The Shaw meteorite: History of a chondrite consisting of impact-melted and metamorphic lithologies

The Shaw L-group chondrite consists of three intermingled lithologies. One is light-colored and has a poikilitic texture, consisting of olivine (many skeletal and euhedral) and augite crystals surrounded by larger (up to 1 mm) orthopyroxene grains; plagioclase occurs between orthopyroxene crystals and rare, small (<5 μm) patches of Si-K-rich glass or cryptocrystalline material occurs within the plagioclase. The skeletal olivine crystals contain 0.08–0.16 wt% CaO. Petrofabric measurements show that the c-axes of the olivines are aligned. The light-colored lithology also contains numerous vugs and vesicles: SEM studies reveal euhedral, possibly vapor-deposited, crystals of olivine and pyroxene in the vugs. A second lithologic type is dark-colored, contains remnant chondrules. and has a microgranular texture. Poikilitic orthopyroxene crystals, where present, are smaller (0.1–0.2mm) than they are in the light-colored lithology. Microgranular olivine crystals contain <0.08 wt% CaO: most contain 0.03–0.05 wt% CaO. Vugs are rare and Si-K-rich material is absent. The third lithologic type is gray macroscopically and seems to be intermediate between the other two. It has a well-developed poikilitic texture, but contains neither skeletal olivines (euhedral olivines are rare) nor Si-K-rich material: remnant chondrules are present but less abundant than in the dark lithology. A modal analysis of a 5300 mm² slab shows, contrary to published opinions, that Shaw contains normal L-group chondrite abundances of metal and troilite. However, these phases are distributed irregularly throughout the meteorite. The light colored lithology is nearly devoid of metal and troilite and centimeter-sized metal-troilite globules occur between the three silicate lithologies. Wherever the metal occurs, it consists of nearly homogeneous martensite (13.9 wt% Ni) rimmed by kamacite (7.1 wt% Ni). These data indicate that Shaw is a partly-melted shock-breccia. The light-colored lithology must have been totally melted, as shown by the presence of aligned. CaO-rich, skeletal olivines; Si-K-rich residual material: and vugs and vesicles lined with euhedral crystals of mafic silicates. The dark areas appear to be unmelted target rock of L-group composition. Analysis of the growth of kamacite at the taenite (now martensite) borders indicates a cooling rate of ~ 3 C/10³ yr. or one thousand times faster than most ordinary chondntes. The Shaw impact event probably formed a crater several kilometers in diameter on its meteorite parent body.     

Spectroscopic studies on natural chloritoids

Room temperature and low temperature Mössbauer and optical absorption spectroscopic data on six natural chloritoids characterized by means of electron microprobe and X-ray powder diffraction techniques are presented. Two narrow quadrupole doublets with widths of 0.25–0.29 mm/s assigned to Fe²⁺ in a relatively large octahedral site and Fe³⁺ in a smaller octahedral site, are observed in the Mössbauer spectra. Polarized optical absorption spectra reveal three main absorption bands. A broad absorption band at 16,300 cm^?1, which is strongly polarized in E‖X and E‖Y and shows a linear increase in integral absorption with increasing [Fe²⁺] [Fe³⁺] concentration product, is assigned to a Fe²⁺+Fe³⁺→Fe³⁺+Fe²⁺ charge transfer transition. This band displays also a temperature dependence different from that of single ion d?d transitions. Two absorption bands at 10,900 cm^?1 and 8,000 cm^?1 are, on the basis of compositional dependence and energy, assigned to Fe²⁺ in the large M(1B) octahedra of the brucite-type layer in chloritoid. Combined spectroscopic evidence and structural and chemical considerations support a distribution scheme for ferrous and ferric iron which orders the Fe²⁺ ions in the M(1B) octahedra and the Fe³⁺ ions in the small M(1A) octahedral sites. Both types of octahedra are found in the brucite type layer of chloritoid.     

Mineralogy,petrology, and trace element geochemistry of the Johnstown meteorite: a brecciated orthopyroxenite with siderophile and REE-rich components

The Johnstown meteorite is a brecciated orthopyroxenite (diogenite) containing coarsegrained centimeter-sized clasts of cumulate origin that have undergone subsolidus recrystallization. The brecciated portion is dominated by subangular fragments of orthopyroxene (Wo_2–3En_72–74Fs_23–25) in a variably comminuted matrix of the same material. Minor and accessory phases include plagioclase (An_82–90Ab_10–18Or_0–1), diopside (Wo_44–45En_46–47Fs_9–10), olivine (Fo_71–72), tridymite, troilite, metallic Ni-Fe (~3% Ni), and chromite (Cm_71–80Hc_1–8Sp_11–19Mt_2–4Uv_1–3).The clastic component is parental to the brecciated matrix which contains no foreign lithic or mineralogic components. Siderophile trace element studies, however, reveal the presence of meteoritic (chondritic) contamination in the brecciated portion using unbrecciated clasts for indigenous values. Rare earth element abundances show a wide range of values for the light REE in different samples, although all samples exhibit a strong negative Eu anomaly, indicative of earlier plagioclase fractionation. Two pairs of adjacent brecciated and unbrecciated samples from different portions of the meteorite show, respectively, the most enriched and the most depleted light REE patterns. The variability in La content is over a factor of 100. However, in each case the REE pattern for the brecciated portion is very similar to that of the unbrecciated portion. These differences are attributed to sampling of variable amounts of residual, REE-enriched, trapped liquid. The most representative REE pattern for the bulk meteorite has an intermediate composition and was obtained from the largest sample. The data presented here indicate that Johnstown is a monomict breccia, in contrast to several other diogenites which may be considered to be polymict on the basis of their mineral compositions and/or clast populations.     

The Kenna ureilite: an ultramafic rock with evidence for igneous,metamorphic, and shock origin

The Kenna ureilite was found in February, 1972 near the town of Kenna, Roosevelt County, New Mexico U.S.A., weighed 10.9 kg, and measured 26.7 × 14.7 × 14.2 cm; it is the seventh known ureilite. The meteorite is composed of xenoblastic olivine (Fo_79.2), commonly rimmed by forsterite (Fo₉₉), and pigeonite (En₇₃Wo₉Fs₁₈), in a volumetric ratio of 3:1, set in a matrix of three carbon polymorphs (graphite, lonsdaleite, and diamond) plus nickel-iron metal and troilite. Some thin metalliferous veins penetrating silicate grains contain secondary inclusions of melt with high-calcium clinopyroxene (high-Ca, Mg-rich augite to augite), andesine, K-feldspar, chromite, and siliceous CaO- and alkali-rich glasses of variable compositions.Textural, mineralogical and fabric information suggest a complex history for Kenna, involving igneous, metamorphic and shock processes. The rock appears to have originated as an ultramafic cumulate whose texture and structure was modified by adcumulus processes and by solution and redeposition in a weak deviatoric stress field. A strong mineral elongation lineation was produced during this high-temperature phase accompanied by mild plastic deformation of olivine on the system 0kl[100]. Superimposed on this original texture and fabric are processes resulting from light to moderate (50–250 kbar) shock deformation, as manifested by fracturing of the silicates, slip parallel to (001) in olivine, and twin and translation gliding parallel to (100) in the clinopyroxene. Lonsdaleite and diamond probably formed during this shock phase, which may be associated with the break-up of the parent body, but the relative time of introduction of the carbon-rich matrix is still unresolved.     

Sedimentologische und geomorphologische Prozesse des Unteren Mississippi

The Lower Mississippi River, a several thousand years old graded meandering river system, became strongly affected in its equilibrium by a river regulation program. This included cutoffs (1929–1942), crossectional changes by dike systems, and revetments. The cutoff program changed the river in such a way that sinuosity and slope shifted into the reach where the river starts to develop a braided channel. This is indicated by the increasing number of sandbars with time. Dike constructions decreased the river width in the pool areas causing incision there but consequently also widening and shallowing of the river crossings. Here the river is shallower and wider than ever before. The increase of the width/depth ratio of the river crossings is correlated to decreasing sinuosity. The alteration of the river's regime is probably best documented by the changes of the rating curves with time. The cutoff program initially lowered the stages for given discharges, but since 1950 a reverse trend, particularly for flood flows, can be observed. This indicates a decrease of the mean crossectional area and/or a raising of the mean stream bed elevation. The 1973 flood and a particular reach of the river are regarded as examples in this context. From the engineering point of view the present Lower Mississippi River is less efficient than it was before the river regulations. From the sedimentological and geomorphological point of view the recent processes can be regarded as the result of a large scale experiment, modelling a river's adjustment to changed conditions.     

Entstehung und Merkmale der Olisthostrome

Zusammenfassung Die Bearbeitung von Olisthostromen des Nord- und Südapennins erbrachte neue Erkenntnisse über ihre Entstehung. Olisthostrome sind das Produkt einer Resedimentation durch submarine Schlammströme. Sie sind als sedimentäre Einheiten in eine normale Schichtfolge eingeschaltet, doch ist ihr Material älter als das der umgebenden Sedimente. Olisthostrome bestehen aus einer tonigen Matrix, in der eckige Gesteinsbruchstücke, die Olistholithe, schlecht eingeregelt liegen. Die primäre Schichtung ging durch den Umlagerungsprozeß verloren. Olisthostrome erreichen Längen (Richtung des Materialtransportes) von 50 km und Breiten bis zu mehreren 100 km. Die bisher bekannte maximale Mächtigkeit beträgt mehr als 2 km. Es besteht ein kontinuierlicher Übergang zwischen den Phänomenen der gravitativen Gleitdecken und der Olisthostrome. Ein Olisthostrom bewegt sich nicht als Ganzes. Es wird durch relativ geringmächtige Schlammströme, die sich vom Beckenrand zum Beckenzentrum bewegen und dabei sedimentieren, allmählich aufgebaut. Im Gegensatz zu der Geschwindigkeit dieser Schlammströme rückt die Stirn eines Olisthostromes nur langsam vor. Die Entstehung größerer Olisthostrome ist an bestimmte lithologische und tektonische Voraussetzungen gebunden, die ihr Auftreten auf Flysch- und Molasse-Becken beschränken. Die Stellung der Olisthostrome innerhalb der Resedimentationserscheinungen und ihre regionale Verbreitung werden diskutiert.

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Geological investigations in the Northern and Southern Apennines yielded some new aspects about the genesis of olisthostromes. Olisthostromes are the result of a resedimentation processus by means of submarine mudstreams. Like other sedimentary bodies they are intercalated in normal stratigraphic sequences, but their material is much older than the overlying and underlying sediments. They consist of an argillaceous matrix in which angular rock fragments, the olistholites, are more or less chaotically distributed. The stratification of the primary series from which the mudstreams originated was almost completely destroyed during the sedimentation processus. With regard to the direction of supply of material the olisthostromes may reach a longitudinal extension of 50 km and a transversal extension of some hundreds of km. The maximum thickness known up to the present exceeds 2 km. There is a close relationship between the phenomena of gravity slide nappes and olisthostromes. An olisthostrome does not move as a whole. It is built up progressively by relatively small mudstreams which flow downslope depositing their material. In contrast to the velocity of the mudstreams the advancing of the front of an olisthostrome is slow. The internal movement of the mudflow is rather laminar than turbulent. The formation of olisthostromes depends on certain lithological and tectonical conditions so that they are predominantly found with the flysch and molasse stages of the orogenetic cycles.

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Résumé L'étude des olisthostromes dans l'Apennin septentrional et méridional a fourni des connaissances nouvelles sur leur génèse. Les olisthostromes sont produits par une resédimentation au moyen de coulées de boue sous-marines. Ils sont intercalés dans les séries stratigraphiques normales comme d'autres membres sédimentaires, mais le matériel dont ils sont composés est plus ancien que les sédiments normaux au-dessus et au-dessous. Ce matériel consiste en une pâte argileuse qui contient des fragments de roche angulaires (ostholithes) distribués presque chaotiquement. La stratification primaire de la série, d'où les coulées de boue provenaient, fut détruite durant le processus de resédimentation. Un olisthostrome peut atteindre par rapport à la direction du mouvement, une extension longitudinale de 50 km et une extension transversale de plusieurs centaines de km. L'épaisseur maximale connue jusqu à présent dépasse 2 km. Entre le phénomène d'une nappe de glissement par gravité et celui d'un olisthostrome il y a toutes les phases de transition, L'olisthostrome ne se meut pas comme un complexe entier. Il se constitue progressivement par des coulées de boue relativement minces qui descendent vers le centre du bassin. Par contraste avec la vitesse de ces coulées qui apportent le matériel, le front d'un olisthostrome ne s'avance que lentement. La naissance des olisthostromes dépend de certaines conditions lithologiques et tectoniques si bien qu'ils sont restreints pour la plupart aux périodes de flysch et de molasse des cycles orogénétiques. Le mouvement interne des coulées est essentiellement laminaire.

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Riassunto Le ricerche eseguite sugli olistostromi dell'Appennino Settentrionale e Meridionale hanno fornito dati nuovi sulla loro genesi. Gli olistostromi possono formarsi solo se sono presenti certe condizioni litologiche e tettoniche. Essi sono limitati, per la maggior parte, ai periodi di sedimentazione del flysch e della molassa nei cicli orogenetici. Il fenomeno delle falde gravitative è strettamente legato a quello degli olistostromi. Un olistostroma non si muove come una massa intera. Colate di fango (frane sottomarine) relativamente sottili scendono dal margine al centro di un bacino sedimentando e accumulando cosi progressivamente l'olistostroma. Al contrario della velocità di queste frane il fronte dell'olistostroma procede solo lentamente nel senso geologico. Il movimento interno delle colate è essenzialmente laminare e solo in parte turbulente. I contatti coi sedimenti al tetto e al letto degli olistostromi sono diversi e permettono di determinarne la polaritá verticale. La imbricazione osservabile nei piccoli olistoliti, può essere un utile mezzo per la determinazione della direzione di apporto del materiale. Vengono discusse le differenze litologiche e genetiche tra olistotromi e altri fenomeni somiglianti.

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RECOVERY AND CLASSIFICATION OF THIRTY NEW METEORITES FROM ROOSEVELT COUNTY,NEW MEXICO

We report the discovery and classification of 30 new meteorites found in or close to Roosevelt County, New Mexico, including two H3 chondrites and a ureilite; the others are equilibrated ordinary chondrites. Over 160 meteorites representing at least 100 different falls have been recovered from this region, mostly from wind blowout areas. As in Antarctica, small specimens predominate and irons, achondrites and C and E chondrites are rare. Paired specimens are also very difficult to identify.     

Comparison of Large-Eddy Simulation Data with Spatially Averaged Measurements Obtained by Acoustic Tomography – Presuppositions and First Results

An attempt is made to compare results oflarge-eddy simulation (LES) in a convective boundarylayer using the model PALM with experimental data obtained from acoustic travel time tomography.This method provides two-dimensional data arrays, which are considered as more suitable forLES-validation than classical local orline-integrated measurements, because the tomographic data are area- or volume-averaged.For a quantitative comparison with experimental data in general, some prerequisites have to be considered: First of all, the initial and boundary conditions of the LES model have to be provided correctly by the experiment. Considering measurement errors, a sensitivity study was performed to investigate the influence of inaccurate initial and boundary conditions on the simulation results.This showed that for determining some boundary conditions, such as the surface temperature and the roughness length, high measurement accuracies are necessary, which are difficult to reach or which at least require considerable extra measurement efforts.The initial and boundary conditions provided by the Lindenberg experiment in 1999 turned out to be of insufficient accuracy to allow quantitative comparisons.However, a qualitative comparison was performed instead to investigate if the acoustic tomography method is a proper method for comparisons with LES models in general.It showed a good qualitative agreement with some quantitative differences. These differences can partly be explained by the sensitivity of the LES to initial and boundary conditions and by the limitations of the acoustic tomography.