Physical properties of meteorites—Applications in space missions to asteroids

Abstract— Based on reflectance spectroscopy and chemical/mineralogical remote sensing methods, it is generally assumed that asteroids are parent bodies for most meteorites reaching the Earth. However, more detailed observations indicate that differences exist in composition between asteroids and meteorites resulting in difficulties when searching for meteorite‐asteroid match. We show that among other physical parameters the magnetic susceptibility of an asteroid can be determined remotely from the magnetic induction by solar wind using an orbiting spacecraft or directly using the AC coil on the lander, or it can be measured in samples returned to the laboratory. The shape corrected value of the true magnetic susceptibility of an asteroid can be compared to those of meteorites in the existing database, allowing closer match between asteroids and meteorites. The database of physical properties contains over 700 samples and was recently enlarged with measurements of meteorites in European museums using mobile laboratory facility.     

SHRIMP dating of magmatism in the Hitachi metamorphic terrane,Abukuma Belt,Japan: Evidence for a Cambrian volcanic arc

Ion microprobe dating of zircon from meta‐igneous samples of the Hitachi metamorphic terrane of eastern Japan yields Cambrian magmatic ages. Tuffaceous schist from the Nishidohira Formation contains ca 510 Ma zircon, overlapping in age with hornblende gneiss from the Tamadare Formation (ca 507 Ma), and meta‐andesite (ca 507 Ma) and metaporphyry (ca 505 Ma) from the Akazawa Formation. The latter is unconformably overlain by the Carboniferous Daioin Formation, in which a granite boulder from metaconglomerate yields a magmatic age of ca 500 Ma. This date overlaps a previous estimate for granite that intrudes the Akazawa Formation. Intrusive, volcanic, and volcaniclastic lithologies are products of a Cambrian volcanic arc associated with a continental shelf, as demonstrated by the presence of arkose and conglomerate in the lowermost Nishidohira Formation. Granitic magmatism of Cambrian age is unknown elsewhere in Japan, except for a single locality in far western Japan with a similar geological context. Such magmatism is also unknown on the adjacent Asian continental margin, with the exception of the Khanka block in far northeastern China. A ‘great hiatus’ in the Paleozoic stratigraphy of the Sino–Korean block also exists in the Hitachi terrane between Cambrian volcanic arc rocks and Early Carboniferous conglomerate, and may indicate a common paleogeographic provenance.     

Interrelations between framework-building and encrusting skeletal organisms and microbes: more-refined growth history of Lower Devonian bindstones

The framework‐building stromatoporoid Stachyodes, the encrusting calcimicrobe Rothpletzella and encrusting Graticula‐like red algae are major contributors to red algal–calcimicrobial–stromatoporoid bindstones in the Lower Devonian Elmside Formation of the Yass Basin, New South Wales, Australia. The distribution and accumulation patterns of encrusting organisms within the red algal–calcimicrobial–stromatoporoid bindstones observed by optical microscopy and SEM imply a biotic interrelationship between skeletal organisms and microbes that reflects environmental changes. Rothpletzella is characterized by prostrate filaments with frequent branching and a high angle of bifurcation. Filaments of Graticula‐like red algae exhibit rare branching and a relatively low angle of bifurcation. In addition, they are prostrate at the base before becoming erect. Both Rothpletzella and the red algae successively encrust the surfaces of skeletal frameworks, but exhibit different distributions. Rothpletzella and other calcimicrobes cover both the lower and upper surfaces of frameworks, whereas red algae are limited to the upper surfaces. Their individual distributions are thus significantly influenced by the frameworks formed by the thin, laminar stromatoporoid Stachyodes, which create different microenvironments as by‐products. The limited distribution of the red algae was probably related to light levels or phototropism. Upper framework surfaces are variously encrusted by calcimicrobes and the red algae to form thick crusts with varying accumulation patterns. Micritization around the algal thalli, covering of calcimicrobes such as Wetheredella, and microbial micrites between algal thalli all suggest interruptions of algal growth that correspond to episodes of harsh environmental conditions. Transitions from Graticula‐like red algae to Rothpletzella reflect periods of deteriorating environmental change for skeletal organisms, which resulted in the predominance of microbial growth. In contrast, a resurgence of red algae on calcimicrobes suggests improved environmental change. Repeated accumulation patterns between Graticula‐like red algae and Rothpletzella indicate changing habitat environments and competitive relations within skeletal organisms and microbes. These relationships provide insight into understanding how skeletal organisms and microbes utilized space and how they interrelated with each other to produce Devonian reefal limestones.     

Simulation of CO<Subscript> <Emphasis Type="Bold">2</Emphasis> </Subscript> concentrations at Tsukuba tall tower using WRF-CO<Subscript> <Emphasis Type="Bold">2</Emphasis> </Subscript> tracer transport model

Simulation of carbon dioxide (CO₂) at hourly/weekly intervals and fine vertical resolution at the continental or coastal sites is challenging because of coarse horizontal resolution of global transport models. Here the regional Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model coupled with atmospheric chemistry is adopted for simulating atmospheric CO₂ (hereinafter WRF-CO₂) in nonreactive chemical tracer mode. Model results at horizontal resolution of 27 × 27 km and 31 vertical levels are compared with hourly CO₂ measurements from Tsukuba, Japan (36.05°N, 140.13 ^oE) at tower heights of 25 and 200 m for the entire year 2002. Using the wind rose analysis, we find that the fossil fuel emission signal from the megacity Tokyo dominates the diurnal, synoptic and seasonal variations observed at Tsukuba. Contribution of terrestrial biosphere fluxes is of secondary importance for CO₂ concentration variability. The phase of synoptic scale variability in CO₂ at both heights are remarkably well simulated the observed data (correlation coefficient >0.70) for the entire year. The simulations of monthly mean diurnal cycles are in better agreement with the measurements at lower height compared to that at the upper height. The modelled vertical CO₂ gradients are generally greater than the observed vertical gradient. Sensitivity studies show that the simulation of observed vertical gradient can be improved by increasing the number of vertical levels from 31 in the model WRF to 37 (4 below 200 m) and using the Mellor–Yamada–Janjic planetary boundary scheme. These results have large implications for improving transport model simulation of CO₂ over the continental sites.     

Denudation history of the high T/P Ryoke metamorphic belt, southwest Japan: constraints from CHIME monazite ages of gneisses and granitoids

CHIME (chemical Th–U-total Pb isochron method) monazite ages were determined for gneisses and granitoids from the eastern and western parts of the Ryoke belt separated by about 500 km. The monazite ages for the gneisses are concentrated between 102 and 98  Ma, and are interpreted as the time of monazite formation under lower amphibolite facies conditions. The peak metamorphism seems to be contemporaneous with the emplacement of the geologically oldest plutons that are dated at c . 95  Ma in both the eastern and western parts. In the eastern part plutonism continued from c . 95  Ma to c . 68  Ma at intervals of 2–10  Ma, whereas in the western part it ceased at c . 85  Ma. The CHIME monazite ages agree well with the relative age of granitoids derived from intrusive relationships of granitoids in both parts. These lines of evidence are incompatible with a current view that the plutonometamorphism in the Ryoke belt becomes younger towards the east. The CHIME monazite ages, coupled with available data on the depth at which the Ryoke metamorphism took place and the emplacement of individual plutons, show that the western part was eroded more rapidly (about 1.5  mm year⁻¹) than the eastern part (about 0.8  mm year⁻¹) over the time span from 91 to 85  Ma. The denudation rates agree well with those in active orogenic belts like the Alps and Himalayas.     

Archean cherts derived from chemical, biogenic and clastic sedimentation in a shallow restricted basin: examples from the Gorge Creek Group in the Pilbara Block

The >3·0 Ga chert sequence of the Gorge Creek Group is exposed at Ord Ranges about 50 km east of Port Hedland in the Pilbara Block. The chert sequence examined in this study is 15 m thick and consists of oxide-rich laminated chert, grey chert (silicified clastic rock), carbonaceous black chert and carbonate-rich laminated chert. Although the cherts have undergone postdepositional silica enrichment, such as cementation and metasomatic silicification, primary precipitation of silica at the site of deposition is indicated by abundant microstructures (mosaic and spherulitic structures). Other primary to early diagenetic components were carbonates, sulphates (gypsum and anhydrite) and organic matter. Although these mineral associations, on the whole, correspond to those of modern marine evaporites, they are different from modern equivalents with respect to abundant precipitation of amorphous silica and presumed primary precipitation of iron-carbonate (siderite). This feature is a possible manifestation of peculiar physicochemical conditions in the water mass from which the chemical sediments were precipitated; compared with modern ocean waters, the concentrations of Fe and Si were significantly higher and the pH value might have been lower. These conditions could be obtained by contributions of Fe- and Si-enriched hydrothermal solutions and continental run-off to the site of deposition. Grey cherts contain detrital quartz and altered Fe–Ti oxides and were formed in a period of input of terrigenous detrital materials. They are characterized by higher concentrations of TiO₂, Al₂O₃, Cr, Ni, Zn, Rb and Zr compared with the other types of chert and by very low (< 4) Al₂O₃/TiO₂ values. These features are attributed to the supply of terrigenous detrital materials that contain abundant Fe–Ti oxides (ilmenite and titanomagnetite) and fine TiO₂ particles. Such detrital materials might have been formed by extensive chemical alteration of source rocks and residual enrichment of Ti relative to Al.