptocrystalline texture, internal zonation and a thin S-bearing rim. These features imply a period of post-accretion parent body aqueous alteration, in which the former glassy igneous texture was subject to hydration and phyllosilicate formation as well as leaching of fluid-mobile elements. We compare this microchondrule to three microchondrules found in two CM chondrites: Elephant Moraine (EET) 96029 and Murchison. In all instances, their formation appears closely linked to the late-stages of chondrule formation, chondrule recycling and fine-grained rim accretion. Likewise, they share cryptocrystalline textures and evidence of mild aqueous alteration and thus similar histories. We also investigate the host micrometeorite’s petrology, which includes an unusually Cr-rich mineralogy, containing both Mn-chromite spinel and low-Fe-Cr rich (LICE) anhydrous silicates. Because these two refractory phases cannot form together in a single geochemical reservoir under equilibrium condensation, this micrometeorite’s accretionary history requires a complex timeline with formation via non-equilibrium batch crystallization or accumulation of materials from large radial distances. In contrast, the bulk composition of this micrometeorite and its internal textures are consistent with a hydrated carbonaceous chondrite source. This micrometeorite is interpreted as a fragment of fine-grained rim material that once surrounded a larger parent chondrule and was derived from a primitive carbonaceous parent body; either a CM chondrite or Jupiter family comet.
Aerts J, van Spanning R, Flahaut J, et al., 2019, Microbial Communities in Sediments From Four Mildly Acidic EphemeralSalt Lakes in the Yilgarn Craton (Australia) – Terrestrial Analogs to Ancient Mars, Frontiers in Microbiology, ISSN: 1664-302X
Suttle M, Genge M, Folco L, et al., 2019, The atmospheric entry of fine-grained micrometeorites: the role of volatile gases in heating and fragmentation, Meteoritics and Planetary Science, Vol: 54, Pages: 503-520, ISSN: 1086-9379
The early stages of atmospheric entry are investigated in four large (250–950 μm) unmelted micrometeorites (three fine‐grained and one composite), derived from the Transantarctic Mountain micrometeorite collection. These particles have abundant, interconnected, secondary pore spaces which form branching channels and show evidence of enhanced heating along their channel walls. Additionally, a micrometeorite with a double‐walled igneous rim is described, suggesting that some particles undergo volume expansion during entry. This study provides new textural data which links together entry heating processes known to operate inside micrometeoroids, thereby generating a more comprehensive model of their petrographic evolution. Initially, flash heated micrometeorites develop a melt layer on their exterior; this igneous rim migrates inwards. Meanwhile, the particle core is heated by the decomposition of low‐temperature phases and by volatile gas release. Where the igneous rim acts as a seal, gas pressures rise, resulting in the formation of interconnected voids and higher particle porosities. Eventually, the igneous rim is breached and gas exchange with the atmosphere occurs. This mechanism replaces inefficient conductive rim‐to‐core thermal gradients with more efficient particle‐wide heating, driven by convective gas flow. Interconnected voids also increase the likelihood of particle fragmentation during entry and, may therefore explain the rarity of large fine‐grained micrometeorites among collections.
Suttle MD, Folco L, Genge MJ, et al., 2019, Intense aqueous alteration on C-type asteroids: Perspectives from giant fine-grained micrometeorites, GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA, Vol: 245, Pages: 352-373, ISSN: 0016-7037
Genge MJ, Van Ginneken M, Suttle M, et al., 2018, Accumulation mechanisms of micrometeorites in an ancient supra-glacial moraine at Larkman Nunatak, Antarctica, Meteoritics and Planetary Science, Vol: 53, Pages: 2051-2066, ISSN: 1086-9379
We report the discovery of a large accumulation of micrometeorites in a supraglacial moraine at Larkman Nunatak in the Grosvenor Mountains of the Transantarctic Range in Antarctica. The micrometeorites are present in abundances of ~600 particles Kg-1 of moraine sediment and include a near complete collection of micrometeorite types similar to those observed in Antarctic blue ice and within bare-rock traps in the Antarctic. The size distribution of the observed particles is consistent with those collected from snow collections suggesting the moraine has captured a representative collection of cosmic spherules with significant loss of only the smallest particles (<100 m) by wind. The presence of microtektites with compositions similar to those of the Australasian strewn field suggests the moraine has been accumulating for 780 ka with dust-sized debris. On the basis of this age estimate it is suggested that accumulation occurs principally through ice sublimation. Direct in-fall of fines is suggested to be limited by snow layers that act as barriers to accumulation and can be removed by wind erosion. Micrometeorite accumulation in many areas in Antarctica, therefore, may not be continuous over long periods and can be subject to climatic controls. On the basis of the interpretation of microtektites as Australasian, Larkman Nunatak deposit is the oldest known supraglacial moraine and its survival through several glacial maxima and interglacial periods is surprising. We suggest that stationary ice produced by the specific ice flow conditions at Larkman Nunatak explains its longevity and provides a new type of record of the East Antarctic ice sheet.
Genge MJ, 2018, Electrostatic levitation of volcanic ash into the ionosphere and its abrupt effect on climate, Geology, Vol: 46, Pages: 835-838, ISSN: 0091-7613
Large volcanic eruptions cause short-term climate change owing to the convective rise of fine ash and aerosols into the stratosphere. Volcanic plumes are, however, also associated with large net electrical charges that can also influence the dynamics of their ash particles. Here I show that electrostatic levitation of ash from plumes with a net charge is capable of injecting volcanic particles <500 nm in diameter into the ionosphere in large eruptions lasting more than a few hours. Measured disturbances in the ionosphere during eruptions, and the first discovery of polar mesospheric clouds after the A.D. 1883 Krakatau (Indonesia) eruption, are both consistent with levitation of ash into the mesosphere. Supervolcano eruptions are likely to inject significant quantities of charged ash into the ionosphere, resulting in disturbance or collapse of the global electrical circuit on time scales of 102 s. Because atmospheric electrical potential moderates cloud formation, large eruptions may have abrupt effects on climate through radiative forcing. Average air temperature and precipitation records from the 1883 eruption of Krakatau are consistent with a sudden effect on climate.
Shah J, Williams W, Almeida TP, et al., 2018, The oldest magnetic record in our solar system identified using nanometric imaging and numerical modeling, Nature Communications, Vol: 9, ISSN: 2041-1723
Recordings of magnetic fields, thought to be crucial to our Solar System’s rapid accretion, are potentially retained in unaltered nanometric low-Ni kamacite (~metallic Fe) grains encased within dusty olivine crystals, found in the chondrules of unequilibrated chondrites. However, most of these kamacite grains are magnetically non-uniform, so their ability to retain four-billion-year-old magnetic recordings cannot be estimated by previous theories, which assume only uniform magnetization. Here, we demonstrate that non-uniformly magnetized nanometric kamacite grains are stable over Solar System timescales and likely the primary carrier of remanence in dusty olivine. By performing in-situ temperature-dependent nanometric magnetic measurements using off-axis electron holography, we demonstrate the thermal stability of multi-vortex kamacite grains from the chondritic Bishunpur meteorite. Combined with numerical micromagnetic modeling, we determine the stability of the magnetization of these grains. Our study shows that dusty olivine kamacite grains are capable of retaining magnetic recordings from the accreting Solar System.
Van Ginneken M, Genge MJ, Harvey R, 2018, A new type of highly-vaporized microtektite from the Transantarctic Mountains, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, Vol: 228, Pages: 81-94, ISSN: 0016-7037
We report on the discovery of microtektites (microscopic impact glass spherules) in a glacial moraine near Larkman Nunatak in the Transantarctic Mountains, Antarctica. The microtektites were identified based on their physical and chemical properties. Major and trace element compositions of the particles suggest that they may be related to the Australasian strewn field. This would further extend the current strewn field ~800 km southward. Depletion in volatiles and enrichment in refractory elements in Larkman Nunatak microtektites fit the volatilization trend defined by Australasian microtektites, suggesting that they may represent a new highly vapor fractionated member thereof. This observation is supported by their low vesicularity and absence of mineral inclusions. This discovery has strong implications for the formation of microtektites (i.e. their evolution with respect to the distance from the source crater). Finally, the discovery of potentially old (i.e. 0.8 Ma) microtektites in moraine has implications for the stability of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet in the Larkman Nunatak area over the last ~1 Ma and, as a consequence, the high efficiency of such moraines as traps for other extraterrestrial materials (e.g. micrometeorites and meteoritic ablation debris).
Genge MJ, Van Ginneken M, 2017, Comment on “Unmelted Cosmic Metal Particles in the Indian Ocean” by Prasad et al., Meteoritics and Planetary Science, Vol: 53, Pages: 326-332, ISSN: 1086-9379
Suttle M, Genge MJ, 2017, Diagenetically altered fossil micrometeorites suggest cosmic dust is common in the geological record, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Vol: 476, Pages: 132-142, ISSN: 0012-821X
We report the discovery of fossil micrometeorites from Late Cretaceous chalk. Seventy-six cosmic spherules were recovered from Coniacian (87±1 Ma) sediments of the White Chalk Supergroup. Particles vary from pristine silicate and iron-type spherules to pseudomorphic spherules consisting of either single-phase recrystallized magnetite or Fe-silicide. Pristine spherules are readily identified as micrometeorites on the basis of their characteristic mineralogies, textures and compositions. Both magnetite and silicide spherules contain dendritic crystals and spherical morphologies, testifying to rapid crystallisation of high temperature iron-rich metallic and oxide liquids. These particles also contain spherical cavities, representing weathering and removal of metal beads and irregular cavities, representing vesicles formed by trapped gas during crystallization; both features commonly found among modern Antarctic Iron-type (I-type) cosmic spherules. On the basis of textural analysis, the magnetite and Fe-silicide spherules are shown to be I-type cosmic spherules that have experienced complete secondary replacement during diagenesis (fossilization). Our results demonstrate that micrometeorites, preserved in sedimentary rocks, are affected by a suite of complex diagenetic processes, which can result in disparate replacement minerals, even within the same sequence of sedimentary beds. As a result, the identification of fossil micrometeorites requires careful observation of particle textures and comparisons with modern Antarctic collections. Replaced micrometeorites imply that geochemical signatures the extraterrestrial dust are subject to diagenetic remobilisation that limits their stratigraphic resolution. However, this study demonstrates that fossil, pseudomorphic micrometeorites can be recognised and are likely common within the geological record.
Genge MJ, Davies B, Suttle M, et al., 2017, The mineralogy and petrology of I-type cosmic spherules: Implications for their sources, origins and identification in sedimentary rocks, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, Vol: 218, Pages: 167-200, ISSN: 0016-7037
I-type cosmic spherules are micrometeorites that formed by melting during atmospheric entry and consist mainly of iron oxides and FeNi metal. I-types are important because they can readily be recovered from sedimentary rocks allowing study of solar system events over geological time. We report the results of a study of the mineralogy and petrology of 88 I-type cosmic spherules recovered from Antarctica in order to evaluate how they formed and evolved during atmospheric entry, to constrain the nature of their precursors and to establish rigorous criteria by which they may be conclusively identified within sediments and sedimentary rocks. Two textural types of I-type cosmic spherule are recognised: (1) metal bead-bearing (MET) spherules dominated by Ni-poor (<1.5 w%) wüstite and FeNi metal (10-95 wt% Ni) with minor magnetite, and (2) metal bead-free (OX) spherules dominated by Ni-rich wüstite (0.5-22.5 wt%) and magnetite. Two varieties of OX spherule are distinguished, magnetite-poor dendritic spherules and magnetite-rich coarse spherules. Six OXMET particles having features of both MET and OX spherules were also observed. The wüstite to magnetite ratios and metal contents of the studied particles testify to their formation by melting of extraterrestrial FeNi grains during progressive oxidation in the atmosphere. Precursors are suggested to be mainly kamacite and rare taenite grains. Vesicle formation within metal beads and extrusion of metallic liquid into surrounding wüstite grain boundaries suggests an evaporated iron sulphide or carbide component within at least 23% of particles. The Ni/Co ratios of metal vary from 14 to >100 and suggest that metal from H-group ordinary, CM, CR and iron meteorites may form the majority of particles. Oxidation during entry heating increases in the series MET<magnetite-poor OX<magnetite-rich OX spherules owing to differences in particle size, entry angle and velocity. Magnetite-poor OX spherules are s
Genge MJ, Russell SS, 2017, A MICROCHONDRULE-BEARING MICROMETEORITE., 80th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society 2017
Introduction: The Earth receives a continuous flux of cosmic dust derived from young disrupted asteroids andsublimating short period comets [1,2]. Occasionally unique micrometeorites with distinct petrographies are reported[3]. These samples expand the inventory of asteroid parent bodies and provide further clues to the formation andevolution of the solar system. In this study we report the discovery of an unusual dehydroxylated fine-grained micrometeoritecontaining a devitrified microchondrule droplet. This spherule contains a volatile-rich composition indicatingformation in an energetic high density plume.Methods: A single micrometeorite, recovered from the Cap Prudhomme blue-ice micrometeorite collection [4]was analysed by SEM-EMPA, BSE, X-ray element mapping and mid-IR spectroscopy.Results: Particle CP94-050-182 (78x108μm) is a fine-grained micrometeorite, surrounded by a partial magnetiterim. A single spherical object (<10μm diameter) composed of devitrified glass is located near the micrometeorite’sperimeter and contains a non-chondritic volatile-rich composition. Relative to Ivuna, Na, K and Cl concentrations areelevated an order of magnitude above chondritic values at 7.8, 19.8 and 9.4 times, while refractory Al and Ca showapproximately chondritic abundances. The internal mineralogy is a heterogeneous mix of anhydrous silicates suspendedin a fine-grained, porous, nanocrystalline groundmass. Anhydrous silicates are present either as low-Fe(<3wt%), Ca-rich (12-15wt%) pyroxene or high-Fe (~18wt%), Ca-poor (<0.5wt%) olivine. Pyroxene grains containmoderate Mn (0.8-1.7wt%), Cr (~1.4wt%) and Al (~2.0wt%) concentrations, while olivines contain minimal traceelement contamination (Mn,Cr,Al<0.8wt%). Both anhydrous phases appear as anhedral clusters or isolated grains,intergrown with, or mantled by, a coarse non-stoichiometric Fe-rich phase. The surrounding groundmass containsrandomly orientated dehydration cracks and rounded submicron vesicles.
Shah J, Bates H, Muxworthy AR, et al., 2017, Long-lived magnetism in chondrite parent bodies, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Vol: 475, Pages: 106-118, ISSN: 1385-013X
We present evidence for both early- and late-stage magnetic activity on the CV and L/LL parent bodies respectively from chondrules in Vigarano and Bjurböle. Using micro-CT scans to re-orientate chondrules to their in-situ positions, we present a new micron-scale protocol for the paleomagnetic conglomerate test. The paleomagnetic conglomerate test determines at 95% confidence, whether clasts within a conglomerate were magnetized before or after agglomeration, i.e., for a chondritic meteorite whether the chondrules carry a pre- or post-accretionary remanent magnetization. We found both meteorites passed the conglomerate test, i.e., the chondrules had randomly orientated magnetizations. Vigarano's heterogeneous magnetization is likely of shock origin, due to the 10 to 20 GPa impacts that brecciated its precursor material on the parent body and transported it to re-accrete as the Vigarano breccia. The magnetization was likely acquired during the break-up of the original body, indicating a CV parent body dynamo was active ∼9 Ma after Solar System formation. Bjurböle's magnetization is due to tetrataenite, which transformed from taenite as the parent body cooled to below 320 °C, when an ambient magnetic field imparted a remanence. We argue either the high intrinsic anisotropy of tetrataenite or brecciation on the parent body manifests as a randomly orientated distribution, and a L/LL parent body dynamo must have been active at least 80 to 140 Ma after peak metamorphism. Primitive chondrites did not originate from entirely primitive, never molten and/or differentiated parent bodies. Primitive chondrite parent bodies consisted of a differentiated interior sustaining a long-lived magnetic dynamo, encrusted by a layer of incrementally accreted primitive meteoritic material. The different ages of carbonaceous and ordinary chondrite parent bodies might indicate a general difference between carbonaceous and ordinary chondrite parent bodies, and/or format
Genge MJ, Suttle M, Van Ginneken, 2017, Thermal shock fragmentation of Mg silicates within scoriaceous micrometeorites reveal hydrated asteroidal sources, Geology, Vol: 45, Pages: 891-894, ISSN: 1943-2682
Scoriaceous micrometeorites are highly vesicular extraterrestrial dust particles that have experienced partial melting during atmo-spheric entry. We report the occurrence of clusters of anhedral relict forsterite crystals within these particles that testify to in situ frag-mentation. The absence of similar clusters within unmelted micro-meteorites suggests that fragmentation occurs during atmospheric entry rather than by parent body shock reprocessing. Clusters of broken forsterite crystals are shown to form as a result of fracturing owing to thermal stress developed during entry heating and require thermal gradients of >200 K μm–1 in order for differential thermal expansion to exceed the critical shear strength of olivine. Thermal gradients of this magnitude significantly exceed those resulting from thermal conduction and require the endothermic decomposition of phyllosilicates. Fragmented relict forsterite within scoriaceous micro-meteorites, therefore, indicate that the precursor grains were similar to CI and CM2 chondrites and retained phyllosilicate prior to atmo-spheric entry and thus were not dehydrated on the parent asteroid by shock or thermal metamorphism. Explosive fragmentation of hydrous asteroids during collisions, therefore, does not significantly bias the interplanetary dust population.
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