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1.
Randall S Perry and Mark A Sephton discuss a target material for Mars Sample Return: rocks coated with desert varnish, a mineral layer that records past surface climates on Earth, and probably on Mars too. 相似文献
2.
Field observations, chemical analysis, electron and light microscopy and radiolabelling experiments provide information on the characteristics, formation and distribution of Fe and Mn rock varnishes in southern Tunisia. Unstable rocks are not surface-coated, but when broken they commonly reveal internal microbial solution fronts. Stable rocks are coated in Fe, and more rarely Mn, rock varnishes. Radiolabelling indicates the presence of many respiring microbes on both Fe and Mn varnishes. Microscopy shows fungi and bacteria, both on the Fe varnishes and within the rock. Only rare, microcolonial fungi occur on Mn varnishes, suggesting that the microbes are within or beneath the varnish. The abundance of microorganisms supports a biogenic origin for rock varnishes. Different microbial communities appear to be involved in Fe and Mn varnish formation. Microbes appear to live beneath the surface of unstable rocks but coat stable rocks which cannot be penetrated, apparently to avoid u.v. light and desiccation. This explains the concentration of elements that form u.v. opaque minerals and clays. The origin of these elements is external to the substrate. These results suggest that rock varnish dating and paleoenvironmental techniques can be applied in southern Tunisia. 相似文献
3.
Manganiferous rock varnish, silica glaze and iron skins have formed on 20- to 40-year-old slag piles near Fontana, southern California. Rapid rock-varnish formation is associated with an unidentified cocci bacterium that grows rapidly in culturing experiments, combined with the likelihood that Mn-rich solutions flow over slag surfaces. A new model is proposed for the formation of silica glaze, involving soluble Al-Si complexes and the nature of wetting films. Iron skins occur where runoff is concentrated, and where iron bacteria grow. Observations indicate: (i) substrate can be important in supplying Mn, as well as maintaining a stable surface and channelling runoff to microspots where varnish grows; (ii) ignorance of boundary layer pH/Eh conditions makes chemical-physical models of varnish formation speculative; (iii) the balance between cementation of recently nucleated varnishes and erosional shear stresses is poorly understood, but is probably an important limiting factor on varnish growth rates; and (iv) there must be at least two steps in biotic varnishing-accretion of Mn-Fe in casts, followed by cementation of clays by either in situ cast residue or Mn-Fe remobilized from casts. Varnish accretion may be limited by the rate at which both steps occur. Rapid development of readily distinguishable manganiferous rock varnishes at this post-1952 site highlights the danger of speculation on the ages of landforms based solely on the appearance of rock-varnish coatings. 相似文献
4.
3.5 Ga record of water-limited, acidic weathering conditions on MarsThe secondary mineral budget on Earth is dominated by clay minerals, Al-hydroxides, and Fe-oxides, which are formed under the moderate pH, high water-to-rock ratio conditions typical of Earth's near-surface environment. In contrast, geochemical analyses of rocks and soils from landed missions to Mars indicate that secondary mineralogy is dominated by Mg (± Fe, Ca)-sulfates and Fe-oxides. This discrepancy can be explained as resulting from differences in the chemical weathering environment of Earth and Mars. We suggest that chemical weathering processes on Mars are dominated by: (1) a low-pH, sulfuric acid-rich environment in which the stoichiometric dissolution of labile mineral phases such as olivine and apatite (± Fe–Ti oxides) is promoted; and (2) relatively low water-to-rock ratio, such that other silicate phases with slower dissolution rates (e.g., plagioclase, pyroxene) do not contribute substantially to the secondary mineral budget at the Martian surface. Under these conditions, Al-mobilization is limited, and the formation of significant Al-bearing secondary phases (e.g., clays, Al-hydroxides, Al-sulfates) is inhibited. The antiquity of rock samples analyzed in-situ on Mars suggest that water-limited acidic weathering conditions have more than likely been the defining characteristic of the Martian aqueous environment for billions of years. 相似文献
5.
The survival of desert varnish in subsurface positions,western New South Wales,Australia 总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1
D. Dragovich 《地球表面变化过程与地形》1984,9(5):425-434
Desert varnish occurs in arid western New South Wales. Microprobe analysis has shown that the chemical composition of this varnish lies within the ranges reported for varnish in United States. Field observations suggest that desert varnish near the soil surface may be destroyed by weathering, but that varnish at depths of more than 15 cm can survive burial and later be exhumed. Varnish has also survived coating by calcium carbonate; a corrected age of about 5000 years for the carbonate indicates long-term persistence of varnish under this form of ‘burial’. In some situations, presently-exposed varnish may have a complex history of burial and exhumation following initial subaerial formation. 相似文献
6.
Global dust trajectories indicate that signi?cant quantities of aeolian‐transported iron oxides originate in contemporary dryland areas. One potential source is the iron‐rich clay coatings that characterize many sand‐sized particles in desert dune?elds. This paper uses laboratory experiments to determine the rate at which these coatings can be removed from dune sands by aeolian abrasion. The coatings impart a red colour to the grains to which previous researchers have assigned variable geomorphological signi?cance. The quantities of iron removed during a 120 hour abrasion experiment are small (99 mg kg?1) and dif?cult to detect by eye; however, high resolution spectroscopy clearly indicates that ferric oxides are released during abrasion and the re?ectance of the particles alters. One of the products of aeolian abrasion is ?ne particles (<10 µm diameter) with the potential for long distance transport. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 相似文献
7.
Using a combination of field, laboratory and micromorphological evidence, this study examines tafoni (singular, tafone) in the El Chorro area of Andalucia, southern Spain, and makes inferences concerning the processes responsible for their formation. Twenty-five tafoni were randomly selected for field examination. The morphology of these cavernous rock domes is characterized by a helmet-shaped outer roof and an arched-shaped cavern, often with a partially overhanging visor; measurements of height, width and depth of the caverns revealed marked variations in size. The presence or absence of lichen cover, surface varnish, overhanging visor, cavern backwall stripes, rock flaking, weathering pits and cavern floor sediments was also noted. Surface hardness values, obtained using a Schmidt hammer, are relatively low but significantly higher on the outer roof of the tafoni than on the inner cavern walls. Analysis of sediment samples collected from the cavern backwalls and floors indicates predominantly sandy textures, alkaline pH values and some base cation enrichment. Micromorphological analysis of thin sections, prepared from undisturbed blocks, reveals large quantities of pore-filling cement, consisting mainly of calcite, mineral grains affected by weathering and pseudomorphic replacement, and dark, rounded nodules with a metallic appearance. In terms of their formation, different processes appear to act on different parts of the landform. On the outer roof surfaces, case hardening, resulting from near-surface cementation and surface varnish development, is dominant. On the inner cavern surfaces, however, core softening, resulting from granular disintegration and flaking, dominates. Exfoliation weathering, running water and wind deflation also appear to play an important role in tafone formation. A phased model of tafone evolution is proposed whereby the features pass through four phases of development–initiation, enlargement, amalgamation and degradation; in the study area there are examples of tafoni in each of these phases. Much of the evidence suggests that the tafoni are actively developing under current environmental conditions. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 相似文献
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Daniela Tirsch Robert Anthony Craddock Thomas Platz Alessandro Maturilli Jörn Helbert Ralf Jaumann 《地球表面变化过程与地形》2012,37(4):434-448
Dark aeolian deposits on Mars are thought to consist of volcanic materials due to their mineral assemblages, which are common to basalts. However, the sediment source is still debated. Basaltic dunes on Earth are promising analogs for providing further insights into the assumed basaltic sand dunes on Mars. In our study we characterize basaltic dunes from the Ka'u Desert in Hawaii using optical microscopes, electron microprobe, and spectral analyses. We compare the spectra of terrestrial and Martian dune sands to determine possible origins of the Martian dark sediments. Our results show that the terrestrial sands consist primarily of medium to coarse sand‐sized volcanic glass and rock fragments as well as olivine, pyroxene, and plagioclase minerals. Grain shapes range from angular to subrounded. The sample composition indicates that the material was derived from phreatomagmatic eruptions partially with additional proportions of rock fragments from local lava flows. Grain shape and size indicate the materials were transported by aeolian processes rather than by fluvial processes. Spectral analyses reveal an initial hydration of all terrestrial samples. A spectral mineralogical correlation between the terrestrial and Martian aeolian sands shows a similarity consistent with an origin from volcanic ash and lava. We suggest that the Martian deposits may contain similar abundances of volcanic glass, which has not yet been distinguished in Martian spectral data. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 相似文献
11.
Douglas B.Sims Amanda C.Hudson John E.Keller Michael Strange Andressa Cristhy Buch David Ferrari Giavanna M.Fernandez Juan Garcia-Hernandez Bailey D.Kesl Sean Torres 《国际泥沙研究》2022,37(2):202-213
The dispersion and influence of soluble and particulate trace elements(TEs) present in the materials from abandoned mines is an imminent problem on terrestrial and aquatic environments.The goal of this research is to provide a broader view of such transport,assessing particle size distribution and TE interactions(e.g.,scavenging) with mine tailings and locally derived sediments transported by water in arid region.Sand grains from wash sediment were collected from a dry ephemeral wash in Nelson,N... 相似文献
12.
High resolution transmission electron microscopy evaluation of silica glaze reveals new textures 总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1
We present the first nanoscale investigation of silica glaze. High resolution transmission electron microscopy of a rock coating from the Ashikule Basin, Tibetan Plateau, reveals the presence of spheroids composed predominantly of silicon and oxygen with diameters ranging from 20 nm to 70 nm. While silica glaze spheroids co‐exist with manganese‐rich rock varnish in the same sample, the different rock coatings are texturally and physically distinct at the nanoscale. These observations are consistent with a model of silica glaze formation starting with soluble aluminum‐silicon (Al‐Si) complexes [Al(OSi(OH)3)2+], mobilized with gentle wetting events such as dew or frost. The transition between complete and partial wetting on silica surfaces rests at about 20–70 nm for liquid droplets. Upon crossing this transition, a metastable wetting film would be ruptured, initiating formation of silica glaze through spheroid deposition. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 相似文献
13.
J. J. Kasper‐Zubillaga H. Zolezzi‐Ruíz A. Carranza‐Edwards P. Girón‐García G. Ortiz‐Zamora M. Palma 《地球表面变化过程与地形》2007,32(4):489-508
Sedimentological, compositional and geochemical determinations were carried out on 54 desert and coastal dune sand samples to study the provenance of desert and coastal dunes of the Altar Desert, Sonora, Mexico. Grain size distributions of the desert dune sands are influenced by the Colorado River Delta sediment supply and wind selectiveness. The desert dune sands are derived mainly from the quartz‐rich Colorado River Delta sediments and sedimentary lithics. The dune height does not exert a control over the grain size distributions of the desert dune sands. The quartz enrichment of the desert dune sands may be due to wind sorting, which concentrates more quartz grains, and to the aeolian activity, which has depleted the feldspar grains through subaerial collisions. The desert dune sands suffer from little chemical weathering and they are chemically homogeneous, with chemical alteration indices similar to those found in other deserts of the world. The desert sands have been more influenced by sedimentary and granitic sources. This is supported by the fact that Ba and Sr concentration values of the desert sands are within the range of the Ba and Sr concentration values of the Colorado River quartz‐rich sediments. The Sr values are also linked to the presence of Ca‐bearing minerals. The Zr values are linked to the sedimentary sources and heavy mineral content in the desert dunes. The Golfo de Santa Clara and Puerto Peñasco coastal dune sands are influenced by long shore drift, tidal and aeolian processes. Coarse grains are found on the flanks whereas fine grains are on the crest of the dunes. High tidal regimens, long shore drift and supply from Colorado Delta River sediments produce quartz‐rich sands on the beach that are subsequently transported into the coastal dunes. Outcrops of Quaternary sedimentary rocks and granitic sources increase the sedimentary and plutonic lithic content of the coastal dune sands. The chemical index of alteration (CIA) values for the desert and coastal dune sands indicate that both dune types are chemically homogeneous. The trace element values for the coastal dune sands are similar to those found for the desert dune sands. However, an increase in Sr content in the coastal dune sands may be due to more CaCO3 of biogenic origin as compared to the desert dune sands. Correlations between the studied parameters show that the dune sands are controlled by sedimentary sources (e.g. Colorado River Delta sediments), since heavy minerals are present in low percentages in the dune sands, probably due to little heavy mineral content from the source sediment; grain sizes in the dune sands are coarser than those in which heavy minerals are found and/or the wind speed might not exert a potential entrainment effect on the heavy mineral fractions to be transported into the dune. A cluster analysis shows that the El Pinacate group is significantly different from the rest of the dune sands in terms of the grain‐size parameters due to longer transport of the sands and the long distance from the source sediment, whereas the Puerto Peñasco coastal dune sands are different from the rest of the groups in terms of their geochemistry, probably caused by their high CaCO3 content and slight decrease in the CIA value. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 相似文献
14.
The contribution of aeolian processes to fluvial sediment yield from a desert watershed in the Ordos Plateau,China 总被引：2，自引：0，他引：2 
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下载免费PDF全文 In arid zones, many active aeolian dunes terminate at ephemeral and perennial desert rivers. The desert rivers show very high rates of sediment transport that cause deleterious downstream effects on the river system and ecology. High sediment loading has been attributed to severe water erosion of sparsely covered watersheds during infrequent but heavy rainfall. Although aeolian erosion is known to lead to high rates of wind‐blown sand transport, direct confirmation of whether the aeolian processes accelerate or inhibit fluvial sediment loss is lacking. Here, we show that an aeolian‐fluvial cycling process is responsible for the high rate of suspended sediment transport in a Sudalaer ephemeral desert channel in the Ordos Plateau of China. Frequent aeolian processes, but low frequency (once every 3 years on average) flooding, occur in this region. Wind‐blown saltating grains appeared to be unable to cross the desert channel because of interruption of channel‐induced recirculating air flow, and therefore tended to settle in the channel during the windy seasons, leading to channel narrowing. During flooding, this narrowed channel was found to yield a threefold increase in suspended sediment loading and a 3.4‐fold increase in the weight percentage of the 0.08–0.2 mm sediment fraction on 18 July 2012. Loss of stored aeolian sand due to channel erosion accounted for about half of the total sediment yield in this watershed. These findings show that aeolian processes play an essential role in accelerating the sediment yield from a watershed characterized by aeolian‐fluvial interplay and also suggest that the drier the region and the greater the aeolian process, the more the aeolian process contributes to fluvial sediment yield. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 相似文献
15.
A progression of induration, erosion, and redeposition of transverse and networked transverse aeolian ridges (TARs) has been documented in the Medusae Fossae Formation (MFF), Mars. Cratered and eroded aeolian bedforms are rarely observed on Mars, indicating that those found in the MFF have been inactive for much longer than those found elsewhere. Indurated TARs are observed to grade into faceted MFF terrain, indicating a genetic relationship between the two. We propose that TAR deposition, induration and erosion have played a larger role in the surface morphology and evolution of the MFF than previously recognized. The deposition, induration, and erosion of TARs indicate that the MFF has undergone multiple cycles of reworking, and that much of its current surface morphology does not reflect the circumstances of its primary emplacement. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 相似文献
16.
D. Dragovich 《地球表面变化过程与地形》1998,23(5):445-453
The chemistry of varnish scrapings from within and adjacent to rock engravings on sandstone outcrops in semiarid Australia was analysed using an electron microprobe (WDS mode). Small-area analyses were used to reduce potential contamination from identifiable within-varnish detrital grains and from substrate material. Ratios of (Ca + K):Ti were compared for rock engravings on older and younger rock surfaces, and between different engraving styles. Although ratios from varnish on the older surface were lower than for the younger surface, differences were not statistically significant. Sorting of analyses for potentially anomalous amounts of minor elements had little effect on the ranking of individual ratio values. Rankings of within-engraving ratio values were generally in accord with relative age expectations but differences between samples were not significant, with the chemical variability of varnish being high even without the contribution of discernible detrital inclusions. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 相似文献
17.
Christopher D. Elvidge 《地球表面变化过程与地形》1982,7(4):345-348
Desert varnish is reported to have formed in 25 years on desert pavement stones in an abandoned road south of Barstow, California. It has been discovered that stones buried close to the surface of the roadbed and adjacent desert pavement bear the same dark desert varnish as the exposed stones at the surface. This and other observations refute the claim of 25 year old varnish. 相似文献
18.
东天山地区金属硫化物矿床氧化带中黄钾铁矾的测年结果显示,红山铜金矿样品08XJ-20的K-Ar年龄为11Ma,延东铜矿、沙泉子铜矿、梅岭铜金矿及马头滩金矿样品的K-Ar年龄都在56～66Ma之间,个别样品如梅岭铜金矿和图拉尔根铜镍矿样品的K-Ar年龄分别为114Ma和194Ma。其中红山铜金矿样品08XJ-20没有其它的含钾且年龄较老的风化残留矿物成分(主要是伊利石、微斜长石、斜长石和石英)的影响,其年龄值11Ma是东天山氧化带表生矿物黄钾铁矾的形成年龄,代表了东天山地区气候向极端干旱转变的时间。这与亚洲大陆西北季风加强,黄土大面积沉积以及青藏高原在垂向上强烈隆升和在横向上向北、东北方向扩展的时间基本一致,从而支持了青藏高原在约8MaBP强烈隆升了约1～2km,并向周边扩展,同时引起大气环流改变的理论模型 相似文献
19.
Usually, multiple-grain aliquots are used for electron spin resonance (ESR) dating of sediments. However, this approach excludes the ability of detecting insufficient bleaching, as would be the case when measuring several single aliquots or single grains. In this paper, we present preliminary results of single-grain ESR dating experiments on three different sedimentary deposits (fluvial, fluvio-aeolian and desert aeolian), ranging in age between 100 ka and 2 Ma. Titanium-related impurity centres (Ti–Li and Ti–H) were measured in a Q-band ESR spectrometer for estimating equivalent doses (De) of individual quartz grains (0.5–1 mm). Both additive and regenerative dose methods were used. The resulting De plots show a large scatter in De—from 100 Gy to more than 600 Gy—for the fluvial sample, probably reflecting different bleaching histories of the grains. On the contrary, a clear plateau can be observed in De for sands with a strong aeolian component. Preliminary single-grain ESR ages are in relatively good agreement with independent estimates, the best results being obtained for the desert aeolian sample (200 ka). It is concluded that ESR has a promising potential for estimating large naturally accumulated doses of well-bleached sediments. Nevertheless, the method is challenged by several experimental difficulties, such as long measurement times, excessive errors, and presumably a complex interrelationship between Ti–Li and Ti–H components. 相似文献
20.
Peter M. Herzig Klaus P. Becker Peter Stoffers Harald Bcker Norbert Blum 《Earth and Planetary Science Letters》1988,89(3-4)
Silica chimneys were discovered in 1985 at 86°W in the rift valley of the Galapagos Spreading Center at 2600 m depth (“Cauliflower Garden”). The inactive chimneys lack any sulfides and consist almost entirely of amorphous silica (up to 96 wt.% SiO2, opal-A); Fe and Mn oxides are minor constituents. Oxygen isotope data show that formation of the silica chimneys took place at temperatures between 32°C (+29.9‰ δ18O) and 42°C (+27.8‰ δ18O).Th/Udating reveals a maximum age of 1440 ± 300y. Amorphous silica solubility relations indicate that the silica chimneys were formed by conductive cooling of pure hydrothermal fluids or by conductive cooling of a fluid/seawater mixture. Assuming equilibrium with quartz at 500 bars, initial fluid temperatures of more than 175°C (i.e., a concentration of > 182 ppm SiO2) were required to achieve sufficient supersaturation for the deposition of amorphous silica at 40°C and 260 bars. If the silica chimneys originate from the same or a similar fluid as higher-temperature ( < 300°C) sulfide-silica precipitates found nearby (i.e., 2.5 km away), then subsurface deposition of sulfides may have occurred. 相似文献