车里雅宾斯克(Chelyabinsk)陨石的岩石矿物特征与冲击变质作用

2013年2月15日,俄罗斯车里雅宾斯克(Chelyabinsk)发生了伴随罕见的空中爆炸的大规模陨石雨事件。本文对3块代表不同冲击变质程度的车里雅宾斯克陨石碎块进行了研究。它们都具有部分熔壳,其中1块仅出现碎裂,1块含有冲击熔融细脉,1块基本由冲击熔融囊和冲击熔脉组成。冲击变质程度最低的样品,代表了该陨石母体小行星的原始岩石矿物学特征:即具有粗粒的岩石结构和均一的矿物化学组成,但仍保留一些残余球粒,表明受到了明显的热变质作用,其岩石类型可划分为5型。铁镁质硅酸盐高的Fe O含量(橄榄石Fa:27.9mol%~28.2mol%,辉石Fs值:23.3mol%~23.7mol%)、以及较低的Fe-Ni金属含量,表明其化学群属于低铁低金属的LL群。我们所分析的样品与前人报导的结果相似,未发现不同岩性的岩屑,表明车里雅宾斯克陨石的原始岩矿特征较为均一。3块陨石碎块中,随着冲击程度的增强,其冲击变质特征依次表现为硅酸盐矿物的破碎、熔长石化更为普遍、陨硫铁与铁镍合金共熔、硅酸盐熔脉的形成、铬铁矿与长石共熔、以及大量熔融囊的发育等。但是,在冲击熔融囊和熔脉中,以及相邻围岩中均未发现高压矿物相。熔脉中的橄榄石晶屑和相邻围岩的橄榄石颗粒表现为化学成分的不均一,在背散射电子图像中呈不同灰度的结构。这与其他强烈冲击变质陨石中橄榄石的林伍德石或瓦茨利石相变相似。该陨石中林伍德石或瓦茨利石的缺失很可能是由于强烈撞击后高温产生的退变质。这也表明车里雅宾斯克陨石的母体小行星可能遭受了非常强烈的撞击事件。     

Geophysical observations during the flight of the Chelyabinsk meteoroid

The paper describes the effects of the passage of the Chelyabinsk meteoroid (which exploded on 15 February 2013 over the Chelyabinsk Region), which were established from geophysical data from West Siberian stations. The trajectory and speed of the meteoric body from the start of the glow to the breakup were recorded by surveillance cameras and dashcams. Records from broadband seismic stations were used to determine the exact time of the explosion (03:20:34 UTC) from the arrival times of the surface wave produced by this event. The explosion energy was estimated from the surface-wave amplitudes at ~ 100 kilotons on the assumption that the wave originated from a point source similar to a high-altitude thermonuclear explosion. A database of records from seismic stations obtained during the meteoroid passage has been compiled.     

Terror in the skies of Russia

It was just another normal day for the residents of the Russian town of Chelyabinsk as they set off for work on Friday 15 February 2013. A rock less than 20 metres wide changed all that. A meteor weighing some 11 000 tonnes hit the Earth's atmosphere above the Ural Mountains with an estimated speed of 18 km/s (65 000 km/h). It exploded over Chelyabinsk with the force of 30 Hiroshima bombs, causing a shockwave to tear through the region and injuring over 1500 people. It was the biggest meteor strike in the last 100 years, and undoubtedly the most archived ever.     

Kaolins and sericities of the Plast kaolin-bearing region,Chelyabinsk district

Necessity to increase economic reserves of kaolin in the Russian Federation stimulated us to examine perspectives of the Plast kaolin-bearing region in the southern Urals located 80 km south of Chelyabinsk. This region includes occurrences and differently explored eluvial kaolin deposits, including the largest currently mined Zhuravlinyi Log deposit. The sericite-bearing kaolin and sericitite are considered a potential source of fine-flaky light mica. It is expected that specialized geological exploration will expand mineral resources of kaolin in the Chelyabinsk district and the Ural federal region as a whole.     

Geomagnetic Field Disturbances from the Fall of the Lipetsk (June 21, 2018) and Chelyabinsk (February 15, 2013) Meteorites

Doklady Earth Sciences - Based on the Chelyabinsk (February 13, 2013) and Lipetsk (June 21, 2018) events, disturbances in the Earth’s geomagnetic field, which were induced by the fall of...     

Analytical results for the material of the Chelyabinsk meteorite

This paper presents the results of the mineralogical, petrographic, elemental, and isotopic analysis of the Chelyabinsk meteorite and their geochemical interpretation. It was shown that the meteorite can be assigned to LL5-group ordinary chondrites and underwent moderate shock metamorphism (stage S4). The Chelyabinsk meteorite contains a significant fraction (approximately one-third by volume) of shock-melted material similar in composition to the main volume of the meteorite. The results of isotopic analysis suggest that the history of meteorite formation included an impact event approximately 290 Ma ago.     

Magnetic properties of the Chelyabinsk meteorite: Preliminary results

This paper presents the distribution of magnetic susceptibility, χ₀, in fragments of the Chelyabinsk ordinary chondrite (LL5, S4, W0, fall of February 15, 2013) from the collection of the Vernadsky Institute of Geochemistry and Analytical Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, and results obtained by standard magnetic techniques for the meteorite material, including thermomagnetic analysis, measurements of natural remanent magnetization (NRM) and saturation isothermal remanent magnetization (SIRM), as well as the spectra of their alternating field demagnetization at amplitudes up to 170 mT, measurements of hysteresis loops and back-field remanence demagnetization curves at temperatures from 10 K to 700°C etc. The mean logχ₀ values for the light-colored (main) lithology of the meteorite material and impact-melt breccia from our collection are 4.54 ± 0.10 (n = 66) and 4.65 ± 0.09 (n = 38) (×10^?9 m³/kg), respectively. According to international magnetic classification of meteorites, Chelyabinsk falls within the range of LL5 chondrites. The mean metal content was estimated from the saturation magnetization, M _s, of the light- and dark-colored lithologies as 3.7 and 4.1 wt %, respectively. Hence, the dark lithology is richer in metal. The metal grains are multidomain at room temperature and show low coercive force, B _c (<2 mT) and remanent coercive force, B _cr (15–23 mT). The thermomagnetic analyses of the samples showed that the magnetic properties of the Chelyabinsk meteorite are controlled mainly by taenite and kamacite at temperatures >75 K. In the temperature range below 75 K, magnetic properties are controlled by chromite; the magnetic hardness of the samples is maximal at 10 K and equals to 606 and 157 mT for the light- and dark-colored lithologies, respectively.     

Fragments of the Chelyabinsk meteorite shower: Distribution of masses and sizes and constraints on the mass of the largest fragment

This paper reports data on the masses of fragments of the Chelyabinsk meteorite shower (fall of 15.02.2013). Assuming a lognormal distribution for the masses of fragments, the logarithm of the mean mass and standard deviation were estimated for the available data, describing the distribution density of masses and calculated diameters of fragments. Based on the dependence of the cumulative number of fragments with masses equal or greater than a given value, the mass of the largest fragment of the Chelyabinsk meteorite shower was estimated. It was shown that the most probable mass of such a fragment is hundreds of kilograms for a total mass of infalling material of 100 metric tons (t) and 1–2 t for a total mass of 1000 t, and the lower constraint for the maximum mass of the fragment is a few tens of kilograms.     

Analysis of selected samples of the Chelyabinsk meteorite for organic compounds by synchronous spectrofluorimetry

Analyses of some samples of the Chelyabinsk meteorite suggest that the meteoritic material can contain a mixture of complex organic compounds.     

Chelyabinsk event as an astronomical phenomenon

The fall of a meteorite near the town of Chelyabinsk is considered from the viewpoint of astronomy, and the major witness facts and entry characteristics (including the measured entry velocity and the height of the explosion) are analyzed. The aerodynamic phenomena that accompanied the entry of the meteorite in the atmosphere at an ultrasonic velocity and the origin of a shock wave that induced damage on the Earth’s surface are analyzed. The paper also reports the estimated frequency of the falls of celestial bodies depending on their size, and consequences of collisions of these bodies with the Earth. It is emphasized that studies of small bodies in the Solar System can provide insight into the origin of the protoplanetary disk and the processes that produced the planets. The studies of small bodies, such as the Chelyabinsk meteorite, are directly related to the problem of asteroid and comet impact hazard (ACIH). The paper reports the sizes of potentially hazardous celestial bodies whose monitoring requires the deployment of a network of specialized telescopes on the Earth to mitigate ACH and a system of space-based systems for the identification and monitoring of such bodies in near space.     

The Chelyabinsk Meteorite as a multiple source of acoustic and seismic waves

Shock waves and impact of the Chelyabinsk Meteorite fragments on the ground initiated various waves in the atmosphere and the earth. Three different sources of seismic and infrasound waves were found by arrival time and azimuth of seismic and infrasound waves recorded by the International Monitoring System.     

The substance of the Chelyabinsk meteorite: Results of geochemical and thermomagnetic studies

The fragments of the Chelyabinsk meteorite studied are represented by light-gray granular rock of chondritic structure. The chondrules and their cementing matter are mainly constituted by olivine and orthopyroxene. The matrix consists of a pyroxene-olivine aggregate with plagioclase, apatite, melted glass, and the inclusions of ore minerals: taenite, kamacite, troilite, pyrrhotite and pentlandite (more rarely), and individual grains of chromite and ilmenite. The comparison of the composition of the Chelyabinsk meteorite to the average composition of LL chondrites had shown their complete convergence. The concentrations of sidero- and chalcophile rare elements in the meteorite, normalized to CI chondrites, are much close to the values for LL chondrites and almost reproduce the character of their distribution in the spider diagram. However, some high-charged and lithophile elements (Nb, Zr, Hf, Sr, Ba, Th, and U) not belonging to the mentioned groups are characterized by somewhat increased contents. The enrichment of the samples of the Chelyabinsk meteorite in rare-earth elements compared to LL chondrite (5.18 against 3.58 ppm) is also revealed. This is related to the higher concentrations of light lanthanides in the meteorite samples, which is seen from the increased La/Yb ratio compared to the value for LL chondrite (1.9–2.3 and 1.4, respectively). Iron-nickel alloys are the main magnetism carriers in the Chelyabinsk meteorite. The compositions of kamacite, taenite, chromite, and Fe-sulfides are not much different. The optical and microprobe data are confirmed by the thermomagnetic parameters as well: (1) The specific magnetization of 4–6 Am²/kg points to small variations in the concentrations of magnetic minerals. (2) The M(T) curves for all the samples nearly repeat each other, and the Curie temperatures of 490–520 and 740–770°C are registered in the curves of the first and second heating, hence, these curves correspond to kamacite of various composition, right up to pure iron. (3) The monocline ferrimagnetic pyrrhotite of T_C = 320–340°C is registered in the treated fragments in both the M(T) curves of heating and cooling. (4) The concentrations by thermomagnetic analysis amount to 0.6–1.6% (0.9% average) for kamacite, 0.7–1.5% (1.1% average) for taenite, and 0–1.5% (0.4% average) for monocline pyrrhotite. (5) No magnetite was found in the M(T) curve during the first heating of the samples. Hence, the content of magnetite is much below 0.1.     

Silurian U–Pb zircon age (LA-ICP-MS) of granitoids from the Zelenodol Cu–porphyry deposit,Southern Urals

The Zelenodol porphyry Cu-(Au, Mo) deposit located about 65 km SSW of the city of Chelyabinsk is confined to the western part of the West Uralian Volcanogenic Megazone. The concordant U-Pb age of zircons from ore-bearing island-arc diorite porphyryis 418.3 Â ± 2.9 Ma.     

Ground penetrating radar investigation of the supposed fall site of a fragment of the Chelabinsk meteorite in Lake Chebarkul’

The bottom of Lake Chebarkul’ was investigated by ground penetrating radar at the fall site of a large fragment of the Chelyabinsk meteorite. Linear profiles and 3D reconstructions revealed an anomalous depression of the lake floor relief and the disturbance of the structure of the ice cover, which indicate the possible place of meteorite fragment occurrence.     

Chelyabinsk superbolide explosion in the Earth’s atmosphere: A common phenomenon or unique coincidence?

The paper analyzes the disintegration of small cosmic bodies in a planetary atmosphere and most important facts observed during the fall of the Chelyabinsk superbolide: its speed loss during passage through the upper atmosphere, its strength and the character of destruction, the altitude of its explosion, and the energy release. Detailed data are presented on the aerodynamic phenomena accompanying the supersonic atmospheric entry and destruction of the superbolide. The strength of the original meteorite is evaluated as a function of its initial disintegration altitude. Principal data obtained on the collision between comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 and Jupiter are reported.     

Fluorine mineralisation from burning coal spoil-heaps in the Russian Urals

Summary Anhydrous iron, aluminum and fluorine-rich paralavas were found in the burned spoil-heaps of the Chelyabinsk coal basin, Russia. The rocks contain tridymite, anorthite, ferroan fluorine-bearing cordierite, fluorine-bearing mullite, periclase, fluorapatite, micas of the F-biotite–F-phlogopite series, fluortopaz, fluorite, and sellaite. The fluorine-rich minerals formed as a result of local thermal reactions of sedimentary carbonates and silicates with gaseous fluorine. During coal combustion fluorine concentrates in the annealed ankeritic marls where the increase of F is hundreds of times over its concentration in the initial sedimentary rocks. The formation of MgF₂ and CaF₂ promotes local melting at relatively low temperatures (T < 1000 °C) with the residuum consisting of two immiscible liquids. One crystallises as the fluorides, the other as fluorine-substituted analogues of the hydrosilicates, which under the extremely dry conditions, produce minerals containing extremely high F-contents. Received April 10, 2000; revised version accepted February 24, 2001     

“Spherulite-like” jadeite growth in shock-melt veins of the Novosibirsk H5/6 chondrite

The Novosibirsk H5/6 ordinary chondrite has signs of shock metamorphism, such as dark shock-melt veins (SMVs) crossing the chondrite host rock. The plagioclase composition grains (Ab₇₈An₁₄Or₇) with jadeite were found in the host-rock fragments inside the SMVs. Jadeite has an unusual radial-concentric spherulite-like microtexture. The spherulite-like jadeite formed from the molten plagioclase grain under high-pressure and high-temperature conditions during an impact event. The crystallization was accompanied by sodium-potassium differentiation between coexisting jadeite and residual melt. The PT-conditions of jadeite formation were estimated to be 3-14 GPa and 1400-2150 °C. Jadeite crystallization, Na-K differentiation, and the pressure-temperature estimates of jadeite formation in the Novosibirsk chondrite are very close to those in the Chelyabinsk LL5 chondrite. The spherulite-like microtexture and jadeite-glass coexistence, most likely, point to a high cooling rate of the SMVs at the pressure release stage of the metamorphic process.     

The Chelyabinsk meteoroid: A seismologist’s view

This work determines the parameters of the meteoroid that exploded in Chelyabinsk oblast on February 15, 2013. Using video observation and automobile registration cameras, we identified the trajectory and velocity of the meteoric body from the beginning of its glow to the destruction. The precise explosion time (03:20:34UTC) was determined on the basis of records of the broadband seismic stations and arrivals of the surface wave. The estimated explosion energy with assumption of a point source similar to a high thermonuclear explosion was 100 kt in TNT equivalent based on the surface wave amplitude. The archive of records of seismic stations during the meteorite flight is composed.     

Ecodynamics of anthropogenic mining provinces: From degradation to rehabilitation

The unity, interrelationship, and interdependence of the processes proceeding in anthropogenic provinces caused by the activity of mining industries are considered from the viewpoint of the concept of hierarchical passivity of natural components. The processes of degradation of natural complexes under the influence of mining industries and the processes of rehabilitation of the vegetation cover when the anthropogenic pressure decreases are analyzed taking the ZAO Karabashmed’, Chelyabinsk region, and the Severonikel’ Combine, Murmansk region, as examples. The intrinsic potential of rehabilitation of natural systems (air, water, and soil) is assessed, and the most passive components are identified. A strategy of reclamation of disturbed territories is enunciated based on the information obtained taking the natural self-recovering ability of ecosystems in different climate zones into account.