bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Lunar pure anorthosite as a spectral analog for Mercury
Authors: BLEWETT David T. , HAWKE B. Ray , LUCEY Paul G. 
Published: January 2010

Abstract—Plans are underway for spacecraft missions to the planet Mercury beginning in the latter part of this decade (NASA's MESSENGER (MErcury, Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, Ranging) and ESA's BepiColombo). Mercury is an airless body whose surface is apparently very low in ferrous iron. Much of the mercurian surface material is expected to be optically mature, a state produced by the “space weathering” process from direct exposure to the space environment. If appropriate analog terrains can be identified on the Moon, then study of their reflectance spectra and composition will improve our understanding of space weathering of low‐Fe surfaces and aid in the interpretation of data returned from Mercury by the spacecraft.We have conducted a search for areas of the lunar surface that are optically mature and have very low ferrous iron content using Clementine ultraviolet‐visible (UV‐vis) image products. Several regions with these properties have been identified on the farside. These areas, representing mature pure anorthosites (>90% plagioclase feldspar), are of interest because only relatively immature pure anorthosites have previously been studied with Earth‐based spectrometry. A comparison of Mercury with the lunar analogs reveals similarities in spectral characteristics, and there are hints that the mercurian surface may be even lower in FeO content than the lunar pure anorthosites.We also investigate the potential for use of spectral features other than the commonly studied “1 μm” mafic mineral absorption band as tools for compositional assessment when spacecraft spectral measurements of Mercury become available. Most low‐Fe minerals plausibly present on Mercury lack absorption bands, but plagioclase possesses an iron impurity absorption at 1.25 μm. Detection of this diagnostic band may be possible in fresh crater deposits.
Cosmogenic nuclides in the Brenham pallasite
Authors: Honda M. , Caffee M. W. , Miura Y. N. , Nagai H. , Nagao K. , Nishiizumi K. 
Published: January 2010

Abstract— Cosmic‐ray‐produced (cosmogenic) nuclides were studied in fragments of the Brenham pallasite, a large stony iron meteorite. The contents of light noble gases (He, Ne, and Ar) and long‐lived radionuclides (10Be, 26Al, 36Cl, and 53Mn), produced by nuclear reactions with cosmic rays, were measured in the separated metal and olivine phases from numerous samples representing a wide range of shielding conditions in the meteoroid. The distribution of cosmogenic nuclide concentrations in the metal follows patterns similar to that observed in large iron meteorites. Shielding effects were estimated from the relative proportions of low‐ and high‐energy reaction products. The production rates varied, from surface to interior, by a factor of more than several hundred. The 36Cl‐36Ar cosmic‐ray exposure age of Brenham is 156 ± 8 Myr. This determination is based on a multiple nuclide approach that utilizes cosmogenic nuclide pairs. This approach not only yields a “shielding independent” exposure age but also demonstrates that the production of cosmogenic nuclides occurred in a single stage. The depth profiles of 10Be in the stone phase and 53Mn in the metal phase are shown superimposed on corresponding profiles from the Apollo 15 long drill core.Surprisingly low abundances of lithophile elements, such as K, U, and Th, provided a unique opportunity to examine the production systematics of those nuclides whose inventories typically have significant contributions from non‐cosmogenic sources, particularly radiogenic contributions. The U and Th contents of the olivine samples are extremely low, allowing detection of cosmogenic 4He production from oxygen, magnesium, silicon, and iron.
Noble gases in ureilites released by crushing
Authors: Okazaki Ryuji , Nakamura Tomoki , Takaoka Nobuo , Nagao Keisuke 
Published: January 2010

Abstract— Noble gases in two ureilites, Kenna and Allan Hills (ALH) 78019, were measured with two extraction methods: mechanical crushing in a vacuum and heating. Large amounts of noble gases were released by crushing, up to 26.5% of 132Xe from ALH 78019 relative to the bulk concentration. Isotopic ratios of the crush‐released Ne of ALH 78019 resemble those of the trapped Ne components determined for some ureilites or terrestrial atmosphere, while the crush‐released He and Ne from Kenna are mostly cosmogenic. The crush‐released Xe of ALH 78019 and Kenna is similar in isotopic composition to Q gas, which indicates that the crush‐released noble gases are indigenous and not caused by contamination from terrestrial atmosphere. In contrast to the similarities in isotopic composition with the bulk samples, light elements in the crush‐released noble gases are depleted relative to Xe and distinct from those of each bulk sample. This depletion is prominent especially in the 20Ne/132Xe ratio of ALH 78019 and the 36Ar/132Xe ratio of Kenna. The values of measured 3He/21Ne for the gases released by crushing are significantly higher than those for heating‐released gases. This suggests that host phases of the crush‐released gases might be carbonaceous because cosmogenic Ne is produced mainly from elements with a mass number larger than Ne.Based on our optical microscopic observation, tabular‐foliated graphite is the major carbon mineral in ALH 78019, while Kenna contains abundant polycrystalline graphite aggregates and diamonds along with minor foliated graphite. There are many inclusions at the edge and within the interior of olivine grains that are reduced by carbonaceous material. Gaps can be seen at the boundary between carbonaceous material and silicates. Considering these petrologic and noble gas features, we infer that possible host phases of crush‐released noble gases are graphite, inclusions in reduction rims, and gaps between carbonaceous materials and silicates.The elemental ratios of noble gases released by crushing can be explained by fractionation, assuming that the starting noble gas composition is the same as that of amorphous carbon in ALH 78019. The crush‐released noble gases are the minor part of trapped noble gases in ureilites but could be an important clue to the thermal history of the ureilite parent body. Further investigation is needed to identify the host phases of the crush‐released noble gases.
New noble gas data of primitive and differentiated achondrites including Northwest Africa 011 and Tafassasset
Authors: PATZER Andrea , SCHULTZ Ludolf , FRANKE Luitgard 
Published: January 2010

Abstract— This work reports on the noble gas inventory of 3 new acapulcoites, 3 brachinites, 2 new eucrites from the Dar al Gani region in Libya, the unique achondrite Dar al Gani (DaG) 896 from the same locality, the new eucrite‐like achondrite Northwest Africa (NWA) 011, and the controversial sample Tafassasset.We determined cosmic ray exposure and gas retention ages, evaluated shielding conditions, and discuss the trapped noble gas component of the specimens. All exposure ages are within the known range of stony meteorites and partly confirm previously established age clusters. Shielding conditions vary, suggesting substantial shielding for all 3 brachinites and Tafassasset. We cannot exclude, however, that the Mg‐rich composition of brachinites simply simulates heavy shielding. Regarding the trapped component, we found Q‐like compositions only for the acapulcoite Thiel Mountains (TIL) 99002. The brachinite Elephant Moraine (EET) 99402 yields a high, subsolar 36Ar/132Xe ratio of ˜400 along with a slightly elevated 84Kr/132atio, indicating minor atmospheric contamination. All the other samples, particularly the eucrite DaG 983, are characterized by clearly elevated Ar/Kr/Xe ratios due to significant terrestrial alteration.Tafassasset exhibits noble gas parameters that are different from those of CR chondrites, including a relatively high cosmic ray exposure age, the absence of a solar component, low 132Xe concentrations, a low trapped 36Ar/132Xe ratio of ˜30, and a noticeable amount of radiogenic 129Xe. Similar attributes have been observed for some primitive achondrites. These attributes are also consistent with the metamorphic character of the sample. We, therefore, consider Tafassasset's noble gas record to be inconclusive as to its classification (primitive achondrite versus metamorphosed CR chondrite).
Crystalline comet dust: Laboratory experiments on a simple silicate system
Authors: THOMPSON S. P. , FONTI S. , VERRIENTI C. , BLANCO A. , OROFINO V. , TANG C. C. 
Published: January 2010

Abstract— Spectra for certain comets show the presence of crystalline silicate dust grains believed to have been incorporated during comet formation. While grain crystallization is widely assumed to result from the thermal annealing of precursor amorphous grains, the physical processes behind the silicate amorphous‐to‐crystalline transition are poorly understood. This makes it difficult to place constraints on the evolutionary histories of both grains and comets, and consequently, on the nebular conditions in which they formed. It has, therefore, become necessary to study this process in the laboratory using simulated grain materials. In this paper, we discuss recent results from laboratory investigations into a basic amorphous MgSiO3 silicate annealed in the region of 1000 K. Our object is not to model the behavior of dust grains per se, but to study the underlying process of crystallization and separate the physics of the material from the astrophysics of dust grains. In our experiments, we bring together spectroscopic measurements made in the infrared with the high resolution structural probing capabilities of synchrotron X‐ray powder diffraction. The combined use of these complementary techniques provides insights into the crystallization process that would not be easily obtained if each was used in isolation. In particular, we focus on the extent to which the identification of certain spectral features attributed to crystalline phases extends to the physical structure of the grain material itself.Specifically, we have identified several key features in the way amorphous MgSiO3 behaves when annealed. Rather than crystallize directly to enstatite (MgSiO3) structures, in crystallographic terms, amorphous MgSiO3 can enter a mixed phase of crystalline forsterite (Mg2SiO4) and SiO2‐rich amorphous silicate where structural evolution appears to stall. Spectroscopically, the evolution of the 10 μm band does not appear to correlate directly with structural evolution, and therefore, may be a poor indicator of the degree of crystallinity. Indeed, certain features in this band may not be indicators of crystal type. However, the 20 μm band is found to be a good indicator of crystal structure. We suggest that forsterite forms from the ordering of pre‐existing regions rich in SiO4 and that this phase separation is aided by a dehydrogenation processes that results in the evolutionary stall. The implications of this work regarding future observations of comets are discussed.
The Morávka meteorite fall: 1. Description of the events and determination of the fireball trajectory and orbit from video records
Authors: BOROVIĈKA J. , SPURNÝ P. , KALENDA P. , TAGLIAFERRI E. 
Published: January 2010

Abstract— The Morávka (Czech Republic) meteorite fall occurred on May 6, 2000, 11:52 UT, during the daytime. Six H5–6 ordinary chondrites with a total mass of 1.4 kg were recovered. The corresponding fireball was witnessed by thousands of people and also videotaped by 3 casual witnesses. Sonic booms were recorded by 16 seismic stations in the Czech Republic and Poland and by one infrasonic station in Germany. A total of 2.5% of the fireball eyewitnesses reported electrophonic sounds. Satellites in Earth orbit detected part of the fireball light curve.In this first paper from a series of 4 papers devoted to the Morávka meteorite fall, we describe the circumstances of the fall and determine the fireball trajectory and orbit from calibrated video records. Morávka becomes one of only 6 meteorites with a known orbit. The slope of the trajectory was 20.4° to the horizontal, the initial velocity was 22.5 km/s, and the terminal height of the fireball was 21 km. The semimajor axis of the orbit was 1.85 AU, the perihelion distance was 0.982 AU, and the inclination was 32.2°. The fireball reached an absolute visual magnitude of −20 at a height of 33 km.
Opaque minerals in chondrules and fine‐grained chondrule rims in the Bishunpur (LL3.1) chondrite
Authors: Lauretta Dante S. , Buseck Peter R. 
Published: January 2010

Abstract— We present a detailed petrographic and electron microprobe study of metal grains and related opaque minerals in the chondrule interiors and rims of the Bishunpur (LL3.1) ordinary chondrite. There are distinct differences between metal grains that are completely encased in chondrule interiors and those that have some portion of their surface exposed outside of the chondrule boundary, even though the two types of metal grains can be separated by only a few microns. Metal grains in chondrule interiors exhibit minor alteration in the form of oxidized P‐, Cr‐, and Si‐bearing minerals. Metal grains at chondrule boundaries and in chondrule rims are extensively altered into troilite and fayalite.The results of this study suggest that many metal grains in Bishunpur reacted with a type‐I chondrule melt and incorporated significant amounts of P, Cr, and Si. As the system cooled, some metal oxidation occurred in the chondrule interior, producing metal‐associated phosphate, chromite, and silica. Metal that migrated to chondrule boundaries experienced extensive corrosion as a result of exposure to the external atmosphere present during chondrule formation. It appears that chondrule‐derived metal and its corrosion products were incorporated into the fine‐grained rims that surround many type‐I chondrules, contributing to their Fe‐rich compositions. We propose that these fine‐grained rims formed by a combination of corrosion of metal expelled from the chondrule interior and accretion of fine‐grained mineral fragments and microchondrules.
Modal mineralogy of carbonaceous chondrites by X‐ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy
Authors: BLAND Philip A. , CRESSEY Gordon , MENZIES Olwyn N. 
Published: January 2010

Abstract— Carbonaceous chondrites are among the most analyzed geological materials on Earth. However, despite this attention, and unlike most terrestrial rocks, little is known on the abundance of individual phases within them. Here, we show how a combination of several novel X‐ray diffraction (XRD) techniques (including a high‐brightness X‐ray MicroSource®), and Mössbauer spectroscopy, allows a complete modal mineralogy to be ascertained from even the most highly unequilibrated, fine‐grained chondrites for all minerals of abundance >1 wt%. Knowledge of the modal mineralogy of a sample also allows us to calculate grain density.We analyzed Allende, Murchison, Tagish Lake, and Orgueil. Based on our modal data, the grain density estimates for Allende, Murchison, and Orgueil are close to literature values. In the case of Tagish Lake, there is no published grain density, although a bulk density measurement does exist. Taking our estimate of grain density, and the measured bulk density, we calculate an exceptionally high porosity of 41% for this meteorite, similar to some chondritic IDPs and in line with a porosity calculated from an entry model for the Tagish Lake fireball. Although it is an oxidized CV, magnetite is present in Allende at a level of <0.5 wt% or <0.3 vol%, a result that is substantiated by several other instrumental studies. This may be an oxidized meteorite, but that oxidation is not manifested in abundant magnetite. In addition, we note appreciable fayalitic olivine in Orgueil, detected by both XRD and Mössbauer. We employed MicroSource® XRD to look at heterogeneity in mineral abundance in Orgueil and found substantial variation, with phyllosilicates varying inversely with olivine. The data suggest that Orgueil was initially composed primarily of anhydrous materials, which have been partially, but not completely, altered.Although the data are preliminary, comparison between our XRD modal assessment, bulk chemistry, grain density, and Mössbauer data, suggests that our estimates of mineral abundance are robust. The advent of MicroSource® XRD allows similar modal data to be acquired from samples as small as a few hundred micrograms.
Los Angeles: A tale of two stones
Authors: WARREN Paul H. , GREENWOOD James P. , RUBIN Alan E. 
Published: January 2010

Abstract— We compare and contrast the mineralogy and petrology of the 2 stones of the extremely ferroan and Cr‐poor martian meteorite, Los Angeles. The 2 stones are similar in many characteristics, strongly suggesting that they originated from a single flow or shallow intrusion. However, stone 2 is more ferroan and enriched in late‐stage materials than its larger, and more widely studied, sibling. Stone 2 has a far higher abundance (˜25 vol%) than stone 1 (10 vol%) of combined “opaques,” meaning not only conventional opaque minerals but also, and more abundantly, fine‐grained symplectitic intergrowths of fayalite + ferroan augite + silica (interpreted as pyroxferroite breakdown material, PBM). The bulk composition of the PBM is close to that of stoichiometric pyroxferroite, with roughly 45 wt% FeO. Extensive zonation within the pyroxenes of both stones is consistent with origin by closed‐system fractional crystallization of the parent basaltic melt(s). However, the compositional and modal disparity between the two stones suggests that they formed in an environment where at least mild multi‐cm‐scale differentiation occurred. Probably, in both stones, crystallization began from similar melts with mg ˜27–28 mol%, but during crystallization, significant migration of the melt component occurred, perhaps by crystal settling and/or filter pressing. Stone 2 acquired an enhanced proportion of residual melt and, thus, higher proportions of late‐stage materials such as PBM, oxides, and phosphates.Within the PBM, clinopyroxene poikiloblastically encloses fayalite and silica. At least some of the PBM had already formed by decomposition of pyroxferroite before the major shock that caused the very scarce brecciation within Los Angeles. However, the low abundance of fractures within PBM, in comparison to pyroxene and some other minerals, may be an indication that the textures of PBM regions typically did not assume their final detailed configuration until after the last major shock. The steep slope of a pyroxene mg‐Cr correlation suggests that igneous crystallization occurred at higher fO2 in Los Angeles than in otherwise similar shergottites such as QUE 94201, Shergotty, and Zagami.
Alteration and metamorphism of CO3 chondrites: Evidence from oxygen and carbon isotopes
Authors: GREENWOOD R. C. , FRANCHI I. A. 
Published: January 2010

Abstract— Carbonaceous chondrites of the Ornans‐type (CO3) form a well‐documented metamorphic series. To investigate the conditions under which metamorphism took place, whole rock oxygen and carbon isotope analysis has been carried out on 10 CO3 chondrites (ALH A77307 [3.0], Colony [3.0], Kainsaz* [3.1], Felix* [3.2], Ornans* [3.3], ALH 82101 [3.3], Lancé* [3.4], ALH A77003 [3.5], Warrenton* [3.6], and Isna [3.7] [*denotes a fall]). Whole rock oxygen isotope analysis was carried out by laser‐assisted fluorination, whole rock carbon isotope analysis by continuous flow mass spectrometry.The results of this study indicate that the oxygen and carbon isotopes in CO3 finds have been significantly disturbed by terrestrial weathering processes. Conclusions based on the isotopic composition of such weathered finds may be significantly flawed. In particular, the Antarctic meteorite ALH A77307 (3.0), suggested as being close in composition to CO‐CM chondrite precursor material, has experienced significant terrestrial contamination. Oxygen isotope data for CO3 falls indicates that there is a subtle increase in Δ17O values with increasing metamorphic grade for sub‐types 3.1 to 3.4. This increase does not persist to higher sub‐types, i.e., Warrenton (3.6). These relationships are explicable in terms of the progressive formation of phyllosilicates, coupled with loss of primary phases such as melilite, and suggest that an aqueous fluid phase was present during metamorphism. Carbon abundance and δ13C values of CO3 falls decrease with increasing metamorphic grade. These trends reflect progressive changes in the nature of the organic macromolecular component during metamorphic heating and lend additional support to the evidence that CO3 chondrites are part of a metamorphic series.The most likely setting for metamorphism was on the CO3 parent body. The “Ornans paradox,” whereby Ornans (3.3) should belong to a higher sub‐type based on chemical compared to petrographic evidence, may result from local‐scale redox differences on the CO3 parent body. A wide variety of classification schemes have been proposed for CO3 chondrites. In view of its simplicity and applicability, the scheme of Scott and Jones (1990) is regarded as the most useful in assigning sub‐types to new CO3 samples.
Devgaon (H3) chondrite: Classification and complex cosmic ray exposure history
Authors: MURTY S. V. S. , RAI V. K. , SHUKLA A. D. , SRINIVASAN G. , SHUKLA P. N. , SUTHAR K. M. , BHANDARI N. , BISCHOFF A. 
Published: January 2010

Abstract— The Devgaon meteorite fell in India on February 12, 2001 and was immediately collected. It is an ordinary chondrite having a number of SiO2‐rich objects and some Ca, Al‐rich inclusions. Olivines (Fa17–19) are fairly equilibrated, while pyroxenes (Fs4–20) are unequilibrated. Occasionally, shock veins are visible, but the bulk rock sample is very weakly shocked (S2). Chondrules and chondrule fragments are abundant. Based on chemical and petrological features, Devgaon is classified as an H3.8 group chondrite. Several cosmogenic radionuclides ranging in half‐lives from 5.6 d (52Mn) to 7.3 times 105 yr (26Al), noble gases (He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe), and particle track density have been measured. The track density in olivines from five spot samples varies between (4.6 to 9) × 106 cm−2 showing a small gradient within the meteorite.The light noble gases are dominated by cosmogenic and radiogenic components. Large amounts of trapped gases (Ar, Kr, and Xe) are present. In addition, (n, γ) products from Br and I are found in Kr and Xe, respectively. The average cosmic ray exposure age of 101 ± 8 Ma is derived based on cosmogenic 38Ar, 83Kr, and 126Xe. The track production rates correspond to shielding depths of about 4.9 to 7.8 cm, indicating that the stone suffered type IV ablation. Low 60Co, high (22Ne/21Ne)c, and large neutron produced excesses at 80Kr, 82Kr, and 128Xe indicate a complex exposure history of the meteoroid. In the first stage, a meter‐sized body was exposed for nearly 108 yr in the interplanetary space that broke up in ˜50 cm‐sized fragments about a million years ago (stage 2), before it was captured by the Earth.