Summanen structure: Further geological and geophysical evidence of a meteorite impact event in Central Finland

The Summanen structure is located in Central Finland and is one of Finland's 12 known meteorite impact structures. In 2017, the discovery of Summanen was based on numerous shatter cone boulders with planar deformation features (PDFs) and a circular electromagnetic anomaly, which is 2.6 km in diameter. The site was revisited in 2020 and 2022, and shatter cone-bearing outcrops were discovered. PDFs and feather features were identified in samples from these outcrops. A total of 38 PDF sets in 27 quartz grains resulted in rational crystallographic orientations concentrating on {10$\overline{1}$4}, {10$\overline{1}$3}, {10$\overline{1}$2}, and {11$\overline{2}$2}, implying shock pressures of 2–20 GPa. Gravity measurements were taken, and the electrical conductivity of the structure was studied. The gravimetric results revealed a circular negative anomaly of about 4 km in diameter, with an amplitude of −3.5 mGal. Excluding the gravitational effect of water and Quaternary sediments reduces the anomaly to −1.6 mGal. A bowl-shaped conductive layer, likely containing relict saline water in the impact-fractured bedrock, was identified to a depth of 240 m. Topographic and bathymetric data were combined to determine the impact's effect and interpret the level of erosion. Cobbles of sedimentary sand- and siltstones were found on the coastline of Lake Summanen. Based on their similarity to those found in the Söderfjärden impact crater with a Cambrian age, it is likely that these rocks and post-impact infill are also of a similar age.     

Primordial condensation of meteorite components — Experimental evidence of the state of the source medium

Mineral grains and grain aggregates in meteorites carry potential information on the conditions in the environment where they formed. To avoid model-dependent interpretations it is necessary to develop experimental criteria that uniquely reflect the environmental parameters of interest. These parameters include the various temperatures of the source medium and the temperature of grains at growth, all of which are observed to be highly differentiated in the space medium in accordance with the radiation laws.Independent tests are also necessary to establish the chemical composition of the source medium which appears from the meteorite record to have been variable. Another important variable is the number density which is observed to span over more than twelve orders of magnitude in the domains in space where dust is being modified by condensation or evaporation.Metal diffusion couples in the interior of refractory mineral grains (melilite and spinel) indicate that these couples and their refractory host grains may have existed up to a year at 780 K. They could have supported temperatures lower than 900 K more than a day but cannot have formed at grain temperatures of the order of 1700 K as is assumed in some theories.The temperature parameters of the source medium are more difficult to determine from the record in meteorite minerals; assessments, in order to be realistic, have to be made within the bounds of the observed properties of the space medium. Kinetic isotope effects, imprinted together with nuclear effects on meteorite solids, provide a promising source of information on fractionation processes and on the state of excitation in the source medium. Theoretical and experimental verification of the isotope fractionation mechanisms, which may be responsible for the observed effects, are thus of importance.Invited contribution to the Proceedings of a Workshop onThermodynamics and Kinetics of Dust Formation in the Space Medium held at the Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston, 6–8 September, 1978.     

Stony meteorite thermal properties and their relationship with meteorite chemical and physical states

Abstract– In our ongoing survey of meteorite physical properties, we have to date measured the thermal conductivity for seventeen stony meteorites at temperatures ranging from 5 K to 300 K. Here, we report new results for nine ordinary chondrites, one enstatite chondrite, and the basaltic achondrites Frankfort (howardite) and Los Angeles (shergottite). We find that thermal conductivity is significantly lower than would be expected from averaging the laboratory conductivities of their constituent minerals, with a dependence on temperature different from the expected conductivity of pure minerals. In addition, we find a linear relationship between the inverse of the porosity of the samples measured and their thermal conductivity, regardless of meteorite composition or type. We conclude that thermal conductivity is controlled by the presence of shock‐induced microcracks within the meteorites, which provide a barrier to the transmission of thermal energy via phonons. In contrast to conductivity, our first measurement of heat capacity as a function of temperature (on Los Angeles) suggests that heat capacity is primarily a function of oxide composition and is not strongly affected by the physical state of the sample.     

Carbonates in fractures of Martian meteorite Allan Hills 84001: Petrologic evidence for impact origin

Abstract— Carbonates in Martian meteorite Allan Hills 84001 occur as grains on pyroxene grain boundaries, in crushed zones, and as disks, veins, and irregularly shaped grains in healed pyroxene fractures. Some carbonate disks have tapered Mg-rich edges and are accompanied by smaller, thinner and relatively homogeneous, magnesite microdisks. Except for the microdisks, all types of carbonate grains show the same unique chemical zoning pattern on MgCO₃-FeCO₃-CaCO₃ plots. This chemical characteristic and the close spatial association of diverse carbonate types show that all carbonates formed by a similar process. The heterogeneous distribution of carbonates in fractures, tapered shapes of some disks, and the localized occurrence of Mg-rich microdisks appear to be incompatible with growth from an externally derived CO₂-rich fluid that changed in composition over time. These features suggest instead that the fractures were closed as carbonates grew from an internally derived fluid and that the microdisks formed from a residual Mg-rich fluid that was squeezed along fractures. Carbonate in pyroxene fractures is most abundant near grains of plagioclase glass that are located on pyroxene grain boundaries and commonly contain major or minor amounts of carbonate. We infer that carbonates in fractures formed from grain boundary carbonates associated with plagioclase that were melted by impact and dispersed into the surrounding fractured pyroxene. Carbonates in fractures, which include those studied by McKay et al. (1996), could not have formed at low temperatures and preserved mineralogical evidence for Martian organisms.     

The multiple meteorite fall of Neuschwanstein: Circumstances of the event and meteorite search campaigns

Abstract— A large meteorite fall in southern Germany on April 6, 2002 was captured by camera stations of the European Fireball Network (EN) which routinely monitors the night sky over central Europe. From analysis of the images, a prediction on the geographic location of the meteorite strewn field could be made. Following systematic ground searches in difficult high‐mountain terrain, three fragments of a rare EL6 enstatite chondrite were recovered during search campaigns in the summers of 2002 and 2003. “Neuschwanstein” is the fourth meteorite fall in history that has been photographed by fireball networks and the fragments of which have been found subsequently. It is the first time since the beginning of the EN operation in the early sixties that the photographic observations have made a meteorite recovery possible.     

Doppler weather radar as a meteorite recovery tool

Abstract– We report the use of Doppler weather radar as a tool for locating meteorites, both at the time of a fall and from archived radar data. This asset is especially useful for meteorite recovery as it can provide information on the whereabouts of falling meteorites in “dark flight” portion of their descent where information on their flight paths cannot be discerned from more traditional meteorite location techniques such as eyewitness accounts. Weather radar data can provide information from detection in three distinct regimes: (A) direct detection of the rapidly moving, optically bright fireball by distant radars, (B) detection of falling debris to include hand‐sample sized rocks, and (C) detection of dust produced by detonation events that can occur tens of minutes and many kilometers laterally removed from the actual fireball locality. We present examples of each, as well as comparisons against man‐made debris from a re‐entering Soyuz rocket and the Stardust Sample Return Capsule. The use of Doppler weather radar as a supplement to traditional meteorite recovery methods holds the promise of improving both the speed and total number of meteorite recoveries, thereby increasing the number of freshly fallen meteorites for scientific study.     

Comparative Raman microscopy of a Martian meteorite and Antarctic lithic analogues

The Raman microspectra of the Nakhla SNC meteorite, which probably originates from Mars, are reported here for the first time. The specimen is shown to be heterogeneous, even at a sampling level of 2 μm, but several important mineralogical features have been identified, including clinopyroxene, olivine and plagioclase. In some sampling regions, α-quartz particles are evident and in one sample region the ν(CO²⁻₃) mode of calcite at 1086 cm⁻¹ is found. There is no evidence for organic chemical content detectable in this meteorite specimen, based on an absence of ν(CH) and δ(CH₂) modes near 3000 and 1400 cm⁻¹, respectively. Comparative Raman spectroscopic analyses were made on epilithic examples of Xanthoria elegans from Crater Cirque, northern Victoria Land, Antarctica, and cryptoendoliths from East Beacon, McMurdo Dry Valleys, as positive controls for microbial organics in cold, arid habitats analogous to former Martian conditions. Finally, an assessment is made of the potential role of Raman spectroscopy for extra-terrestrial characterisation of geological specimens.     

Carbonates and sulfates in the Chassigny meteorite: Further evidence for aqueous chemistry on the SNC parent planet

Abstract— Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry of untreated interior chips from three different specimens of the Chassigny meteorite confirm the presence of discrete grains of Ca-carbonate, Mg-carbonate, and Ca-sulfate. Morphologies of these salt grains suggest that the Ca-carbonate is calcite (CaCO₃) and that the Ca-sulfate is gypsum (CaSO₄·2H₂O) or bassanite (CaSO₄·1/2H₂O). The morphologic identification of the Mg-carbonate is equivocal, but rhombohedral and acicular crystal habits suggest magnesite and hydromagnesite, respectively. The salts in Chassigny occur as discontinuous veins in primary igneous minerals and are similar to those previously documented in the nakhlites, Nakhla and Lafayette, and in shergottite EETA79001. Unlike those in nakhlites, however, the Chassigny salts occur alone, without associated ferric oxides or aluminosilicate clays. Traces of Cl and P in Chassigny salts are consistent with precipitation of the salts from short-lived, saline, aqueous solutions that postdated igneous crystallization. In contrast with the clear case for nakhlites, stratigraphic evidence for a preterrestrial origin of the salts in Chassigny is ambiguous; however, a preterrestrial origin of the Chassigny salts best explains all available evidence. The water-precipitated salts provide clear physical evidence for the hypothesis, proposed by other workers, that the igneous amphiboles in Chassigny might have experienced isotope-exchange reactions with near-surface water, thereby compromising the original stable-isotope signature of any magmatic water in melt inclusions.     

Characteristics of the Sahara as a meteorite recovery surface

We describe the geological, geomorphological, and paleoclimatic setting of the Sahara of North Africa in particular, focused on the main meteorite dense collection areas (DCA; Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya). We report on the outcome of several meteorite recovery field expeditions in Morocco and Tunisia since 2008, by car and by foot, that applied systematic search methods. The number of meteorites collected is 41 ordinary chondrites and one brachinite. The statistics of unpaired ordinary chondrites indicates that H chondrites are more abundant (21) than L chondrites (12), while LL chondrites are rare (2). Our meteorite density estimates for Tunisia and Morocco are in the order of magnitude of 1 met km^?2. An estimate of the total maximum number of meteorites that could be recovered from the Sahara is 780,000 meteorites. We selected 23 meteorites from Aridal, Bou Kra, Bir Zar, and Tieret DCAs for ¹⁴C dating. The results show a wide range of terrestrial ages from 0.4 to more than 40 kyr with a majority of meteorites showing ages between 0.4 and 20 kyr. The weathering degree of these meteorites is ranges from minor (W1) to strong (W4). The highest weathering grades result from repeated oscillations between high and low humidity in the Sahara. However, there appears to be no correlation between weathering grade and terrestrial age of meteorites.     

Mineralogy of meteorite groups

Abstract— Approximately 275 mineral species have been identified in meteorites, reflecting diverse redox environments, and, in some cases, unusual nebular formation conditions. Anhydrous ordinary, carbonaceous and R chondrites contain major olivine, pyroxene and plagioclase; major opaque phases include metallic Fe-Ni, troilite and chromite. Primitive achondrites are mineralogically similar. The highly reduced enstatite chondrites and achondrites contain major enstatite, plagioclase, free silica and kamacite as well as nitrides, a silicide and Ca-, Mg-, Mn-, Na-, Cr-, K- and Ti-rich sulfides. Aqueously altered carbonaceous chondrites contain major amounts of hydrous phyllosilicates, complex organic compounds, magnetite, various sulfates and sulfides, and carbonates. In addition to kamacite and taenite, iron meteorites contain carbides, elemental C, nitrides, phosphates, phosphides, chromite and sulfides. Silicate inclusions in IAB/IIICD and IIE iron meteorites consist of mafic silicates, plagioclase and various sulfides, oxides and phosphates. Eucrites, howardites and diogenites have basaltic to orthopyroxenitic compositions and consist of major pyroxene and calcic plagioclase and several accessory oxides. Ureilites are made up mainly of calcic, chromian olivine and low-Ca clinopyroxene embedded in a carbonaceous matrix; accessory phases include the C polymorphs graphite, diamond, lonsdaleite and chaoite as well as metallic Fe-Ni, troilite and halides. Angrites are achondrites rich in fassaitic pyroxene (i.e., Al-Ti diopside); minor olivine with included magnesian kirschsteinite is also present. Martian meteorites comprise basalts, lherzolites, a dunite and an orthopyroxenite. Major phases include various pyroxenes and olivine; minor to accessory phases include various sulfides, magnetite, chromite and Ca-phosphates. Lunar meteorites comprise mare basalts with major augite and calcic plagioclase and anorthositic breccias with major calcic plagioclase. Several meteoritic phases were formed by shock metamorphism. Martensite (α₂-Fe,Ni) has a distorted body-centered-cubic structure and formed by a shear transformation from taenite during shock reheating and rapid cooling. The C polymorphs diamond, lonsdaleite and chaoite formed by shock from graphite. Suessite formed in the North Haig ureilite by reduction of Fe and Si (possibly from olivine) via reaction with carbonaceous matrix material. Ringwoodite, the spinel form of (Mg,Fe)₂SiO₄, and majorite, a polymorph of (Mg,Fe)SiO₃ with the garnet structure, formed inside shock veins in highly shocked ordinary chondrites. Secondary minerals in meteorite finds that formed during terrestrial weathering include oxides and hydroxides formed directly from metallic Fe-Ni by oxidation, phosphates formed by the alteration of schreibersite, and sulfates formed by alteration of troilite.     

The Chelyabinsk meteorite: New insights from a comprehensive electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy study with evidence for graphite in olivine of ordinary chondrites

We present results of petrographic, mineralogical, and chemical investigations of three Chelyabinsk meteorite fragments. Three distinct lithologies were identified: light S3 LL5, dark S4–S5 LL5 material, and opaque fine-grained former impact melt. Olivine–spinel thermometry revealed an equilibration temperature of 703 ± 23 °C for the light lithology. All plagioclase seems to be secondary, showing neither shock-induced fractures nor sulfide-metal veinlets. Feldspathic glass can be observed showing features of extensive melting and, in the dark lithology, as maskelynite, lacking melt features and retaining grain boundaries of former plagioclase. Olivine of the dark lithology shows planar deformation features. Impact melt is dominated by Mg-rich olivine and resembles whole-rock melt. Melt veins (<2 mm) are connected to narrower veinlets. Melt vein textures are similar to pegmatite textures showing chilled margins, a zone of inward-grown elongated crystals and central vugs, suggesting crystallization from supercooled melt. Sulfide-metal droplets indicate liquid immiscibility of both silicate and sulfide as well as sulfide and metal melts. Impact melting may have been an important factor for differentiation of primitive planetary bodies. Graphite associated with micrometer-sized melt inclusions in primary olivine was detected by Raman mapping. Carbon isotopic studies of graphite could be applied to test a possible presolar origin.     

Lunar meteorite Queen Alexandra Range 94281: Glass compositions and other evidence for launch pairing with Yamato 793274

Abstract— Lunar meteorite Queen Alexandra Range 94281 is remarkably similar to Yamato 793274. Pairing in the conventional Earth-entry sense is difficult to reconcile with the 2500 km separation between the find locations for these two samples. Nonetheless, both of these regolith breccias are dominated by very-low-Ti (VLT) mare basalt, the pyroxenes of which feature exsolution lamellae on a remarkably coarse scale (typical lamella width = 0.5–1 μm) by mare standards. The pyroxenes also show similar compositional variations (e.g., Fe# vs. Ti# trends, which confirm parentage from VLT mare basalt). Plots using Al₂O₃ or FeO as a tracer of the highland component indicate indistinguishable internal mare-highland geochemical mixing trends. The same two distinctive glass types dominate the mare glass populations of both breccias. Glass type YQ1 features 0.37–0.63 wt% TiO₂, 10–17 wt% MgO, and 9–11 wt% Al₂O₃. Glass type YQ2 features higher TiO₂ (0.99–1.22 wt%), which is inversely correlated with MgO (12.6–13.8 wt%), and nearly constant (8.8 wt%) Al₂O₃. All of these similarities suggest that Y-793274 and QUE 94281 are a launch pair, which we designate YQ. Most of these similarities also extend to another mare-breccia meteorite, Elephant Moraine 87521. However, the EET 87521 mare basalt is unusually V-poor (～88 μg/g), whereas the YQ mare component contains ～166 μg/g. Queen Alexandra Range 94281 features a variety of textural domains. Discrete patches of dark matrix material appear to represent clods of mature regolith that have been mixed with a coarser, relatively immature material. Interior to a frothy fusion crust are areas of massive glass that probably formed as a splash coating on QUE 94281 when it was still on the Moon. The coarse YQ and EET 87521 pyroxene exsolution features imply relatively slow cooling in either a very shallow sill or an unusually thick (ponded) lava and/or later annealing within a cryptomare. Mare pyroclastic glasses, including the two YQ varieties, are systematically MgO-rich compared to crystalline mare basalts. This disparity may be a consequence of limited survival of graphite—the main fuel for explosive volcanism—during formation of the mare source regions as magma ocean cumulates. Graphite (2.2 g/cm³) survived preferentially in regions that avoided extensive early melting and thus remained MgO-rich. An apparent bimodality in the TiO₂ contents of mare volcanics, especially the pyroclastic glasses, also seems a plausible consequence of petrogenesis by remelting of magma ocean cumulates. Cumulates deposited after the magma ocean evolved to ilmenite saturation had vastly higher TiO₂ contents than cumulates deposited shortly before. The YQ regolith's subequal proportions of mare and highland matter are consistent with derivation from a terrain close to a mare-highland boundary. However, a similar mixture might also develop through vertical mixing in a cryptomare or a region of thin mare coverage. Thus, unfortunately, the YQ bulk composition is not a very useful clue to the identity of the source crater.     

Orbit of the Murchison meteorite

Abstract— Because the path of the Murchison meteorite fortuitously intersected the Earth's path at an angle of only a few degrees, the visual observations establish the entry velocity to be within 2 km/s of 13 km/s and determine the nature of its orbit with a precision quite unusual for visually sighted falls.     

The preservation of fossil biomarkers during meteorite impact events: Experimental evidence from biomarker‐rich projectiles and target rocks

Abstract– A Devonian siltstone from Orkney, Scotland, shows survival of biomarkers in high‐velocity impact experiments. The biomarkers were detected in ejecta fragments from experiments involving normal incidence of steel projectiles at 5–6 km s^?1, and in projectile fragments from impact experiments into sand and water at 2–5 km s^?1. The associated peak shock pressures were calculated to be in the range of 110–147 GPa for impacts of the steel projectiles into the siltstone target, and hydrocode simulations are used to show the variation of peak pressure with depth in the target and throughout the finite volume projectiles. Thermally sensitive biomarker ratios, including ratios of hopanoids and steranes, and the methylphenanthrene ratio, showed an increase in thermal maturity in the ejecta, and especially the projectile, fragments. Measurement of absolute concentrations of selected biomarkers indicates that changes in biomarker ratios reflect synthesis of new material rather than selective destruction. Their presence in ejecta and projectile fragments suggests that fossil biomarkers may survive hypervelocity impacts, and that experiments using biomarker‐rich rock have high potential for testing survival of organic matter in a range of impact scenarios.     

Studies and characterizations of the Al Zarnkh meteorite

Abstract— A newly fallen Sudanese meteorite named Al Zarnkh was investigated using room and liquid nitrogen temperature Mössbauer measurements, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) in conjunction with energy dispersive X‐ray microscopy. The Mössbauer spectra exhibited strong paramagnetic doublets with magnetic sextets. The doublets are assigned to olivine and pyroxene, while the magnetic sextets are assigned to troilite and kamacite. Based on microprobe analyses and textural studies, olivine is the most abundant phase and occurs as fine to medium grained laths both in the groundmass and in barred olivine chondrules. Both orthopyroxenes and clinopyroxenes are present and these tend to be granular. Plagioclase is an abundant interstitial groundmass phase. Chromites were detected in some groundmass olivine and are highly chromiumand iron‐rich with no Fe³⁺ detected. The kamacite contains small amounts of Co. The mole fraction of the Fe end‐member of olivine (fayalite) and orthopyroxene (ferrosilite) are found to be about 28% and 23%, respectively. These values are compared with that obtained from two chondritic meteorites. Based on these results, the studied meteorite is classified as an ordinary LL5 chondrite.     

Jeptha Knob,Kentucky, a probable meteorite impact structure

Jeptha Knob is a deformed structure, 4.5 km in diameter, composed entirely of carbonate rocks in the stable craton of North America. At Jeptha Knob, conventional evidence of meteorite impact, shock metamorphism, has not been found. I used calcite twin analysis to test the hypothesis that Jeptha Knob is a meteorite impact crater. Calcite twinning gives differential stresses of >170 MPa in rocks that were 600 to ≈800 m below the surface when the rocks were deformed. Under these conditions, high differential stresses cannot be explained by tectonic processes. In addition, twin intensities are >150 twins/mm which are >50% higher than the highest twin intensities observed in limestone from a wide variety of tectonic settings. Twin intensities and differential stresses are the same magnitudes as those found at Serpent Mound, a proven impact structure. Consistent with meteorite impact, differential stresses increase toward the center of the structure. If one accepts that Jeptha Knob is a marine impact crater, then (1) the presence of high temperature (>250°C) thick twins in calcite from a resurge deposit; (2) the extensive dolomitization of the central uplift with water/rock ratios >1.0; and (3) two episodes of calcite twin recorded incremental strains, are explained.     

The nature of the Tunguska meteorite

Abstract— Arguments in favor of the cometary origin of the Tunguska meteorite are adduced along with reasons against the asteroidal hypothesis. A critical analysis is given for the hypotheses by Sekanina (1983) and Chyba et al. (1993). On the basis of the azimuth and inclination of the trajectory of the Tunguska body with plausible values of the geocentric velocity, the semimajor axis of the orbit and its inclination to the ecliptic plane are calculated for this body. It is noted that the theory of the disintegration of large bodies in the atmosphere put forward by Chyba et al. (1993) is crude. Applying more accurate theories (Grigoryan, 1979; Hills and Goda, 1993) as well as taking into account the realistic shape of the body yield for the cometary body lower disruption heights than obtained by Chyba et al. Numerical simulations carried out by Svettsov et al. agree well with the cometary hypothesis and the analytical calculations based on Grigoryan's theory. The asteroidal hypothesis is shown not to be tenable: the complete lack of stony fragments in the region of the catastrophe, cosmochemical data (in particular, the results of an isotope analysis), and some other information contradict this hypothesis. It is shown that stony fragments that would have originated in the explosive disruption of the Tunguska body would not be vaporized by the radiation of the vapor cloud nor as a result of their fall to the Earth's surface.