Petrography and geochemistry of target rocks and impactites from the Ilyinets Crater,Ukraine

Abstract— The ～400 Ma old Ilyinets impact structure was formed in the Precambrian basement of the Ukrainian Shield and is now mostly covered by Quaternary sediments. Various impact breccias and melts are exposed in its southern section. The crater is a complex structure with a central uplift that is surrounded by an annular deposit of breccias and melt rocks. In the annulus, brecciated basement rocks are overlain by up to 80 m of glass-poor suevitic breccia, which is overlain (and partly intercalated) by glass-rich suevite with a thickness of up to 130 m. Impact-melt rocks occur within and on top of the suevites—in some cases in the form of devitrified bomb-shaped impact-glass fragments. We have studied the petrographic and geochemical characteristics of 31, mostly shocked, target rock samples (granites, gneisses, and one amphibolite) obtained from drill cores within the structure, and impact breccias and melt rock samples from drill cores and surface exposures. Multiple sets of planar deformation features (PDFs) are common in quartz, potassium feldspar, and plagioclase of the shocked target rocks. The breccias comprise more or less devitrified impact melt with shocked clasts. The impact-melt rocks (“bombs”) show abundant vesicles and, in some cases, glass is still present as brownish patches and schlieren. All impact breccias (including the melt rocks) are strongly altered and have significantly elevated K contents and lower Na contents than the target rocks. The alteration could have occurred in an impact-induced hydrothermal system. The bomb-shaped melt rocks have lower Mg and Ca contents than other rock types at the crater. Compared to target rocks, only minor enrichments of siderophile element contents (e.g., Ni, Co, Ir) in impact-melt rocks were found.     

Application of methane band-model parameters to the visible and near-infrared spectrum of Uranus

Laboratory band-model absorption coefficients of CH₄ are used to calculate the Uranus spectrum from 5400 to 10,400 Å. A good fit of both strong and weak bands for the Uranus spectrum over the entire wavelength interval is achieved for the first time. Three different atmospheric models are employed: a reflecting layer model, a homogeneous scattering layer model, and a clear atmosphere sandwiched between two scattering layers. The spectrum for the reflecting layer model exhibits serious discrepancies but shows that large amounts of CH₄ (5–10 km-am) are necessary to reproduce the Uranus spectrum. Both scattering models give reasonably good fits. The homogeneous model requires a particle scattering albedo $\text{(}\text{g}\text{?}\text{w}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>p</mtext>}}\text{) ? 0.998}$ and an abundance per scattering mean free path $\text{(}\text{a}\text{?}\text{)}\text{of}\text{a}\text{?}\text{1}\text{km-am}$. The parameters derived from the sandwich layer model are: forsb the upper scattering layer a continuum single scattering albedo ($\text{g}\text{?}\text{w}{}_0$) of 0.995 and a scattering optical depth variable with wavelength consistent with Rayleigh scattering; for the clear layer they are a CH₄ abundance (a) of 2.2 km-am and an effective pressure (p) ? 0.1 atm; for the lower cloud deck a Lambert reflectivity (L) of 0.9 resulted. A severe depletion of CH₄ in the upper scattering layer is required. An enrichment of CH₄/H₂ over the solar ratio by a factor of 4–14 in the lower atmosphere is, however, indicated.     

Continuous flow analysis of dissolved total phosphorus in seawater by UV-K2S2O8 online digestion method

Several methods for analysis of dissolved total phosphorus in seawater were reviewed. Discussions were focused on UV irradiation and persulphate oxidation methods which are the most popular dissolved organic phosphorus determination methods presently. The compounds used for the phosphorus recovery test were categorized into three groups according to their chemical structure. It was found that low power UV irradiation can decompose P-O-C or P-C bonds efficiently but may be inefficient for P-O-P bonds. Heating-bath in acid condition is useful for decomposing P-O-P bonds. Using the continuous flow analysis system (Auto-analyzer Ⅱ), UV digestion and heating-bath, series experiments were carried out based on the above analysis. Eleven model compounds were employed for the phosphorus recovery test and the factors influencing the decomposition efficiency of dissolved compounds containing phosphorus were clarified. Finally, the optimal design for determination of dissolved total phosphorus in seawater based on the routine continuous flow analysis system was presented. For the organic mono-phosphate, the recovery is more than 90% and a recovery of 33%～51% was obtained for inorganic or organic polyphosphates. Up to now, this is the highest decomposition efficiency for dissolved phosphorus based on the continuous flow analysis system.     

Germane in the atmosphere of Jupiter

High-altitude spectra of Jupiter obtained from the Kuiper Airborne Observatory are analyzed for the presence of germane (GeH₄) in Jupiter's atmosphere. Comparison with laboratory spectra shows that the strong Q branch of the ν₃ band of germane at 2111 cm^?1 is prominent in the Jovian spectra. The abundance of germane in Jupiter's atmosphere is 0.006 (±0.003) cm-am corresponding to a mixing ratio of 0.6 ppb. This trace amount of germane is consistent with chemical equilibrium calculations if the germane present at ～1000°K is carried up by convection to the spectroscopically observable region at ～300°K.     

Revision and recalibration of existing shock classifications for quartzose rocks using low‐shock pressure (2.5–20 GPa) recovery experiments and mesoscale numerical modeling

A combination of shock recovery experiments and numerical modeling of shock deformation in the low‐shock pressure range from 2.5 to 20 GPa for two dry sandstone types of different porosity, a completely water‐saturated sandstone, and a well‐indurated quartzite provides new insights into strongly heterogeneous distribution of different shock features. (1) For nonporous quartzo‐feldspathic rocks, the traditional classification scheme (Stöffler 1984 ) is suitable with slight changes in pressure calibration. (2) For water‐saturated quartzose rocks, a cataclastic texture (microbreccia) seems to be typical for the shock pressure range up to 20 GPa. This microbreccia does not show formation of PDFs but diaplectic quartz glass/SiO₂ melt is formed at 20 GPa (~1 vol%). (3) For porous quartzose rocks, the following sequence of shock features is observed with progressive increase in shock pressure (1) crushing of pores, (2) intense fracturing of quartz grains, and (3) increasing formation of diaplectic quartz glass/SiO₂ melt replacing fracturing. The formation of diaplectic quartz glass/SiO₂ melt, together with SiO₂ high‐pressure phases, is a continuous process that strongly depends on porosity. This experimental observation is confirmed by our concomitant numerical modeling. Recalibration of the shock classification scheme results in a porosity versus shock pressure diagram illustrating distinct boundaries for the different shock stages.     

Tenoumer impact crater,Mauritania: Impact melt genesis from a lithologically diverse target

Impact melt rocks from the 1.9 km diameter, simple bowl‐shaped Tenoumer impact crater in Mauritania have been analyzed chemically and petrologically. They are heterogeneous and can be subdivided into three types based on melt matrix color, occurrence of lithic clast components, amount of vesiculation (melt degassing), different proportions of carbonate melt mingled into silicate melt, and bulk rock chemical composition. These heterogeneities have two main causes (1) due to the small size of the impact crater, there was probably no coherent melt pool where a homogeneous mixture of melts, derived from different target lithologies, could be created; and (2) melt rock heterogeneity occurring at the thin section scale is due to fast cooling during and after the dynamic ejection and emplacement process. The overall period of crystal growth from these diverse melts was extremely short, which provides a further indication that complete chemical equilibration of the phases could not be achieved in such short time. Melt mixing processes involved in the generation of impact melts are, thus, recorded in nonequilibrium growth features. Variable mixing processes between chemically different melt phases and the formation of hybrid melts can be observed even at millimeter scales. Due to extreme cooling rates, different mixing and mingling stages are preserved in the varied parageneses of matrix minerals and in the mineral chemistry of microlites. ⁴⁰Ar³⁹Ar step‐heating chronology on specimens from three melt rock samples yielded five concordant inverse isochron ages. The inverse isochron plots show that minute amounts of inherited ⁴⁰Ar* are present in the system. We calculated a weighted mean age of 1.57 ± 0.14 Ma for these new results. This preferred age represents a refinement from the previous range of 21 ka to 2.5 Ma ages based on K/Ar and fission track dating.     

Hydrochemistry and environmental isotopes of spring water and their relation to structure and lithology identified with remote sensing methods in Wadi Araba,Egypt

Springs located at the historical sites of Wadi Araba (Eastern Desert of Egypt) and emerging from the escarpments of the Northern and Southern Galala Plateaus were investigated. A combination of methods, including hydrochemistry, stable and radioisotope composition, and structural analyses based on satellite data, provided information about the structure of the subsurface and the derived groundwater flow paths. Satellite images reveal karst features within the northern plateau, e.g. conical landforms. Karstic caves were documented along both escarpments. Chemical analysis of floodwater from Wadi Araba indicates higher concentrations of terrestrial salts compared to floodwaters from central and southern parts of the desert. δ¹⁸O and δ²H signatures in spring waters resemble those of floodwater and fall on the global meteoric water line, confirming their fast infiltration with minor influence of evaporation. The aquifer feeding the springs of the Northern Galala Plateau has low retention and the springs dry out quickly, even after heavy rainfall. Contrastingly, ³H activities in springs emerging from the Southern Galala Plateau refer to much slower subsurface passage. With respect to ³H content (3.8 TU) in recent flood waters, the spring water at Southern Galala Plateau contains about 40% recently recharged groundwater. However, its largest spring—the St. Antony spring—discharges water with a radiocarbon age of about 15,000 years. In combination with this spring’s constant and high discharge over a period of several months, that age estimate suggests a large reservoir with moderate to high retention.

     

Topical Collection: Progress in fractured-rock hydrogeology

Hydrogeology Journal - The development of hydrogeology with respect to hard-rock and fractured-rock aquifers is described. The differences between porous aquifers and karst are explained, as well...     

Optical luminescence dating of a loess section containing a critical tephra marker horizon,SW North Island of New Zealand

A new IRSL dataset is presented for the age and setting of a critical Late Glacial Maximum tephra isochron marker. The rhyolitic tephra, known as the Kawakawa Tephra, occurs as a 14 cm thick layer within a 5.9 m thick loess section overlying alluvial gravels in the Rangitikei River valley, SW North Island of New Zealand. Ages range from 21 at the base to 5 ka near the top of the loess and bracket an age of 17.0 ± 2.2 for the tephra. The new IRSL ages are in agreement with published and unpublished luminescence ages from other localities of loess, sand and ash above and below the tephra and of the tephra itself, that indicate an age of ca. 19 ka for the Kawakawa Tephra. This age is considerably younger than the generally accepted ¹⁴C 27.1 ka cal yrs BP age of the Kawakawa Tephra and highlights an unresolved discrepancy between the two dating systems.