Surface features on glass spherules from the Luna 16 sample

Two ellipsoidal spherules approximately 0.5 mm in diameter were studied in detail using a scanning electron microscope. A variety of surface features were observed: vesicles, mounds, dimples, streaks, ridges, grooves, accretion phenomena, and high-speed impact craters. The diameters of 27 glass-lined pits formed by impact on one spherule range from less than 1m to approximately 50m. Intermediate-sized glass-lined pits surrounded by concentric fractures demonstrate the transition between larger craters that have both a pit and a spall zone and generally smaller craters that have only a pit. Assuming all craters showing evidence of impact-related melting or flow are the result of primary impacts, the differential mass spectrum of impacting meteoroids in the range 10^–11 to 10^–10 g is in good agreement with a spectrum based on satellite-borne particle-detecting experiments.     

Elektronenstrahl-Mikroanalyse des Meteoriten von Steinbach

Zusammenfassung Eine uns vom Naturhistorischen Museum in Wien freundlicherweise zur Verfügung gestellte Probe des Meteoriten von Steinbach wurde mit einem Elektronenstrahl-Mikroanalysator vom Typ CAMECA qualitativ und quantitativ auf die chemische Zusammensetzung der einzelnen Phasen untersucht.Besonders eingehend wurde dabei die Metallphase analysiert, da diese sich durch die Anwesenheit einer gut ausgebildeten Widmanstättenschen Struktur in Gegenwart von Tridymit als Druckindikator auszeichnet.Die nichtmetallischen Phasen wurden ebenfalls quantitativ bestimmt und ergeben leicht abweichende Ergebnisse von den Analysen vonN. Story-Maskelyne, O. Winkler undF. Heide. Interessant sind vor allem der relativ hohe Mangangehalt in Bronzit und Chromit sowie der Chromgehalt des Troilits.Die Anwendung der neuen Berechnungen über die Abkühlungsgeschichte der Meteoritenmutterkörper vonWood auf unsere quantitativen Analysen ergab eine Abkühlungsgeschwindigkeit von 10°/Million Jahre, was einem Mutterkörper von ca. 50–90 km Durchmesser und einem Zentraldruck von 200 b entspricht.

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Summary A sample of the meteorite of Steinbach, made available by the Naturhistorisches Museum at Vienna, has been analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively by a CAMECA electron-beam microanalyzer.Detailed examination has been made on the structure of the metal phase, as the presence of a well-grown Widmanstätten-structure in contact with trydimite as a pressure-indicator is a direct proof for the formation of the Widmanstätten-structure without pressure.The nonmetallic phases have been analyzed quantitatively and the results are slightly different from those ofStory-Maskelyne, Winkler andHeide. Very interesting is the relatively high content of manganese in bronzite and chromite, also the chromium content of troilite.The application of the new computations ofWood, dealing with the cooling history of meteorite-parentbodies to our quantitative analyses indicate a cooling rate of 10° C/Million years, according to a parentbody of appr. 50–90 km diameter and a central pressure of appr. 200 b.

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Mit 8 Textabbildungen

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Herrn Professor Dr.F. Machatschki zum 70. Geburtstag gewidmet.     

Laboratory studies for beam plasma discharge experiments with rockets

Laboratory results of beam plasma discharge (BPD) (dimensions several metres) in a homogeneous atmosphere and a jet of neutral gas are presented. The beam was obtained by an electron gun of the same type as used in rocket experiments.The BPD parameters glow intensity, electromagnetic field and its spectrum, electron density as well as the flux of scattered electrons were measured. In addition, photographs of the BPD were taken. The threshold of BPD ignition was determined as a function of gas pressure and beam parameters. The initial stage of BPD formation as well as various types of oscillatory processes in the discharge were studied. A possible process of BPD initiation is presented.     

APEX and ATCA observations of the southern hot core G327.3-0.6 and its environs

There is no generally accepted evolutionary scheme for high mass star formation yet. A simple approach to address this problem is to cover several of the known stages during the formation of massive stars in the same cloud and then investigate their properties trying to construct an evolutionary sequence. Here we present such a project conducted with complementary APEX and ATCA observations. These observations show a compact and bright single hot core in the G327.3-0.6 region on a 0.03 pc scale with a mass of 500 M_⊙ and 0.5–1.5 10⁵ L_⊙. Additionally a clumpy filament is seen in N₂H⁺. Together with cm continuum observations, the data reveal like pearls on a string several stages of massive star formation, with likely the youngest stages hiding in the cold N₂H⁺ cores analysed with a multilevel study of the APEX and ATCA observations.     

Experimental impacts into chondritic targets,part I: Disruption of an L6 chondrite by multiple impacts

Abstract— A fragment of an L6 chondrite (Allan Hills [ALH] 85017,13) with an initial mass (M₀) of 464.1 g was the target in a series of experimental impacts in which the largest remaining fragment (M_R) after each shot was impacted by a 3.18 mm ceramic sphere at a nominal speed of 2 km s^?1. This continued until the mass of the largest remaining piece was less than half the mass of the target presented to that shot (M_S). Two chunks of Bushveldt gabbro with similar initial masses were also impacted under the same conditions until M_R was less than half M₀. The two gabbro targets required a total of 1.51 × 10⁷ and 1.75 × 10⁷ erg g^?1 to attain 0.27 and 0.33 M_R/M₀, respectively; the chondrite, however, was considerably tougher, reaching 0.40 and 0.21 M_R/M₀ only after receiving 2.37 × 10⁷ and 3.10 × 10⁷ erg g^?1, respectively. The combined ejecta and spallation products from the gabbro impacts were coarser than those from the chondrite and in sufficient quantities that the new surface areas exceeded those from the meteorite until the fifth shot in the chondrite series, which was the number of impacts required to disrupt each gabbro target (i.e., M_R/M₀ ≤ 0.5). Unlike the behavior shown in previous regolith‐evolution series, neither gabbro target produced an enhancement in the size fraction reflecting the mean size of the crystals composing the rock (about 3 mm), an effect possibly related to the width of the shock pulse. The original chondrite was so fine‐grained and fractured, and the variance in its grain‐size distribution so large, that effects related to grain size were relegated to the<63 μm fraction. Impacts into ALH 85017 produced abundant, fine‐grained debris, but otherwise the slopes of its size distributions were comparable to those from other experiments involving natural and fabricated terrestrial targets. The characteristic slopes of the chondrite's size distributions, however, were notably more constant over the entire nine‐impact series than those from any of the terrestrial targets, a testament to the control over comminution apparently exerted by pre‐existing fractures and other, microscopic damage in the meteorite. The enhancement in the finer fraction of debris from ALH 85017 indicates that ordinary chondrites in solar orbit would be very efficient contributors to the cosmic‐dust complex. At the same time, the greater resistance to disruption displayed by ordinary chondrites relative to that exhibited by igneous rocks indicates that a selection effect could be operative between the annealed, ordinary‐chondritic breccias and relatively weaker, differentiated meteorites. Preferential survival from their time in the regoliths of their parent bodies through their transit to Earth and passage through the atmosphere suggests that meteorite collections could be biased in favor of the ordinary chondrites.     

Neuerscheinungen

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Untersuchungen über die Mächtigkeit von Schlickschichten mit Hilfe des Echographen

Zusammenfassung Es wird über eine Methode zur Feststellung von Schlickmächtigkeiten, von Bodenschichtungen in weichem Boden und zur Ermittlung des Tiefenprofils des harten Untergrundes berichtet. An Hand von Echogrammen und im Vergleich mit Bodenproben wird die Methode diskutiert.

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Investigations into the thickness of mud layers with the aid of ultra sound records

Summary A method is discussed allowing to make investigations into the thickness of mud layers and to ascertain the stratification in soft ground as well as to reveal the relief of the solid substratum of the sea bottom. The method is explained by the aid of ultra sound records which are compared with bottom samples.

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Recherches sur l'épaisseur des couches vaseuses au moyen d'enregistrements d'ondes ultrasonores

Résumé Une méthode est exposée qui permet de déterminer qualitativement l'épaisseur de couches vaseuses, d'explorer la stratification dans des fonds meubles et de découvrir le relief du substratum solide du fond de la mer. Ensuite, cette méthode est illustrée à l'aide d'enregistrements d'ondes ultrasonores qui sont comparés avec des échantillons du fond de la mer.

     

Handlotungen und Echolotungen in der Seevermessung geringer Wassertiefen in strömenden Gewässern — eine kritische Betrachtung

Zusammenfassung Vergleichslotungen zwischen Echolot und Handlot führen zu einer mathematischen Ableitung der Handlotleinen-Kurve in strömenden Gewässern. Durch Einführung von zwei Vereinfachungen — Vernachlässigung des Lotleinen-Gewichts und Annahme der Konstanz der Strömungsgeschwindigkeit nach der Tiefe — wird theoretisch die Kettenlinie, praktisch eine Parabel ermittelt. Als bestimmend für den Parameter der Kettenlinie ergeben sich das Lotgewicht und der Staudruck auf die Lotleine. Aus einem praktischen Beispiel wird der Parameter entnommen, und es werden für diese Verhältnisse die für die Tiefenwerte bis 26 m zu erwartenden Fehlmessungen des Handlotes sowie die Größe der Ablagen der Lotbirne vom Lotpunkt berechnet. Für andere Werte der Strömungsgeschwindigkeit werden die Veränderungen auf die Ausbuchtung der Lotleine ebenfalls rechnerisch bestimmt und in Kurven dargestellt. Aus diesen Kurven ergeben sich zwangsläufig die größten Tiefen, die man bei verschiedenen Strömungsgeschwindigkeiten mit dem schweren Handlot vermessen darf; sie liegen bei v=1 m/sec bei 8 m, bei v=0,7 m/sec bei 12 m und bei v=0,5 m/sec bei 20 m Wassertiefe.Praktische Beispiele der Seevermessung aus der jüngsten Zeit zeigen deutlich die Notwendigkeit, zukünftig nur noch mit dem Echolot zu vermessen.

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A comment on the applicability of hand leads and echo sounders to surveying operations in flowing shallow waters

Summary From comparisons between hand-lead soundings and echo soundings in streaming waters the divergency of the lead line from the vertical is mathematically derived. In introducing two simplifications, i. e. in neglecting the weight of the lead line and in assuming the velocity of current to be constant at all depths, the catenary curve which practically speaking is a parabola, is theoretically ascertained. The weight of the lead and the dynamic pressuro of the water (the pressure as exerted on a jet and measured by it) are found to be decisive for the parameter of the catenary-curve. The parameter is derived from a practical example and, according to the conditions of same, the errors to be expected in sounding with the hand lead at depths up to 26 m (= 79 ft) as well as the divergency of the sounding lead from the vertical are calculated. The various degrees of the lead line's divergency caused by a greater or lesser intensity of the current are likewise calculated and represented by curves. These curves necessarily indicate the maximum depths that can be sounded with sufficient accuracy with the heavy hand lead (5 kilos) at different velocities of current; the approximate values are as follows: 8 m for 1,0 m/sec, 12 m for 0,7 m/sec, 20 m for 0,5 m/sec (or: 25 ft for 2,0 knots, 37 ft for 1,5 knots, 61 ft for 1,0 knot). As a result of practical experience in recent survey operations the echo sounder should be regarded as the only reliable instrument to be used in future surveying.

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Note critique sur l'applicabilité de la sonde au plomb-poisson et celle du sondeur acoustique aux levés hydrographiques effectués en faibles profondeurs dans les eaux courantes

Résumé Les comparaisons des sondages au plomb-poisson avec ceux effectués par écho permettent d'en dériver mathématiquement la courbe formée par la ligne de sonde dans des eaux courantes. En introduisant deux simplifications, c'est à dire en négligeant le poids de la ligne et en supposant que la vitesse de courant soit constante dans toutes les profondeurs on arrive à déterminer théoriquement la chaînette qui est en effet une parabole. Le paramètre est fonction du poids du plomb-poisson et celle de la poussée sensiblement horizontale sur le fil due au frottement du liquide. On se sert d'un exemple pratique pour en dériver le paramètre, pour calculer, dans les conditions de cet exemple, les sondages faux de la sonde au plomb-poisson dont il faut tenir compte dans les profondeurs jusqu'à 26 m, et pour déterminer la déviation entre le plomb au bout de la ligne et la verticale. Les diverses variations de la courbe, que la ligne subit et qui sont causées par d'autres valeurs de la vitesse de courant sont aussi calculées et représentées à l'aide des courbes. Ces courbes indiquent forcément les profondeurs permettant encore une précision suffisante du sondage au plombpoisson lourd (5 kg) aux différentes variations de la vitesse de courant. Ces maxima sont à peu près comme suit:v=1,0 m/sec à 8 m de profondeur,v=0,7 m/sec à 12 m de profondeur,v=0,5 m/sec à 20 m de profondeur. Des exemples pratiques offerts par des récentes levés hydrographiques prouvent que le sondeur acoustique doit être considéré comme le seul instrument assurant le précis levé hydrographique.