Long-Term Evolution of Objects in the Kuiper Belt Zone—Effects of Insolation and Radiogenic Heating

The Kuiper Belt zone is unique insofar as the major heat sources of objects a few tens of kilometers in size—solar radiation on the one hand and radioactive decay on the other—have comparable power. This leads to unique evolutionary patterns, with heat waves propagating inward from the irradiated surface and outward from the radioactively heated interior. A major radioactive source that is considered in this study is ²⁶Al. The long-term evolution of several models with characteristics typical of Kuiper Belt objects is followed by means of a 1-D numerical code that solves the heat and mass balance equations on a spherically symmetric grid. The free parameters considered are radius (10-500 km), heliocentric distance (30-120 AU), and initial ²⁶Al content (0-5×10⁻⁸ by mass). The initial composition assumed is a porous mixture of ices (H₂O, CO, and CO₂) and dust. Gases released in the interior are allowed to escape to the surface. It is shown that, depending on parameters, the interior may reach quite high temperatures (up to 180 K). The models suggest that Kuiper Belt objects are likely to lose the ices of very volatile species during early evolution; ices of less volatile species are retained in a surface layer, about 1 km thick. The models indicate that the amorphous ice crystallizes in the interior, and hence some objects may also lose part of the volatiles trapped in amorphous ice. Generally, the outer layers are far less affected than the inner part, resulting in a stratified composition and altered porosity distribution. These changes in structure and composition should have significant consequences for the short-period comets, which are believed to be descendants of Kuiper Belt objects.     

Sublimation pressure and sublimation enthalpy of H2O ice Ih between 0 and 273.16 K

The sublimation of water in the region of extremely low pressures and temperatures meets increasing interest for the exploration of icy cosmic bodies. At temperatures below 130 K, the shape of the sublimation curve of H₂O is not known; neither experimental data nor theoretical treatments exist for this region. Based upon theoretical upper and lower bounds for the heat capacity of water vapor in this range, a narrow region in the pressure-temperature diagram is identified which must necessarily enclose the sublimation curve down to virtually any lower pressures and temperatures. Within this region, an approximate sublimation curve is computed from the 2006 Gibbs potential of ice Ih, using available heat capacity data points of water vapor between 10 and 130 K. The theoretical zero-point limiting law of the sublimation pressure is derived. Valid between 20 and 273.16 K, correlation equations for the sublimation enthalpy and the sublimation pressure are fitted to the computed data. All quantities are expressed in the 1990 temperature scale ITS-90. Under cosmic conditions, our results suggest that the sublimation of ice is unlikely below 50 K and impossible below 23 K.     

Comparison of Galerkin-type discretization techniques for two-phase flow in heterogeneous porous media

A comparison of Standard Galerkin, Petrov-Galerkin, and Fully-Upwind Galerkin methods for the simulation of two-phase flow in heterogeneous porous media is presented. On the basis of the coupled pressure-saturation equations, a generalized formulation for all three finite element methods is derived and analysed. For flow in homogeneous media, the Petrov-Galerkin method gives excellent results. But this method fails miserably for problems with heterogeneous media. This is because it is not able to capture correctly processes that take place at interfaces when, for instance, the capillary pressure-saturation relationship after Brooks and Corey is assumed. The Fully-Upwind Galerkin method is superior to the Petrov-Galerkin approach because it is able to give correct results for flow in homogeneous and heterogeneous media for the two models of van Genuchten and Brooks-Corey. The widely used formulation which is correct for the homogeneous case cannot be used for heterogeneous media. Instead the straightforward approach of gradp_c in combination with a chord-slope technique must be utilized.     

Ein Beitrag zur Mechanik des Gebirges um einen tiefliegenden Hohlraum im Post-Failure-Bereich

ZusammenfassungEin Beitrag zur Mechanik des Gebirges um einen tiefliegenden Hohlraum im Post-Failure-Bereich Ausgehend von Brucherscheinungen beim Vortrieb verschiedener österreichischer Tunnel wird eine von bisherigen Auffassungen abweichende Vorstellung über den Bruchmechanismus ausbruchnaher Bereiche tiefliegender Gebirgshohlraumbauten zur Diskussion gestellt. Versuche an exzentrisch gedrückten Prismen, deren Beanspruchung jener des Gebirges um einen Hohlraum ähnlich ist, führen in weiterer Folge zur Behandlung des vorliegenden Problems nach den Regeln der Bruchmechanik.

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SummaryA Contribution to the Mechanics of Rock Surrounding a Deep-Seated Excavation in the Post-Failure State Based on fracture phenomena observed during the advance of various Austrian tunnels a new conception of the fracture mechanism of the regions surrounding deep-seated cavities is presented for discussion. Experiments carried out on eccentrically loaded prisms, the stress of which is similar to the one resulting from excavating have shown that a further investigation of this problem on the principles of fracture mechanics will be necessary.

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RésuméUn article traitant la mécanique des roches enceindrant une excavation profonde dans la phase Post-Failure Partant des phénomènes de cassures lors des travaux d'avancement de divers tunnels autrichiens, nous mettons en question une conception divergente des idées jusqu'alors usuelles du mécanisme des cassures, concernant les excavations des massifs rocheux situées en grande profondeur. Une charge excentrique comparable à la sollicitation des roches autour d'une cavité artificielle fut appliquée à des échantillons prismatiques. Ces expériences nous ammènent par conséquent à traiter ce problème (ci présent) d'après les règles de la mécanique des cassures.

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Vorbericht über eine Dissertation am Institut für Geologie der Technischen Universität Wien.

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Mit 14 Abbildungen     

Geochronology of high-pressure rocks on Sifnos (Cyclades,Greece)

Polymetamorphic rocks of Sifnos (Greece) have been investigated by Rb-Sr, K-Ar, and fission track methods. Critical mineral assemblages from the northern and southernmost parts of Sifnos include jadeite+quartz+3T phengite, and omphacite+garnet +3T phengite, whereas the central part is characterized by the assemblage albite+chlorite+epidote+2M ₁ phengite.K-Ar and Rb-Sr dates on phengites (predominantly 3T) of the best preserved high P/itTmetamorphic rocks from northern Sifnos gave concordant ages around 42 m.y., indicating a Late Lutetian age for the high P/T metamorphism. Phengites (2M ₁+3T) of less preserved high P/T assemblages yielded K-Ar dates between 48 and 41 m.y. but generally lower Rb-Sr dates. The higher K-Ar dates are interpreted as being elevated by excess argon.K-Ar and Rb-Sr ages on 2M ₁ phengites from central Sifnos vary between 24 and 21 m.y. These ages date a second, greenschist-facies metamorphism which overprinted the earlier high-pressure metamorphic rocks.     

Meteoritic material at four Canadian impact craters

Eleven impact melt and 6 basement rock samples from 4 craters were analyzed by neutron activation for Au, Co, Cr, Fe, Ge, Ir, Ni, Os, Pd, Re and Se. Wanapitei Lake, Ontario: the impact melts show uniform enrichments corresponding to 1–2% C1-chondrite material. Interelement ratios ($\text{Co}\text{Cr}$, $\text{Ni}\text{Cr}$, $\text{Ni}\text{Ir}$) suggest that the impacting body was a Cl-, C2-, or LL-chondrite. Nicholson Lake, North West Territory: Ni, Cr and Co are distinctly more enriched than Ir and Au which tentatively suggests an olivine-rich achondrite (nakhlite or ureilite). Gow Lake, Saskatchewan and Mistastin, Labrador: small enrichments in Ir and Ni; both the low $\text{Ir}\text{Ni}$ ratios and low Cr content suggest iron meteorites, but the signals are too weak for conclusive identification.A tentative comparison of meteoritic signatures at 10 large, ≥4km craters and their presumed celestial counterparts (13 Apollo and Amor asteroids) shows more irons and achondrites among known projectile types, and a preponderance of S-type objects, having no known meteoritic equivalent, among asteroids. It is not yet clear that these differences are significant, in view of the tentative nature of the crater identifications (achondrites in particular), and the limited statistics.     

Gibt es Zusammenhänge zwischen Erdbeben und Gebirgsschlaghäufungen im Bergbau Bleiberg?

ZusammenfassungGibt es Zusammenhänge zwischen Erdbeben und Gebirgsschlaghäufungen im Bergbau Bleiberg Langjährige Beobachtungen beim Bergbau Bleiberg lassen den Schluß zu, daß dieselben Spannungen in der Erdkruste, welche Erdbeben auslösen, auch Gebirgsschlaghäufungen hervorrufen. Im besonderen wirkt sich auf Bleiberg offenbar die durch den Mittelmeerraum führende Erdbebenzone aus. Aber auch Unruhen anderer Teile der Erdkruste, so jene des Karibischen Raumes, scheinen Einfluß zu haben. Von Erdbeben der südamerikanischen Pazifikküste konnte nach unseren Aufzeichnungen kein Einfluß abgeleitet werden.

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SummaryAre there Connexions Between Earthquakes and the Frequency of Rock Bursts in the Mine of Bleiberg Observations, that were done in the mine of Bleiberg, allow the conclusion, that the same stresses in the earth's crust, which cause earthquakes cause higher frequencies of rock bursts, to. Specially the area of earthquakes around the Mediterranean has effects on Bleiberg. But also other parts of the earth's crust in particular those of the Caribbean area, seem to have their effects. Effects caused by earthquakes of the South-American Pacific-Coast could not be derived from our records.

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RésuméRelations entre des tremblements de terre et des coups de rupture de roche Des observations faites durant des années dans la mine de Bleiberg on permis de conclure, que les contraintes dans l'écorce terrestre qui provoque des séismes suscitent également une augmentation de la fréquence des coups de rupture de roche. En particulier, Bleiberg est sous l'influence de la zone sismique de la région de la Méditerranée, mais il semble, que d'autres régions de l'écorce terrestre, par exemple celles de la région caraibe, ont une influence sur la région mentionnée. Par contre selon les enregistrements effectués on a pas pu constaté une influence des séismes de la côte sud-américaine du Pacifique sur cette région.

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Vortrag, gehalten während des XXII. Geomechanik-Kolloquiums im Oktober 1973 in Salzburg.

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Mit 7 Abbildungen     

A composite Fe,Ni‐FeS and enstatite‐forsterite‐diopside‐glass vitrophyre clast in the Larkman Nunatak 04316 aubrite: Origin by pyroclastic volcanism

Abstract– We studied the mineralogy, petrology, and bulk, trace element, oxygen, and noble gas isotopic compositions of a composite clast approximately 20 mm in diameter discovered in the Larkman Nunatak (LAR) 04316 aubrite regolith breccia. The clast consists of two lithologies: One is a quench‐textured intergrowth of troilite with spottily zoned metallic Fe,Ni which forms a dendritic or cellular structure. The approximately 30 μm spacings between the Fe,Ni arms yield an estimated cooling rate of this lithology of approximately 25–30 °C s^?1. The other is a quench‐textured enstatite‐forsterite‐diopside‐glass vitrophyre lithology. The composition of the clast suggests that it formed at an exceptionally high degree of partial melting, perhaps approaching complete melting, and that the melts from which the composite clast crystallized were quenched from a temperature of approximately 1380–1400 °C at a rate of approximately 25–30 °C s^?1. The association of the two lithologies in a composite clast allows, for the first time, an estimation of the cooling rate of a silicate vitrophyre in an aubrite of approximately 25–30 °C s^?1. While we cannot completely rule out an impact origin of the clast, we present what we consider is very strong evidence that this composite clast is one of the elusive pyroclasts produced during pyroclastic volcanism on the aubrite parent body ( Wilson and Keil 1991 ). We further suggest that this clast was not ejected into space but retained on the aubrite parent body by virtue of the relatively large size of the clast of approximately 20 mm. Our modeling, taking into account the size of the clast, suggests that the aubrite parent body must have been between approximately 40 and 100 km in diameter, and that the melt from which the clast crystallized must have contained an estimated maximum range of allowed volatile mass fractions between approximately 500 and approximately 4500 ppm.     

Isotopic and elemental fractionation of solar wind implanted in the Genesis concentrator target characterized and quantified by noble gases

Abstract– We report concentrations and isotopic compositions of He, Ne, and Ar measured with high spatial resolution along a radial traverse of a silicon carbide (SiC) quadrant of the Genesis mission concentrator target. The Ne isotopic composition maps instrumental fractionation as a function of radial position in the target: the maximum observed isotopic fractionation is approximately 33‰ per mass unit between the center and periphery. The Ne fluence is enhanced by a factor of 43 at the target center and decreases to 5.5 times at the periphery relative to the bulk solar wind fluence. Neon isotopic profiles measured along all four arms of the “gold cross” mount which held the quadrants in the concentrator target demonstrate that the concentrator target was symmetrically irradiated during operation as designed. We used implantation experiments of Ne into SiC and gold to quantify backscatter loss and isotopic fractionation and compared measurements with numerical simulations from the code “stopping and range of ions in matter.” The ²⁰Ne fluence curve as a function of radial distance on the target may be used to construct concentration factors relative to bulk solar wind for accurate corrections for solar wind fluences of other light elements to be measured in the concentrator target. The Ne isotopic composition as a function of the radial distance in the SiC quadrant provides a correction for the instrumental mass‐dependent isotopic fractionation by the concentrator and can be used to correct measured solar wind oxygen and nitrogen isotopic compositions to obtain bulk solar wind isotopic compositions.