Internal structure of type I deep‐sea spherules by X‐ray computed microtomography

Abstract— The internal structures of type I spherules (melted micrometeorites rich in iron) have been investigated using synchrotron‐based computed microtomography. Variations from sphericity are small—the average ratio of the largest to the smallest semimajor axis is 1.07 ± 0.06. The X‐ray tomographs reveal interior cavities, four spherules with metal cores with diameters ranging from 57 to 143 μm and, in two spherules, high attenuation features thought to be nuggets rich in platinumgroup elements. Bulk densities range from 4.2 to 5.9 g/cm³ and average grain densities from 4.5 to 6.5 (g/cm³) with uncertainties of 10–15%. The average grain densities are those expected for materials containing mostly oxides of iron and nickel. The tomographic density measurements indicate an average void space of 5⁺⁸_‐5%. The void spaces may be contraction features or the skeletons of bubbles that formed in the molten precursors during atmospheric passage.     

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.     

Origin and diagenesis of K/T impact spherules—From Haiti to Wyoming and beyond

Abstract— Impact spherules in Cretaceous/Tertiary (K/T) boundary clays and claystones consist of two types; each type is confined to its own separate layer of the boundary couplet in the Western Hemisphere. The form and composition of each of the spherule types result from its own unique mode of origin during the K/T event. Type 1 splash-form spherules occur only in the melt-ejecta (basal) layer of the K/T couplet. This layer was deposited from a ballistic ejecta curtain composed of melt-glass droplets transported mostly within the atmosphere. In contrast, Type 2 spherules are accreted, partially crystalline, spheroidal bodies that formed by condensation of vaporized bolide and target-rock materials in an expanding fireball cloud, from which they settled out of buoyant suspension to form the fireball layer. Dendritic and skeletal Ni-rich spinel crystals are unique to these Type 2 spherules in the fireball layer. Compositions of relict glasses found in Type 1 K/T spherules from Haiti indicate that they were derived from intermediate silicic target rocks. These melt-glass droplets were deposited into an aqueous environment at both continental and marine sites. We propose that the surfaces of the hot melt droplets hydrated rapidly in water and that these hydrated glass rims then altered to palagonite. Subsequent alteration of the palagonite rims to smectite, glauconite, chlorite, kaolinite, or goyazite occurred later during various modes of progressive diagenesis, accompanied by dissolution of some of the glass cores in spherules from continental sections and from marine sections that were subsequently raised above sea level. In many of the nonmarine sections in the Western Interior, the glass cores altered to kaolinite instead of dissolving. Directly comparable spherule morphologies (splash forms), textural features of the altered shells, and scalloping and grooving of relict glass cores or secondary casts demonstrate that the Haitian and Wyoming spherules are equivalent altered Type 1 melt-droplet bodies. The spherules at both locations were deposited in a melt-ejecta layer as part of the K/T impact event. Previously, two types of relict impact glasses had been identified in the Haitian spherule beds: black glass of andesitic composition and high-Ca yellow glass with an unusually high S content. Most workers agree that the latter probably formed by impact melting and mixing of surficial carbonate (and minor anhydrite) rocks with the more deeply-buried crystalline parent rocks of the black glasses. However, some workers have suggested that an intermediate compositional gap exists between the two groups of glasses, implying a different origin than simple mixing of end members during impact. We report glass compositional analyses with values extending throughout this intermediate range, lending support to the impact-mixing model. Inclusions of CaSO₄ found by us in relict yellow glasses further support this model.     

LATE EOCENE CRYSTAL-BEARING SPHERULES: TWO LAYERS OR ONE?

Late Eocene crystal-bearing spherules have been found in deep sea cores from the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, equatorial Pacific Ocean, and eastern equatorial Indian Ocean. Keller et al. (1987) have suggested that the spherules from the western equatorial Pacific (Site 292, core 38) and eastern Indian Ocean (Site 216) are older (Globigerapsis semiinvoluta Zone) than those from the central equatorial Pacific, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea (Globorotalia cerroazulensis Zone). The strongest argument in favor of two layers is the biostratigraphic data; however, published biostratigraphic interpretations are at odds with Keller et al.'s (1987) conclusions. Furthermore, paleomagnetic data for Site 292 seems to contradict Keller et al.'s conclusion that the spherules found in core 36 occur in sediments of the same stratigraphic age as those found in the central equatorial Pacific, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea sites. Although the spherules from Sites 216 and 292 (core 38) do have higher average CaO, and lower average Al₂O₃ and FeO contents than the late Eocene spherules from the other sites, there is a great deal of overlap in composition. It is our opinion that the similarities in composition and petrography between the late Eocene crystal-bearing spherules are greater than the differences. Additionally, there seems to be a systematic change in composition and in amount of iridium excess from east to west when all the sites containing the crystal-bearing spherules are considered. We believe, therefore, that it is likely that the late Eocene crystal-bearing spherules all belong to a single event.     

Investigations on a Large Collection of Cosmic Dust From the Central Indian Ocean

We collected 1,245 spherules from the Central Indian Ocean basin by Magnetic cosmic dust collection (MACDUC) experiment raking the deep sea floor. This collection ranks among the large deep sea collections of cosmic dust. For this study, 168 particles are analyzed with SEM-EDS to characterise their cosmic nature and identify the processes that their morphological features, textures and chemical compositions reveal. All the three basic types of cosmic spherules have been identified: I-type, S-type and the G-type. The silicate or the S-type spherules are dominant in this collection. In all, 115 spherules were sectioned, polished and analyzed for major elements. I-type spherules are mainly composed of Fe and Ni oxides, some have metallic cores where appreciable amounts of Co is observed in addition to glassy phases with lithophile elements are also observed in these spherules. These evidences are supportive of the view that the I-type spherules could be metal grains from carbonaceous/unequilibrated chondritic bodies. The S-type spherules show elemental composition of Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Fe, and Ni approximately similar to chondritic compositions. In addition, some other rare particles such as an S-type sphere which contains a large zoned relict chromite crystal, other spheres with a semi-porphyritic/barred olivine texture are also observed. While most the S-type spherules appear to have carbonaceous chondrites as their parent bodies, the relict grain bearing spherule shows distinctly an ordinary chondritic parent body.     

Micrometeorites from the northern ice cap of the Novaya Zemlya archipelago,Russia: The first occurrence

Abstract— Glacial deposits at the margins of the ice cap of the northern island of the Novaya Zemlya archipelago, Russia, contain numerous spherules and rare scoriaceous particles thought to be extraterrestrial. The 1 Kyr old glacier has decreased in volume and coverage during the last 40 years, leaving the spherules contained in the ice at the margins of the glacier where they can be easily collected. The spherules are similar in their appearance, texture, and mineralogy to cosmic spherules found in deep‐sea sediments in Greenland and Antarctica. Silicate spherules have typical bar‐like textures (75%) or porphyritic textures (15%), while other spherules are glassy (7%). The spherules from Novaya Zemlya are altered only slightly. There are spherules consisting of iron oxides, metal cores with iron oxide rims, a continuous network of iron oxide dendrites in a glass matrix, and particles rich in chromite (3%). Some spherules contain metal droplets and relict forsterite and low‐Ca pyroxene. Silicate spherule compositions match compositions of other cosmic spherules. Both Nova Zemlya and other cosmic spherules are close to carbonaceous chondrite matrices in patterns of variations for Ca, Mg, Si, and Al, which might suggest that their predecessor was similar to carbonaceous chondrite matrices. Unmelted micrometeorites are generally depleted in Ca and Mg and enriched in Al relative to cosmic spherules. The depletion of the micrometeorites in Ca and Mg can be connected with their terrestrial alteration (Kurat et al. 1994), while the Al enrichment seems to be primary.     

Nickel abundance in stony cosmic spherules: Constraining precursor material and formation mechanisms

Abstract– We report bulk and olivine compositions in 66 stony cosmic spherules (Na₂O < 0.76 wt%), 200–800 μm in size, from the Transantarctic Mountains, Antarctica. In porphyritic cosmic spherules, relict olivines that survived atmospheric entry heating are always Ni‐poor and similar in composition to the olivines in carbonaceous or unequilibrated ordinary chondrites (18 spherules), and equilibrated ordinary chondrites (one spherule). This is consistent with selective survival of high temperature, Mg‐rich olivines during atmospheric entry. Olivines that crystallized from the melts produced during atmospheric entry have NiO contents that increase with increasing NiO in the bulk spherule, and that range from values similar to those observed in chondritic olivines (NiO generally <0.5 wt%) to values characteristic of olivines in meteoritic ablation spheres (NiO > 2 wt%). Thus, NiO content in olivine cannot be used alone to distinguish meteoritic ablation spheres from cosmic spherules, and the volatile element contents have to be considered. We propose that the variation in NiO contents in cosmic spherules and their olivines is the result of variable content of Fe, Ni metal in the precursor. NiO contents in olivines and in cosmic spherules can thus be used to discuss their parent body. Ni‐poor spherules can be derived from C‐rich and/or metal‐poor precursors, either related to CM, CI, CR chondrites or to chondritic fragments dominated by silicates, regardless of the parent body. Ni‐rich spherules (NiO > 0.7 wt%) that represent 55% of the 47 barred‐olivine spherules we studied, were derived from the melting of C‐poor, metal‐rich precursors, compatible with ordinary chondrite or CO, CV, CK carbonaceous chondrite parentages.     

Mineralogy of fine‐grained material in the Krymka (LL3.1) chondrite

Abstract— Two dark lithic fragments and matrix of the Krymka LL3.1 chondrite were mineralogically and chemically studied in detail. These objects are characterised by the following chemical and mineralogical characteristics, which distinguish them from the host chondrite Krymka: (1) bulk chemical analyses revealed low totals (systematically lower than 94 wt%) due to high porosity; (2) enrichment in FeO and depletion in S, MgO and SiO₂ due to a high abundance of Fe‐rich silicates and low sulfide abundance; (3) fine‐grained, almost chondrule‐free texture with predominance of a porous, cryptocrystalline groundmass and fine grains; (4) occurrence of a small amount of once‐molten material (microchondrules) enclosed in fine‐grained materials; (5) occurrence of accretionary features, especially unique accretionary spherules; (6) high abundance of small calcium‐ aluminium‐rich inclusions (CAIs) in one of the fine‐grained fragments. It is suggested that the abundance of CAIs in this fragment is one of the highest ever found in an ordinary chondrite. Accretionary, fine‐grained spherules within one of the fragments bear fundamental information about the initial stages of accretion as well as on the evolution of the clast, its incorporation, and history within the bulk rock of Krymka. The differences in porosity, bulk composition, and mineralogy of cores and rims of the fine‐grained spherulitic objects allow us to speculate on the following processes: (1) Low velocity accretion of tiny silicate grains onto the surface of coarse metal or silicate grains in a dusty region of the nebula is the beginning of the formation of accretionary, porous (fluffy) silicate spherules. (2) Within a dusty environment with decreasing silicate/(metal + sulfide) ratio the porous spherules collected abundant metal and sulfide particles together with silicate dust, which formed an accretionary rim. Variations of the silicate/(sulfide + metal) ratio in the dusty nebular environment result in the formation of multi‐layered rims on the surface of the silicate‐rich spherules. (3) Soft accretion and lithification of rimmed, fluffy spherules, fine‐grained, silicate‐rich dust, metal‐sulfide particles, CAIs, silicate‐rich microchondrules, and coarse silicate grains and fragments followed. (4) After low‐temperature processing of the primary, accretionary rock collisional fragmentation occurred, the fragments were subsequently coated by fine‐grained material, which was highly oxidized and depleted in sulfides. (5) In a final stage this accretionary “dusty” rock was incorporated as a fragment within the Krymka host.     

Geochemical identification of impactor for Lonar crater,India

Abstract— The only well‐known terrestrial analogue of impact craters in basaltic crusts of the rocky planets is the Lonar crater, India. For the first time, evidence of the impactor that formed the crater has been identified within the impact spherules, which are ?0.3 to 1 mm in size and of different aerodynamic shapes including spheres, teardrops, cylinders, dumbbells and spindles. They were found in ejecta on the rim of the crater. The spherules have high magnetic susceptibility (from 0.31 to 0.02 SI‐mass) and natural remanent magnetization (NRM) intensity. Both NRM and saturation isothermal remanent magnetization (SIRM) intensity are ?2 Am²/Kg. Demagnetization response by the NRM suggests a complicated history of remanence acquisition. The spherules show schlieren structure described by chains of tiny dendritic and octahedral‐shaped magnetite crystals indicating their quenching from liquid droplets. Microprobe analyses show that, relative to the target basalt compositions, the spherules have relatively high average Fe₂O₃ (by ?1.5 wt%), MgO (?1 wt%), Mn (?200 ppm), Cr (?200 ppm), Co (?50 ppm), Ni (?1000 ppm) and Zn (?70 ppm), and low Na₂O (?1 wt%) and P₂O₅ (?0.2 wt%). Very high Ni contents, up to 14 times the average content of Lonar basalt, require the presence of a meteoritic component in these spherules. We interpret the high Ni, Cr, and Co abundances in these spherules to indicate that the impactor of the Lonar crater was a chondrite, which is present in abundances of 12 to 20 percent by weight in these impact spherules. Relatively high Zn yet low Na₂O and P₂O₅ contents of these spherules indicate exchange of volatiles between the quenching spherule droplets and the impact plume.     

Magnetic spherules in coastal plain sediments,Sullivan's Island,South Carolina,USA

Abstract— We extracted black, magnetic spherules from well cuttings of Oligocene sediments in the coastal plain of South Carolina, USA. Three possible origins were considered: industrial, volcanic, and extraterrestrial. An extraterrestrial origin by ablation of parent meteoroid material is proposed, based on the spherule morphologies, the presence of metallic Fe cores in many of the spherules, and the detection of wüstite in some of the oxide rims. Low Ni contents are problematic but may be attributed to the ablation of a low-Ni parental body, such as hexahedrite. The presence of spherules in somewhat clay-like, sandy sediments is unusual, as most magnetic spherules are found in abyssal muds. Based on benthic foraminiferal assemblages and sediment distribution above, within, and below the beds containing spherules, it is unlikely that the spherules were transported from a deep-sea environment.     

Heterogeneous condensation of presolar titanium carbide core‐graphite mantle spherules

Abstract— We investigate heterogeneous nucleation and growth of graphite on precondensed TiC grains in the gas outflows from carbon‐rich asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars employing a newly‐derived heterogeneous nucleation rate taking into account of the chemical reactions at condensation. Competition between heterogeneous and homogeneous nucleations and growths of graphite is investigated to reveal the formation conditions of the TiC core‐graphite mantle spherules found in the Murchison meteorite. It is shown that no homogeneous graphite grain condenses whenever TiC condenses prior to graphite in the plausible ranges of the stellar parameters. Heterogeneous condensation of graphite occurs on the surfaces of growing TiC grains, and prevents the TiC cores from reaching the sizes realized if all available Ti atoms were incorporated into TiC grains. The physical conditions at the formation sites of the TiC core‐graphite mantle spherules observed in the Murchison meteorite are expressed by the relation 0.2 < n?_0.1 (M₅/ζ)^?1/2L₄^1/4 < 0.7, where v_0.1 is the gas outflow velocity at the formation site in units of 0.1 km s^?1, M₅ the mass loss rate in 10^?5 M⊙ year^?1, L₄ the stellar luminosity in 10⁴ L⊙, and M/ζ is the effective mass loss rate taking account of non‐spherical symmetry of the gas outflows. The total gas pressures P_c at the formation sites for the effective mass loss rates M/ζ = 10^?5‐10^?3 M⊙ year^?1 correspond to 0.01 < P_c < 0.9 dyn cm^?2, implying that the observed TiC core‐graphite mantle spherules are formed not only at the superwind stage but also at the earlier stage of low mass loss rates. The constraint on the C/O abundance ratio, 1 < ? ? 1.03, is imposed to reproduce the observed sizes of the TiC cores. The derived upper limit of the C/O ratio is lower than the values estimated from the calculations without taking into account of heterogeneous condensation of graphite, and is close to the lower end of the C/O ratios inferred from the astronomical observations of carbon‐rich AGB stars. Brief discussion is given on other types of graphite spherules.     

Origin of hibonite-pyroxene spherules found in carbonaceous chondrites

Abstract— We have studied both of the known glass-free, hibonite-pyroxene spherules: MYSM3, from Murray (CM2), and Y17–6, from Yamato 791717 (CO3). They consist of hibonite plates (～2 wt% TiO^tot₂) enclosed in Al-rich pyroxene that has such high amounts of CaTs (CaAl₂SiO₆) component, up to ～80 mol%, that it must have crystallized metastably. Within the pyroxene, abundances of MgO and SiO₂ are strongly correlated with each other and are anticorrelated with those of Al₂O₃, reflecting an anticorrelation between the diopside and CaTs components of the pyroxene. In contrast with previous results for Type B fassaite, however, we do not observe an anticorrelation between MgO and TiO^tot₂, possibly reflecting different relative distribution coefficients for Ti³⁺ and Ti⁴⁺ in the aluminous pyroxene of the spherules from those found for fassaite in Type B inclusions. Previously described hibonite-silicate spherules have ²⁶Mg deficits but the present samples do not. Furthermore, the pyroxene in Y17-6 has excess ²⁶Mg, while the hibonite it encloses does not, indicating that the two phases either had different initial ²⁶Al/²⁷Al ratios or different initial ²⁶Mg/²⁴Mg ratios. The Ti isotopic compositions of the present samples are highly unusual: δ⁵⁰Ti = 103.4 ± 5.2%o in MYSM3 and -61.4 ± 4.1%0 in Y17-6, which are among the largest ⁵⁰Ti anomalies reported for any refractory inclusion. The textures suggest that hibonite crystallized first; but based on the calculated bulk compositions of both spherules, it is not the liquidus phase in either sample, which suggests that the hibonite in both samples is relict. The presence of ragged hibonite grains in MYSM3 and rounded hibonite grains in Y17-6 and a lack of isotopic equilibrium between pyroxene and hibonite support this conclusion. The spherules crystallized from liquid droplets that probably formed as a result of the melting of solid precursor grains that included hibonite. The heating events were too short and/or not hot enough to melt all the hibonite. The droplets cooled quickly enough that CaTs-rich pyroxene crystallized instead of anorthite. Based on the observed differences in isotopic composition, it is unlikely that the precursors of the present samples formed in the same reservoir as each other or as the previously described hibonite-silicate spherules, providing further evidence of the isotopic heterogeneity of the early solar nebula.     

Crystallographic variety of magnetic spherules from Pleistocene and Holocene sediments in the Northern foreland of Morasko-Meteorite Reserve

The crystalline form of magnetic spherules, retrieved from the Pleistocene and Holocene mineral and organic surface sediments at the Northern foreland of Morasko meteorite-impact site, have been determined. While the magnetite (Fe₃O₄) composition of the spherules prevails, also hematite, maghemite and plagioclase crystalline inclusions have been observed. The magnetite form varies from amorphous, through fine powder, rough powder, holocrystalline to single crystals, as well as mixed forms, such as powder and holocrystalline, or amorphous and holocrystalline. The relieves on the surface of the spherules reflect the size and shape of the crystallites. The morphology of the spherules, their chemical composition and structure have been characterized and discussed in relation to the Morasko-Meteorite fall, and possible other cosmic, geological or anthropogenic origins.     

Compositions of unzoned and zoned metal in the CBb chondrites Hammadah al Hamra 237 and Queen Alexandra Range 94627

Abstract— The CB_b chondrites are rare, primitive, metal‐rich meteorites that contain several features, including zoned metal, that have previously been interpreted as evidence for origins in the solar nebula. We have measured concentrations of Ni, Cu, Ga, Ru, Pd, Ir, and Au within both zoned and unzoned metal grains in the CB_b chondrites Hammadah al Hamra (HaH) 237 and Queen Alexandra Range (QUE) 94627 using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The refractory elements Ni, Ru, and Ir are enriched in the grain cores, relative to the rims, in the zoned metal. All refractory elements are uniform across the unzoned metal grains, at concentrations that are highly variable between grains. The volatile elements Cu, Ga, and Au are usually depleted relative to chondritic abundances and are most often uniform within the grains but are sometimes slightly elevated at the outermost rim. The Pd abundances are nearly uniform, at close to chondritic abundances, in all of the metal grains. A condensation origin is inferred for both types of metal. The data support a model in which the zoned metal formed at high temperatures, in a relatively rapidly cooling nebular gas, and the unzoned metal formed at lower temperatures and at a lower cooling rate. The CB_b metal appears to have formed by a process very similar to that of the CH chondrites, but the CB_b meteorite components experienced even less thermal alteration following their formation and are among the most primitive materials known to have formed in the solar nebula.     

Geochemical variability of the Yucatàn basement: Constraints from crystalline clasts in Chicxulub impactites

Abstract— The 65 Ma old Chicxulub impact structure with a diameter of about 180 km is again in the focus of the geosciences because of the recently commenced drilling of the scientific well Yaxcopoil‐ 1. Chicxulub is buried beneath thick post‐impact sediments, yet samples of basement lithologies in the drill cores provide a unique insight into age and composition of the crust beneath Yucatàn. This study presents major element, Sr, and Nd isotope data for Chicxulub impact melt lithologies and clasts of basement lithologies in impact breccias from the PEMEX drill cores C‐1 and Y‐6, as well as data for ejecta material from the K/T boundaries at La Lajilla, Mexico, and Furlo, Italy. The impact melt lithologies have an andesitic composition with significantly varying contents of Al, Ca, and alkali elements. Their present day ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios cluster at about 0.7085, and ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratios range from 0.5123 to 0.5125. Compared to the melt lithologies that stayed inside the crater, data for ejecta material show larger variations. The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios range from 0.7081 for chloritized spherules from La Lajilla to 0.7151 for sanidine spherules from Furlo. The ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratio is 0.5126 for La Lajilla and 0.5120 for the Furlo spherules. In an ε^t_CHUR(Nd)‐ε^t_UR(Sr) diagram, the melt lithologies plot in a field delimited by Cretaceous platform sediments, various felsic lithic clasts and a newly found mafic fragment from a suevite. Granite, gneiss, and amphibolite have been identified among the fragments from crystalline basement gneiss. Their ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios range from 0.7084 to 0.7141, and their ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratios range from 0.5121 to 0.5126. The T^Nd_DM model ages vary from 0.7 to 1.4 Ga, pointing to different source terranes for these rocks. This leads us to believe that the geological evolution and the lithological composition of the Yucatàn basement is probably more complex than generally assumed, and Gondwanan as well as Laurentian crust may be present in the Yucatàn basement.     

Contrasting Aerodynamic Morphology and Geochemistry of Impact Spherules from Lonar Crater,India: Some Insights into Their Cooling History

The ~50 or 570 ka old Lonar crater, India, was excavated in the Deccan Trap flood basalt of Cretaceous age by the impact of a chondritic asteroid. The impact-spherules known from within the ejecta around this crater are of three types namely aerodynamically shaped sub-mm and mm size spherules, and a sub-mm sized variety of spherule, described as mantled lapilli, having a core consisting of ash-sized grains, shocked basalt and solidified melts surrounded by a rim of ash-sized materials. Although, information is now available on the bulk composition of the sub-mm sized spherules (Misra et al. in Meteorit Planet Sci 7:1001–1018, 2009), almost no idea exists on the latter two varieties. Here, we presented the microprobe data on major oxides and a few trace elements (e.g. Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn) of mm-sized impact spherules in unravelling their petrogenetic evolution. The mm-sized spherules are characterised by homogeneous glassy interior with vesicular margin in contrast to an overall smooth and glassy-texture of the sub-mm sized spherules. Undigested micro-xenocrysts of mainly plagioclase, magnetite and rare clinopyroxene of the target basalt are present only at the marginal parts of the mm-sized spherules. The minor relative enrichment of SiO₂ (~3.5 wt% in average) and absence of schlieren structure in these spherules suggest relatively high viscosity of the parent melt droplets of these spherules in comparison to their sub-mm sized counterpart. Chemically homogeneous mm-sized spherule and impact-melt bomb share similar bulk chemical and trace element compositions and show no enrichment in impactor components. The general depletion of Na₂O within all the Lonar impactites was resulted due to impact-induced volatilisation effect, and it indicates the solidification temperature of the Lonar impactites close to 1,100 °C. The systematic geochemical variation within the mm-sized spherules (Mg# ~0.38–0.43) could be attributed to various level of mixing between plagioclase-dominated impact melts and ultrafine pyroxene and/or titanomagnetite produced from the target basalt due to impact. Predominance of schlieren and impactor components (mainly Cr, Ni), and nearly absence of vesicles in the sub-mm sized spherules plausibly suggest that these quenched liquid droplets could have produced from the impactor-rich, hotter (~1,100 °C or more) central part of the plume, whereas the morpho-chemistry of the mm-sized spherules induces their formation from the relatively cool outer part of the same impact plume.     

Green spherules from Apollo 15: Inferences about their origin from inert gas measurements

Green spherules from the clod 15426 and from fines 15421 contain about 100 times less trapped inert gases than normal bulk fines from Apollo 15. These spherules have apparently never been directly exposed to the solar wind. Spherules from other fines contain about 10 times more trapped gas than those from the clod. The gas in the former is surface correlated. However, spherules from fines 15401 are exceptionally gas-poor. (He⁴/Ne²⁰) _T in all spherules is commonly less than 10, which implies severe He⁴ losses. (Ne²⁰/Ar³⁶) _T on the other hand is nearly always greater than 10; and ranges up to 20.3.The Ne²¹ _C and Ar³⁸ _C radiation ages vary from 22 to 750 × 10⁶ yr, but most of them lie in the range 200–400 × 10⁶ yr. He³ _C ages are always much younger, owing to He³ _C losses.The trapped gases can be of solar-wind origin, but this origin requires a two-stage model for the spherules from the clods. First, solar wind was trapped in a parent material, from which the spherules were formed, presumably by impact melting. When the spherules were formed, some fraction of the original gas was retained by them. Another possibility is that the gases were absorbed from an ambient gas phase.The trapped gases may also be assumed to represent primordial lunar gas. The composition of this gas is then similar to the solar or unfractionated component of gas-rich meteorites, but unlike that in most of the carbonaceous chondrites.The Ar⁴⁰-Ar³⁶ systematics show two families of spherules: those from 15426 and 15421 which define a line with slope of about 4–5; and those from the fines which fall near a line with slope of about 1.4–1.9. Both lines have similar Ar⁴⁰-intercept-values of about 3–9 × 10^–6 cm³ STP g^–1 of Ar⁴⁰. The corresponding K-Ar⁴⁰ age can be as old as 4300 or as young as 2500 × 10⁶.The gas content of the spherules from fines suggests strongly that all spherules were at one time in clod-like material. This, in turn, seems to imply that a body or layer of cloddy material like 15426 was, and perhaps still is present in the Apollo 15 landing area. Cone Crater impact has tapped this body, but has probably not produced the clods. The green material may have been transported to the Apollo 15 site from elsewhere either as impact-ejecta or by a volcanic eruption. Our results do not permit a choice between the two possibilities.Paper dedicated to Professor Harold C. Urey on the occasion of his 80th birthday on 29 April, 1973.On leave of absence at the Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, Heidelberg, Germany.     

THE LOOP CHONDRITE: PETROLOGY,MINERAL CHEMISTRY,AND OPAQUE MINERALOGY

The Loop meteorite was found in 1962 in Gaines County, Texas, at a location very close to that where the Ashmore chondrite was found in 1969. The two specimens were assumed to be fragments of the same meteorite. The Loop meteorite is a type L6 chondrite composed of olivine (Fo_75.4Fa_24.6), orthopyroxene (En_77.6Wo_1.5Fs_20.9), clinopyroxene (En_47.5Wo_45.1Fs_7.4), plagioclase (Ab_84.3Or_5.5An_10.2), Fe-Ni metal, troilite, and chromite. Fe-Ni metal is represented by kamacite (5.8-6.4 wt % Ni, 0.88-1.00 wt % Co), taenite (30.0–52.9 wt % Ni, 0.16-0.34 wt % Co), and plessite (16.8–28.5 wt % Ni, 0.38-0.54 wt % Co). Native copper occurs as rare inclusions in Fe-Ni metal. Both chondrules and matrix have similar mineral compositions. The mineral chemistry of the Loop meteorite is quite different from that of the Ashmore, which was classified as an H5 chondrite by Bryan and Kullerud (1975). Therefore, the Ashmore and Loop meteorites are two different chondrites, even though they were recovered from the same geographic location.     

Vesicle dynamics during the atmospheric entry heating of cosmic spherules

Cosmic spherules are unique igneous objects that form by melting due to gas drag heating during atmospheric entry heating. Vesicles are an important component of many cosmic spherules since they suggest their precursors had finite volatile contents. Vesicle abundances in spherules decrease through the series porphyritic, glassy, barred, to cryptocrystalline spherules. Anomalous hollow spherules, with large off‐center vesicles occur in both porphyritic and glassy spheres. Numerical simulation of the dynamic behavior of vesicles during atmospheric flight is presented that indicates vesicles rapidly migrate due to deceleration and separate from nonporphyritic particles. Modest rotation rates of tens of radians s^?1 are, however, sufficient to impede loss of vesicles and may explain the presence of small solitary vesicles in barred, cryptocrystalline and glassy spherules. Rapid rotation at spin rates of several thousand radians s^?1 are required to concentrate vesicles at the rotational axis and leads to rapid growth by coalescence and either separation or retention depending on the orientation of the rotational axis. Complex rapid rotations that concentrate vesicles in the core of particles are proposed as a mechanism for the formation of hollow spherules. High vesicle contents in porphyritic spherules suggest volatile‐rich precursors; however, calculation of volatile retention indicates these have lost >99.9% of volatiles to degassing prior to melting. The formation of hollow spherules, by rapid spin, necessarily implies preatmospheric rotations of several thousand radians s^?1. These particles are suggested to represent immature dust, recently released from parent bodies, in which rotations have not been slowed by magnetic damping.     

Multiple generations of hibonite in spinel-hibonite inclusions from Murchison

Abstract— Through freeze-thaw disaggregation of the Murchison meteorite, we have recovered, in addition to many spinel-hibonite spherules, several hibonite-rich inclusion fragments in which the hibonite has wider ranges in TiO₂ contents (e.g., 0.07–8.6 wt% in one inclusion and 2–10 wt% in another) than previously observed within single inclusions. In these inclusions, there are sharp contacts between texturally early, Ti-poor hibonite and relatively late, Ti-rich hibonite, and the two types occur in complex intergrowth textures that are not consistent with crystallization from a melt in a single-stage cooling event. One inclusion has, in addition to relatively TiO₂-rich hibonite, some that is virtually TiO₂-free but contains ～1 wt% MgO and ～1.5 wt% SiO₂. Instead of the common substitution of Mg + Ti for 2Al, Mg coupled with Si in this case, probably reflecting crystallization from an unusual, Ti-free silicate liquid. Ion microprobe analyses of Ti-rich and Ti-poor hibonite from this inclusion yield quite similar trace-element patterns and Mg-isotopic compositions. The results are most consistent with formation of Ti-rich hibonite from Ti-poor hibonite by addition of Mg and Ti to the latter by exchange with a hot, Ti-rich liquid. That this occurred without a resolvable change in the Mg-isotopic composition requires that the Ti-rich, second generation of hibonite formed <2.5 times 10⁵ yr later than the Ti-poor hibonite. Observations of spinel-hibonite spherules and spherule fragments in our sample suite provide additional evidence that, despite the claims by Greenwood et al. (1994), spinel-hibonite spherules crystallized from individual, molten droplets, as earlier suggested by Macdougall (1981) and MacPherson et al. (1983).