Olivine or impact melt: Nature of the “Orange” material on Vesta from Dawn

NASA’s Dawn mission observed a great variety of colored terrains on asteroid (4) Vesta during its survey with the Framing Camera (FC). Here we present a detailed study of the orange material on Vesta, which was first observed in color ratio images obtained by the FC and presents a red spectral slope. The orange material deposits can be classified into three types: (a) diffuse ejecta deposited by recent medium-size impact craters (such as Oppia), (b) lobate patches with well-defined edges (nicknamed “pumpkin patches”), and (c) ejecta rays from fresh-looking impact craters. The location of the orange diffuse ejecta from Oppia corresponds to the olivine spot nicknamed “Leslie feature” first identified by Gaffey (Gaffey, M.J. [1997]. Icarus 127, 130–157) from ground-based spectral observations. The distribution of the orange material in the FC mosaic is concentrated on the equatorial region and almost exclusively outside the Rheasilvia basin. Our in-depth analysis of the composition of this material uses complementary observations from FC, the visible and infrared spectrometer (VIR), and the Gamma Ray and Neutron Detector (GRaND). Several possible options for the composition of the orange material are investigated including, cumulate eucrite layer exposed during impact, metal delivered by impactor, olivine–orthopyroxene mixture and impact melt. Based on our analysis, the orange material on Vesta is unlikely to be metal or olivine (originally proposed by Gaffey (Gaffey, M.J. [1997]. Icarus 127, 130–157)). Analysis of the elemental composition of Oppia ejecta blanket with GRaND suggests that its orange material has ∼25% cumulate eucrite component in a howarditic mixture, whereas two other craters with orange material in their ejecta, Octavia and Arruntia, show no sign of cumulate eucrites. Morphology and topography of the orange material in Oppia and Octavia ejecta and orange patches suggests an impact melt origin. A majority of the orange patches appear to be related to the formation of the Rheasilvia basin. Combining the interpretations from the topography, geomorphology, color and spectral parameters, and elemental abundances, the most probable analog for the orange material on Vesta is impact melt.     

The Ksar Ghilane 002 shergottite—The 100th registered Martian meteorite fragment

We report on the discovery of a new shergottite from Tunisia, Ksar Ghilane (KG) 002. This single stone, weighing 538 g, is a coarse‐grained basaltic shergottite, mainly composed of maskelynitized plagioclase (approximately 52 vol%) and pyroxene (approximately 37 vol%). It also contains Fe‐rich olivine (approximately 4.5 vol%), large Ca‐phosphates, including both merrillites and Cl‐apatites (approximately 3.4 vol%), minor amounts of silica or SiO₂‐normative K‐rich glass, pyrrhotite, Ti‐magnetite, ilmenite, and accessory baddeleyite. The largest crystals of pyroxene and plagioclase reach sizes of approximately 4 to 5 mm. Pyroxenes (Fs_26–96En_5–50Wo_2–41). They typically range from cores of about Fs₂₉En₄₁Wo₃₀ to rims of about Fs₆₈En₁₄Wo₁₇. Maskelynite is Ab_41–49An_39–58Or_1–7 in composition, but some can be as anorthitic as An₉₃. Olivine (Fa_91–96) occurs mainly within symplectitic intergrowths, in paragenesis with ilmenite, or at neighboring areas of symplectites. KG 002 is heavily shocked (S5) as indicated by mosaic extinction of pyroxenes, maskelynitized plagioclase, the occurrence of localized shock melt glass pockets, and low radiogenic He concentration. Oxygen isotopes confirm that it is a normal member of the SNC suite. KG 002 is slightly depleted in LREE and shows a positive Eu anomaly, providing evidence for complex magma genesis and mantle processes on Mars. Noble gases with a composition thought to be characteristic for Martian interior is a dominant component. Measurements of ¹⁰Be, ²⁶Al, and ⁵³Mn and comparison with Monte Carlo calculations of production rates indicate that KG 002 has been exposed to cosmic rays most likely as a single meteoroid body of 35–65 cm radius. KG 002 strongly resembles Los Angeles and NWA 2800 basaltic shergottites in element composition, petrography, and mineral chemistry, suggesting a possible launch‐pairing. The similar CRE ages of KG 002 and Los Angeles may suggest an ejection event at approximately 3.0 Ma.     

Paleogeography of the Upper Rhine Graben (URG) and the Swiss Molasse Basin (SMB) from Eocene to Pliocene

Twenty paleogeographic maps are presented for Middle Eocene (Lutetian) to Late Pliocene times according to the stratigraphical data given in the companion paper by Berger et al. this volume. Following a first lacustrine-continental sedimentation during the Middle Eocene, two and locally three Rupelian transgressive events were identified with the first corresponding with the Early Rupelian Middle Pechelbronn beds and the second and third with the Late Rupelian Serie Grise (Fischschiefer and equivalents). During the Early Rupelian (Middle Pechelbronn beds), a connection between North Sea and URG is clearly demonstrated, but a general connection between North Sea, URG and Paratethys, via the Alpine sea, is proposed, but not proved, during the late Rupelian. Whereas in the southern URG, a major hiatus spans Early Aquitanian to Pliocene times, Early and Middle Miocene marine, brackish and freshwater facies occur in the northern URG and in the Molasse Basin (OMM, OSM); however, no marine connections between these basins could be demonstrated during this time. After the deposition of the molasse series, a very complex drainage pattern developed during the Late Miocene and Pliocene, with a clear connection to the Bresse Graben during the Piacenzian (Sundgau gravels). During the Late Miocene, Pliocene and Quaternary sedimentation persisted in the northern URG with hardly any interruptions. The present drainage pattern of the Rhine river (from Alpine area to the lower Rhine Embayment) was not established before the Early Pleistocene.     

Recent vertical movements from precise levelling in the vicinity of the city of Basel, Switzerland

The southern end of the Upper Rhine Graben is one of the zones in Switzerland where recent crustal movements can be expected because of ongoing seismotectonic processes as witnessed by seismicity clusters occurring in this region. Therefore, in 1973 a control network with levelling profiles across the eastern Rhine Graben fault was installed and measured in the vicinity of the city of Basel in order to measure relative vertical movements and investigate their relationship with seismic events. As a contribution to EUCOR-URGENT, the profiles were observed a third time in the years 2002 and 2003 and connected to the Swiss national levelling network. The results of these local measurements are discussed in terms of accuracy and significance. Furthermore, they are combined and interpreted together with the extensive data set of recent vertical movements in Switzerland (Jura Mountains, Central Plateau and the Alps). In order to be able to prove height changes with precise levelling, their values should amount to at least 3–4 mm (1). The present investigations, however, have not shown any significant vertical movements over the past 30 years.     

Distribution of dissolved molybdenum,uranium and vanadium in baltic sea waters

This study presents dissolved molybdenum, uranium and vanadium profiles from eight stations in the main Baltic subregions. The elements were analysed by a new analytical procedure based on total-reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF). Mo and U reveal a strong, positive correlation with salinity (with r = 0.95 and 0.93, respectively). The estimated end-member concentrations (for S = 35 × 10^?3) are consistent with North Atlantic Ocean water values, indicating conservative mixing with Baltic river waters as the dominating process. In contrast, dissolved V shows relatively low levels, with mean surface and deep layer values of 2.7 and 1.7 nmol kg^?1, respectively. Compared with recently investigated Atlantic Ocean waters (normalized to S = 35 × 10^?3), Baltic waters are deplated in dissolved V by more than 60%. The removal is attributed to scavenging processes by terrigenous and/or biogenic material during the course of mixing. However, the data did not indicate that precipitation or other removal processes were significant in the anaerobic waters.     

Geochemistry of hydrothermally influenced sediments off Methana (western Hellenic volcanic arc)

Surface sediment samples from near-shore shallow water as well as deeper water locations N and NE of the island of Methana were investigated geochemically. Shallow water samples from Thiafi Bay reveal up to 38-fold enrichment of As, associated with elevated contents of Sb, Fe and Zn. Deeper water samples NE of Methana show moderate Mn enrichment accompanied with elevated trace metal concentrations of As and, in some samples, Cd and Cu. In an area, where small mounds of possible hydrothermal origin were observed on the sea floor, fine-grained Fe-rich sediment was sampled with enrichment of typical hydrothermal trace elements As, P and Sb. Element enrichment in the investigated areas off Methana corresponds in terms of absolute concentrations and element suite to comparable hydrothermally influenced sediments from other locations of the Hellenic volcanic arc. The region between Methana peninsula and Aegina Island is not marked by vigorous hydrothermal activity, but localised enrichments of Fe and/or Mn, As, Sb as well as associated trace elements typically found in hydrothermally influenced sediments were identified.     

In situ investigation of dissolution of heavy metal containing mineral particles in an acidic forest soil

We report the application of an in situ method to obtain field dissolution rates of fine mineral particles in soils. Samples with different metal-containing mineral and slag particles (lead oxide, copper concentrate and copper slag) from the mining and smelting industry were buried in the topsoil of an acidic forest soil for up to 18 months. In addition we studied the dissolution of these particles in samples of the same soil, in a sand matrix and in acid solution under constant temperature and moisture conditions in the laboratory. Under field conditions the PbO particles dissolved quite rapidly (2.4 ± 0.7 × 10⁻¹⁰ mol Pb m⁻² s⁻¹), whereas the copper concentrate (<1 × 10⁻¹¹ mol Cu m⁻² s⁻¹) and the copper slag particles (4.3 ± 0.8 × 10⁻¹¹ mol Cu m⁻² s⁻¹) proved to be more resistant to weathering. In addition to qualitative information on dissolution features (SEM), the method yielded quantitative data on in situ dissolution rates. The dissolution rates followed the order: sand with acid percolation (pH 3.5; lab) < soil (lab) < soil (field) < acid solution (pH 3.5; lab). Dissolution rates in soil were found to be lower under laboratory than under field conditions. The faster field rates may in part be attributed to the higher biological activity in the field soil compared to the same soil in the laboratory.