Mullite in Libyan Desert Glass: Evidence for high-temperature/low-pressure formation

Libyan Desert Glass (LDG) is a SiO₂-rich natural glass whose origin, formation mechanism, and target material are highly debated. We here report on the finding of a lens-shaped whitish inclusion within LDG. The object is dominantly composed of siliceous glass and separated from the surrounding LDG by numerous cristobalite grains. Within cristobalite, several regions rich in mullite often associated with ilmenite were detected. Mineral assemblage, chemical composition, and grain morphologies suggest that mullite was formed by thermal decomposition of kaolinitic clay at atmospheric pressure and T ≥ 1600 °C and also attested to high cooling rates under nonequilibrium conditions. Cristobalite contains concentric and irregular internal cracks and is intensely twinned, indicating that first crystallized β-cristobalite inverted to α-cristobalite during cooling of the SiO₂-rich melt. The accompanied volume reduction of 4% induced the high density of defects. The whitish inclusion also contains several partly molten rutile grains evidencing that at least locally the LDG melt was at T ≥ 1800 °C. Based on these observations, it is concluded that LDG was formed by high-temperature melting of kaolinitic clay-, rutile-, and ilmenite-bearing Cenozoic sandstone or sand very likely during an asteroid or comet impact onto Earth. While melting and ejection occurred at high pressures, the melt solidified quickly at atmospheric pressure.     

Libyan Desert Glass: New field and Fourier transform infrared data

Results are presented of new geological observations and laboratory analyses on Libyan Desert Glass (LDG), a unique kind of impact glass found in Egypt, probably 28.5–29.4 million years in age. A new LDG occurrence has been discovered some 50 km southward of the main LDG occurrences in the Great Sand Sea. From Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis, the molecular structure of LDG is refined and significant differences are shown between LDG specimens and other pure silica glasses (fulgurite, industrial fused quartz, and amorphous biogenic silica) that are related to differences in their structures. The slight variations observed here for the mean Si‐O‐Si angle between the different glasses are attributed to their thermal histories. With regard to the other glasses analyzed, the LDG infrared spectral parameters point to a higher ratio of discontinuities and defects in the tetrahedral (SiO₄) network. The quantitative mineralogical constitutions of sandstones and quartzites from the LDG geological setting were analyzed by FTIR. Cretaceous sandstones have a specific composition (about 90 wt% quartz, 10% dickite), clearly different from the Paleozoic ones (about 90 wt% quartz, but ≥7% kaolinite). It is shown that the reddish silts bearing the LDG are constituted mainly of microquartz enriched with dickite, whose particle size distribution is characteristic of fluvio‐lacustrine deposits, probably Oligocene to Miocene in age. The target rocks, most probably quartz sand, resulted from the weathering (loss of the cementing microquartz) of the Cretaceous sandstones from the Gilf Khebir Plateau with deposition in a high‐energy environment.     

Iron oxidation state in the Fe‐rich layer and silica matrix of Libyan Desert Glass: A high‐resolution XANES study

Abstract— Libyan Desert Glass (LDG) is an enigmatic type of glass that occurs in western Egypt in the Libyan Desert. Fairly convincing evidence exists to show that it formed by impact, although the source crater is currently unknown. Some rare samples present dark‐colored streaks with variable amounts of Fe, and they are supposed to contain a meteoritic component. We have studied the iron local environment in an LDG sample by means of Fe K‐edge highresolution X‐ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy to obtain quantitative data on the Fe oxidation state and coordination number in both the Fe‐poor matrix and Fe‐rich layers. The pre‐edge peak of the high‐resolution XANES spectra of the sample studied displays small but reproducible variations between Fe‐poor matrix and Fe‐rich layers, which is indicative of significant changes in the Fe oxidation state and coordination number. Comparison with previously obtained data for a very low‐Fe sample shows that, while iron is virtually all trivalent and in tetrahedral coordination (^[4]Fe³⁺) in the low‐Fe sample, the sample containing the Fe‐rich layers display a mixture of tetra‐coordinated trivalent iron (^[4]Fe³⁺) and penta‐coordinated divalent iron (^[5]Fe²⁺), with the Fe in the Fe‐rich layer being more reduced than the matrix. From these data, we conclude the following: a) the significant differences in the Fe oxidation state between LDG and tektites, together with the wide intra‐sample variations in the Fe‐oxidation state, confirm that LDG is an impact glass and not a tektite‐like glass; b) the higher Fe content, coupled with the more reduced state of the Fe, in the Fe‐rich layers suggests that some or most of the Fe in these layers may be directly derived from the meteoritic projectile and that it is not of terrestrial origin.     

δ18O and chemical composition of Libyan Desert Glass,country rocks,and sands: New considerations on target material

Oxygen isotope and chemical measurements were carried out on 25 samples of Libyan Desert Glass (LDG), 21 samples of sandstone, and 3 of sand from the same area. The δ¹⁸O of LDG samples range from 9.0‰ to 11.9‰ (Vienna Standard Mean Ocean Water [VSMOW]); some correlations between isotope data and typological features of the LDG samples are pointed out. The initial δ¹⁸O of a bulk parent material may be slightly increased by fusion due to the loss of isotopically light pore water with no isotope exchange with oxygen containing minerals. Accordingly, the δ¹⁸O of the bulk parent material of LDG may have been about 9.0 ± 1‰ (VSMOW). The measured bulk sandstone and sand samples have δ¹⁸O values ranging from 12.6‰ to 19.5‰ and are consequently ruled out as parent materials, matching the results of previous studies. However, separated quartz fractions have δ¹⁸O values compatible with the LDG values suggesting that the modern surface sand inherited quartz from the target material. This hypothesis fits previous findings of lechatelierite and baddeleyite in these materials. As the age of the parent material reported in previous studies is Pan‐African, we measured the δ¹⁸O values of bulk rock and quartz from intrusives of Pan‐African age and the results obtained were compatible with the LDG values. The main element abundances (Fe, Mg, Ca, K, Na) in our LDG samples conform to previous estimates; Fe, Mg, and K tend to be higher in heterogeneous samples with dark layers. The hypothesis of a low‐altitude airburst involving silica‐rich surface materials deriving from weathered intrusives of Pan‐African age, partially melted and blown over a huge surface by supersonic winds matches the results obtained.     

Libyan Desert Glass area in western Egypt: Shocked quartz in bedrock points to a possible deeply eroded impact structure in the region

Libyan Desert Glass (LDG) is an enigmatic natural glass, about 28.5 million years old, which occurs on the floor of corridors between sand dunes of the southwestern corner of the Great Sand Sea in western Egypt, near the Libyan border. The glass occurs as centimeter‐ to decimeter‐sized, irregularly shaped, and strongly wind‐eroded pieces. The origin of the LDG has been the subject of much debate since its discovery, and a variety of exotic processes were suggested, including a hydrothermal sol‐gel process or a lunar volcanic source. However, evidence of an impact origin of these glasses included the presence of schlieren and partly or completely digested minerals, such as lechatelierite, baddeleyite (a high‐T breakdown product of zircon), and the presence of a meteoritic component in some of the glass samples. The source material of the glass remains an open question. Geochemical data indicate that neither the local sands nor sandstones from various sources in the region are good candidates to be the sole precursors of the LDG. No detailed studies of all local rocks exist, though. There are some chemical and isotopic similarity to rocks from the BP and Oasis impact structures in Libya, but no further evidence for a link between these structures and LDG was found so far. These complications and the lack of a crater structure in the area of the LDG strewn field have rendered an origin by airburst‐induced melting of surface rocks as a much‐discussed alternative. About 20 years ago, a few shocked quartz‐bearing breccias (float samples) were found in the LDG strewn field. To study this question further, several basement rock outcrops in the LDG area were sampled during three expeditions in the area. Here we report on the discovery of shock‐produced planar microdeformation features, namely planar fractures (PFs), planar deformation features (PDFs), and feather features (FFs), in quartz grains from bedrock samples. Our observations show that the investigated samples were shocked to moderate pressure, of at least 16 GPa. We interpret these observations to indicate that there was a physical impact event, not just an airburst, and that the crater has been almost completely eroded since its formation.     

Strontium and neodymium isotopic study of Libyan Desert Glass: Inherited Pan‐African age signatures and new evidence for target material

Abstract— Libyan Desert Glass (LDG) is an impact‐related, natural glass of still unknown target material. We have determined Rb‐Sr and Sm‐Nd isotopic ratios from seven LDG samples and five associated sandstones from the LDG strewn field in the Great Sand Sea, western Egypt. Planar deformation features were recently detected in quartz from these sandstones. ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios and ?‐Nd values for LDG range between 0.71219 and 0.71344, and between –16.6 and –17.8, respectively, and hence are distinct from the less radiogenic ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of 0.70910–0.71053 and ?‐Nd values from –6.9 to –9.6 for the local sandstones from the LDG strewn field. Previously published isotopic ratios from the Libyan BP and Oasis crater sandstones are generally incompatible with our LDG values. LDG formation undoubtedly occurred at 29 Ma, but neither the Rb‐Sr nor the Sm‐Nd isotopic system were rehomogenised during the impact event, as we can deduce from Pan‐African ages of ?540 Ma determined from the regression lines from a total of 14 LDG samples from this work and the literature. Together with similar Sr and Nd isotopic values for LDG and granitoid rocks from northeast Africa west of the Nile, these findings point to a sandy matrix target material for the LDG derived from a Precambrian crystalline basement, ruling out the Cretaceous sandstones of the former “Nubian Group” as possible precursors for LDG.     

MINERALOGY,PETROGRAPHY AND CHEMISTRY OF THE CHONDRITE,KAMIOMI, SASHIMA-GUN,IBARAKI-KEN,JAPAN

The Kamiomi, Sashima-gun (Iwai-shi), Ibaraki-ken, Japan, chondrite (observed to fall in spring, during the period 1913–6), consists of olivine, orthopyroxene, nickel-iron and troilite with minor amount of plagioclase, clinopyroxene, apatite and chromite. The average molar composition of olivine (Fa₁₉) and orthopyroxene (Fs₁₇) indicates that Kamiomi is a typical olivine bronzite chondrite. From the well-recrystallized texture, the presence of poorly-definable chondrules, homogeneous composition of olivine and absence of glass, this chondrite could be classified in petrologic type 5. The bulk chemical composition, especially, total Fe (27.33%) and metallic Fe (17.00%) as well as Fe_total/SiO₂(0.72), Fe_metal/Fe_total (0–633) and SiO₂/MgO (1.59) support the above conclusion. Coexistence of heavily-shocked olivine grains in the matrix composed of olivines and pyroxenes which suffered from light to moderate shock effect suggest that impacting phenomena, small-scaled but locally strong, occurred on the Kamiomi parent body.     

Cover

Cover: An unusual whitish inclusion in Libyan Desert Glass (LDG). The inclusion largely consists of glassy material that is texturally and compositionally indistinguishable from the surrounding LDG. The inclusion is separated from the LDG host by a ring of numerous cristobalite grains. In several cristobalite-rich regions, small crystals of mullite often associated with ilmenite were found. Scale bar is 2 mm. Greschake et al. report the first finding of mullite, ilmenite, and partially molten rutile in LDG, and discuss their implications for the formation process of the glass. Image courtesy of Hans-Rudolf Knoefler.     

THE CHEMISTRY AND MINERALOGY OF THE HOMEWOOD,MANITOBA, METEORITE

The Homewood meteorite is a slightly weathered find of 325 grams discovered in 1970 about 64 km southwest of Winnipeg, Manitoba. It consists of olivine (Fa_25.4; 43.8 normative wt. percent), orthopyroxene (Fs_23.3; 28.5 percent), kamacite and taenite (7.5 percent), troilite (5.6 percent), maskelynite (8.3 percent), chromite (1.0 percent), whitlockite (0.7 percent) and minor patchy Ca pyroxene. Bulk chemical analysis yielded Fe_total 21.60 wt. percent, Fe/SiO₂0.55, SiO₂/MgO 1.53 and Fe^O/Fe_total 0.29. Barred olivine, radiating pyroxene and porphyritic chondrules, all with ill-defined outlines, occur in the meteorite. Most chemical and mineralogical features characterize the Homewood meteorite as an L6 (hypersthene) chondrite. The presence of maskelynite, the undulatory extinction, extensive fracturing and pervasive mosaicism of olivine, and the poor definition of chondrule outlines suggest that the Homewood meteorite has been shocked in the range of 300–350 kbar.     

New fission-track age determinations on impact glasses

Abstract— Four samples from Libyan Desert glass, one sample from Muong-Nong-type tektite, labelled Guang-Dong, and one sample from Czech Moldavite were analysed using the fission-track dating method. The Moldavite was unaffected by partial thermal track annealing, whereas the ages of Libyan Desert glass and Guang-Dong tektite appear to have been thermally lowered. Fission-track ages of the latter impact glasses were corrected using the plateau method. Apparent ages of Libyan Desert glass (between 26.0 ± 1.8 Ma and 29.0 ± 1.8 Ma) and Guang-Dong tektite (0.61 ± 0.05 Ma), as well as plateau ages (weighted mean: 28.5 ± 0.8 Ma for Libyan Desert glass and 0.77 ± 0.08 Ma for Guang-Dong) resulted in close agreement with previous determinations published in the late 1970s by Storzer and Wagner (1977). The age of the Moldavite (15.2 ± 0.08 Ma) also resulted in agreement with previous fission track and K-Ar determinations.     

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION,PETROGRAPHY AND MINERALOGY OF THE SHIBAYAMA CHONDRITE FOUND IN SHIBAYAMA-MACHI,SANBU-GUN,CHIBA-KEN,JAPAN

In April 1969, the chondrite was accidentally found in the side wall of the vegetable storage excavated at Shibayama-machi, Sanbu-gun, Chiba-ken, Japan, by Mr. A. Ishii and his grandson, Mr. S. Ito. The chondrite named Shibayama has been weathered thoroughly for a long period of burial underground. The bulk chemical composition, especially total Fe (21.41%) and ratios of Fe_total/SiO₂(0.557), SiO₂/MgO (1.59) and molar composition of olivine (Fa₂₃) and pyroxene (Fs₂₂) as well as mineral composition, indicate that Shibayama is a typical olivine-hypersthene chondrite. If the oxidized Fe is assumed only from metallic Fe, the original metallic Fe (7.75%) and Fe_metal/Fe_total(0.361) also support the above conclusion. From the well-recrystallized texture, indistinct and obliterated chondrule-matrix boundary, homogeneous composition of olivine and pyroxene, absence of igneous glass, and interstitial and well-developed plagioclase, this chondrite could be classified in petrologic type 6. Mosaic texture, kink bands, undulatory extinction of silicate grains and maskelynitization of plagioclase indicate that Shibayama suffered from a heavy shock effect, as is seen in other L-6 group chondrites.     

Brownish inclusions and dark streaks in Libyan Desert Glass: Evidence for high‐temperature melting of the target rock

Abstract– Dark streaks and different types of inclusions in Libyan Desert Glass (LDG) collected from the LDG strewn field in Egypt were investigated. Rare transparent spherules enclosed in the glassy matrix are characterized by concentric cracks, irregular internal cracks, intense twinning, and considerable amounts of Ti and Al. Raman spectra show that the spherules are α‐cristobalite. Their occurrence together with lechatelierite indicates quick heating of the source rock to at least 1550 °C, followed by rapid quenching leading to crystallization of β‐cristobalite, which upon cooling inverted into α‐cristobalite. Brownish inclusions are irregularly shaped, elongated objects with smooth contacts to the surrounding glass. They contain small roundish to elliptical droplets, and a few larger angular grains, which compositionally and according to their Raman spectra most closely resemble low‐Ca, Al‐rich orthopyroxene. Composition and texture of the orthopyroxene suggest that the brownish inclusions formed by incomplete melting of an Al‐rich orthopyroxene bearing precursor, e.g., mafic phases present in desert surface sands or also of orthopyroxene‐bearing granulite dykes in the LDG target. Experimental data on Ca‐poor enstatite also support that the inclusions were heated to about 1550 °C. Analyses of dark streaks in LDG reveal high abundances of Al, Ti, Mn, Cr, Fe, and Ni and a pronounced correlation between the abundances of Cr, Mn, Fe, and Ni. As the Fe/Ni, Mn/Ni, and Cr/Ni ratios are all clearly nonchondritic, the source of this material is most likely terrestrial and the dark streaks studied here represent a different type of schlieren compared to those which contain a meteoritic component. These findings suggest LDG formation during a short high‐temperature event. Melting of Al‐rich orthopyroxene bearing target material seems to suggest an asteroid impact rather than a near‐surface airburst.     

Ferrous silicate spherules with euhedral iron‐nickel metal grains from CH carbonaceous chondrites: Evidence for supercooling and condensation under oxidizing conditions

Abstract— The CH carbonaceous chondrites contain a population of ferrous (Fe/(Fe + Mg) ? 0.1‐0.4) silicate spherules (chondrules), about 15–30 μm in apparent diameter, composed of cryptocrystalline olivinepyroxene normative material, ±SiO₂‐rich glass, and rounded‐to‐euhedral Fe, Ni metal grains. The silicate portions of the spherules are highly depleted in refractory lithophile elements (CaO, Al₂O₃, and TiO₂ <0.04 wt%) and enriched in FeO, MnO, Cr₂O₃, and Na₂O relative to the dominant, volatile‐poor, magnesian chondrules from CH chondrites. The Fe/(Fe + Mg) ratio in the silicate portions of the spherules is positively correlated with Fe concentration in metal grains, which suggests that this correlation is not due to oxidation, reduction, or both of iron (FeO_sil ? Fe_met) during melting of metal‐silicate solid precursors. Rather, we suggest that this is a condensation signature of the precursors formed under oxidizing conditions. Each metal grain is compositionally uniform, but there are significant intergrain compositional variations: about 8–18 wt% Ni, <0.09 wt% Cr, and a sub‐solar Co/Ni ratio. The precursor materials of these spherules were thus characterized by extreme elemental fractionations, which have not been observed in chondritic materials before. Particularly striking is the fractionation of Ni and Co in the rounded‐to‐euhedral metal grains, which has resulted in a Co/Ni ratio significantly below solar. The liquidus temperatures of the euhedral Fe, Ni metal grains are lower than those of the coexisting ferrous silicates, and we infer that the former crystallized in supercooled silicate melts. The metal grains are compositionally metastable; they are not decomposed into taenite and kamacite, which suggests fast postcrystallization cooling at temperatures below 970 K and lack of subsequent prolonged thermal metamorphism at temperatures above 400–500 K.     

The Dakhleh Glass: Product of an impact airburst or cratering event in the Western Desert of Egypt?

Abstract— Impact cratering is a ubiquitous geological process on the terrestrial planets. Meteorite impact craters are the most visible product of impact events, but there is a growing recognition that large aerial bursts or airbursts should occur relatively frequently throughout geological time. In this contribution, we report on an unusual impact glass‐the Dakhleh Glass (DG)–which is distributed over an area of ?400 km ²of the Dakhleh Oasis, Egypt. This region preserves a rich history of habitation stretching back to over 400,000 years before the emergence of Homo sapiens. We report on observations made during recent fieldwork and subsequent analytical analyses that strengthen previous suggestions that the DG formed during an impact event. The wide distribution and large size of DG specimens (up to ?50 cm across), the chemistry (e.g., CaO and Al₂O₃ contents up to ?25 and ?18 wt, respectively), the presence of lechatelierite and burnt sediments, and the inclusion of clasts and spherules in the DG is inconsistent with known terrestrial processes of glass formation. The age and other textural characteristics rule out a human origin. Instead, we draw upon recent numerical modeling of airbursts to suggest that the properties of DG, coupled with the absence of a confirmed crater, can best be explained by melting of surficial sediments as a result of a large airburst event. We suggest that glass produced by such events should, therefore, be more common in the rock record than impact craters, assuming that the glass formed in a suitable preserving environment.     

THE COLONY METEORITE AND VARIATIONS IN CO3 CHONDRITE PROPERTIES

The Colony meteorite is an accretionary breccia containing several millimeter-to centimeter-size chondritic clasts embedded in a chondritic host. Colony is one of the least equilibrated CO3 chondrites; it has an unrecrystallized texture and contains compositionally heterogeneous olivine and low-Ca pyroxene, kamacite with low Ni and Co and high Cr, amoeboid inclusions with low FeO and MnO, a fine-grained silicate matrix with very high FeO, and numerous small chondrules with clear pink glass. However, Colony differs from normal CO chondrites in several respects: Although Al, Sc, V, Cr, Ir, Fe, Au and Ga abundances are consistent with a CO chondrite classification, certain lithophiles (Mg and Mn), siderophiles (Ni and Co) and chalcophiles (Se and Zn) are depleted by factors of 10–40%. The shape of Colony's thermoluminescence (TL) glow curve is similar to that of Allan Hills A77307 (another unequilibrated chondrite with CO3 petrological characteristics) and different from those of normal CO chondrites. [ALHA77307 also resembles Colony in having low Mg, Mn, Ni and Co, compared to normal CO chondrites, but it possesses CO-CV levels of Se and Zn and nearly CV levels of Cd.] Colony is badly weathered; it contains 22.7 wt.% Fe₂O₃ and 5.7 wt.% H₂O. Recalculating the analysis on an H₂O-free basis with all Fe₂O₃, NiO and CoO converted to metal, yields an inferred original metallic Fe, Ni abundance of ～ 19 wt.%. This is similar to that of Kainsaz (an unweathered CO3 fall), but much higher than that of all other CO3 chondrites (< 6.3 wt.%). Although it is possible that Colony and either ALHA77307 or Kainsaz constitute distinct CO3 chemical subgroups, the weathered nature of Colony and ALHA77307 preclude the drawing of firm conclusions. Nevertheless, it is clear that CO3 chondrites vary more in compositional and petrological properties than was previously recognized.     

SHERGOTTY METEORITE: MINERALOGY,PETROGRAPHY AND MINOR ELEMENTS

The unusual achondrite Shergotty resembles terrestrial diabases, and textural and chemical evidence indicates pre-settling and post-settling crystallization of zoned augite (En₄₈Fs₁₉Wo₃₃-En₂₅Fs₄₇Wo₂₈) and pigeonite (En₆₁Fs₂₆Wo₁₃-En₂₁Fs₆₁Wo₁₈) coupled with late crystallization of plagioclase (Ab₄₃An₅₆/Or₁-Ab₅₆An₄₁Or₃: now shocked to maskelynite), titanomagnetite-ilmenite composite grains, mesostasis (normative Qz₃₄Ab₂₁An₅Or₃₈Fs₂, assuming Fe as ferrous), whitlockite, pyrrhotite (Fe_0.94S), fayalite (Fo₁₀), baddeleyite and chlorapatite. The oxide compositions (Usp₆₂Mt₃₈, Al₂O₃ 2.4, Cr₂O₃ 0.8 wt %; Ilm₉₅Hm₅) indicate ～ 850 °C and log oxygen fugacity ? 14, while the occurrence of fayalite rims on mesostasis next to ilmenite indicates 890 °C. Bearing in mind experimental uncertainties, these data are consistent with late-stage crystallization under relatively high oxygen fugacity, as indicated by coexistence of fayalite, Ti-magnetite and a silica glass. The high alkali content of the maskelynite and mesostasis, coupled with the redox state, indicates that the Shergotty meteorite resembles terrestrial basalts more than any other meteorites. Nevertheless the absence of H₂O, as shown by the occurrence of phosphorus in whitlockite rather than in hydroxylapatite, distinguish the Shergotty achondrite from typical terrestrial diabases. Whereas the FeO/MnO ratios of pyroxenes from the Moon, Earth and several differentiated meteorites are independent of FeO, the ratio for Shergotty pyroxenes changes from 30 to 40 with increasing FeO, and the linear trend extrapolates to 0.2 MnO for zero iron. Hence caution is needed in using FeO/MnO as a planetary indicator. For pyroxenes, Na is almost independent of Fe/Mg while Ti increases and Cr decreases with increasing Fe/Mg. Maskelynite contains 0.5–0.25 wt % K₂O, 0.6 wt % FeO, 0.04 TiO₂, 0.04–0.07 MgO, ～ 0.01 BaO and 0.02–0.03 P₂O₅. A bulk analysis calculated from the mode and compositions of the minerals matches quite well with two bulk chemical analyses but not with a third.     

CLAST-LADEN MELT-ROCK FRAGMENT IN THE ADAMS COUNTY,COLORADO, H5 CHONDRITE

The Adams County, Colorado, H5 chondrite contains a lithic fragment, 1 cm in size, that is texturally and mineralogically quite different from the chondritic host. It is composed of: a groundmass of fine-grained euhedral to subhedral olivine (3–15 μm) and interstitial glass enclosing larger olivine and pyroxene grains (0.15-0.5 mm; about 15 vol %); an assemblage of enstatite grains (subfragment within) and an assemblage of olivine plus orthopyroxene (a second subfragment); and about 11 vol % grains of mixed troilite and nickel-iron metal. Analyses yielded these results: (i) olivine grains of the fragment groundmass have a compositional range (Fa_12–45) and most grains contain substantial CaO and Cr₂O₃ (～ 0.20 and 0.30 avg. wt%, respectively); interstitial glass has ～ 55 wt% SiO₂; (ii) larger olivine grains of the fragment are similarly high in CaO and Cr₂O₃ and also have a wide FeO/MgO range; one unusual pyroxene is an Mg-rich pigeonite; (iii) the metal is martensite in composition (11–14 wt% Ni); and (iv) major and trace element analyses by INAA indicate an H-group bulk composition for the entire 1 cm lithic fragment. On the basis of its texture and bulk and mineral compositions, the fragment is interpreted to represent unequilibrated H-group material that was partly melted by impact. The Ca- and Cr-enriched groundmass olivine and interstitial glass resulted from rapid crystallization of the chondritic melt. The Ca- and Cr-enriched larger silicate grains, including the enstatite sub-fragment and the pigeonite grain, are residual, unmelted clasts from the target material (this is supported by the presence of similar material in actual H3 chondrites). Further impact brecciation of the clast-laden melt material, and resultant impact-splashing accounts for the presence of the fragment in the H-group Adams County host and documents the coexistence of unequilibrated and equilibrated H-group material as surface regolith on one parent body.     

Formation of Libyan Desert Glass: Numerical simulations of melting of silica due to radiation from near‐surface airbursts

Libyan Desert Glass contains meteoritic material and, therefore, its origin is most likely associated with an impact event. However, the impact crater has not been found. We performed numerical simulations of impacts of stony and cometary bodies in order to confirm the version that this glass was formed from silica heated by radiation from aerial bursts near the ground. Asteroids were treated as strengthless bodies from dunite with a density of 3.3 g cm^?3, and comets as icy bodies with a density of 1 g cm^?3. The simulations based on hydrodynamic equations included the equations of radiation transfer. Melting and vaporization of a silica target under action of radiation incident on a planar surface were modeled using a one‐dimensional hydrodynamic equation of energy and equations of radiation transfer in two‐flux approximation. We selected those variants of simulations in which a crater is not formed, a fireball touches the earth surface, and the area of a molten target corresponds to the area of the Libyan Desert Glass strewn field. Appropriate options include the impact of an asteroid with a diameter of 300 m, an entry speed of 35 km s^?1, and an entry angle of 8°, and cometary bodies with diameters from 150 to 300 m, speeds of 50–70 km s^?1, and entry angles from 15° to 45°. Impact options with crater formation are also discussed. The maximum depth of molten silica at ground zero reaches 10 cm with the cometary impacts and 3–4 cm with the asteroidal impact. Melting occurs during a period of time from 50 to 400 s.     

THE MINERALOGY AND CHEMISTRY OF THE ALTA'AMEEM METEORITE

The Alta'ameem hypersthene chondrite is a light gray brecciated and metamorphosed meteorite composed mainly of olivine (27% Fa), orthopyroxene (24.5% Fs) and plagioclase (An¹⁰). Other minerals include troilite, kamacite, taenite, chromite, ilmenite, clinopyroxene, chalcopyrite, and apatite or merrillite. The mineralogical and chemical analyses suggest that the Alta'ameem meteorite belongs to the amphoterite group of chondrites. The chemical composition includes the following: Fe 3.39, Ni 1.13, Co 0.05, Cu 0.01, FeS 6.48, SiO₂ 39.48, TiO₂ 0.28, Al₂O₃ 2.25, FeO 16.46, MnO 0.40, MgO 25.66, CaO 1.47, Na₂O 1.05, K₂O 0.15, P₂O₅ 0.47, Cr₂O₃ 0.45; total 99.18.