Interpretation of lunar heat flow data     

James E. Conel  John B. Morton 《Earth, Moon, and Planets》1975,14(2):263-289

Lunar heat flow observations at the Apollo 15 and 17 sites can be interpreted to imply bulk U concentrations for the Moon of 5 to 8 times those of normal chondrites and 2 to 4 times terrestrial values inferred from the Earth's heat flow and the assumption of thermal steady state between surface heat flow and heat production. A simple model of nearsurface structure that takes into account the large difference in (highly insulating) regolith thickness between mare and highland provinces is considered. This model predicts atypically high local values of heat flow near the margins of mare regions - possibly a factor of 10 or so higher than the global average. A test of the proposed model using multifrequency microwave techniques appears possible wherein heat flow traverse measurements are made across mare-highland contacts. The theoretical considerations discussed here urge caution in attributing global significance to point heat-flow measurements on the Moon.  相似文献   

Coordinated EDX and micro‐Raman analysis of presolar silicon carbide: A novel,nondestructive method to identify rare subgroup SiC          下载免费PDF全文

Nan Liu  Andrew Steele  Larry R. Nittler  Rhonda M. Stroud  Bradley T. De Gregorio  Conel M. O'D. Alexander  Jianhua Wang 《Meteoritics & planetary science》2017,52(12):2550-2569

We report the development of a novel method to nondestructively identify presolar silicon carbide (SiC) grains with high initial ²⁶Al/²⁷Al ratios (>0.01) and extreme ¹³C‐enrichments (¹²C/¹³C ≤ 10) by backscattered electron‐energy dispersive X‐ray (EDX) and micro‐Raman analyses. Our survey of a large number of presolar SiC demonstrates that (1) ~80% of core‐collapse supernova and putative nova SiC can be identified by quantitative EDX and Raman analyses with >70% confidence; (2) ~90% of presolar SiC are predominantly 3C‐SiC, as indicated by their Raman transverse optical (TO) peak position and width; (3) presolar 3C‐SiC with ¹²C/¹³C ≤ 10 show lower Raman TO phonon frequencies compared to mainstream 3C‐SiC. The downward shifted phonon frequencies of the ¹³C‐enriched SiC with concomitant peak broadening are a natural consequence of isotope substitution. ¹³C‐enriched SiC can therefore be identified by micro‐Raman analysis; (4) larger shifts in the Raman TO peak position and width indicate deviations from the ideal 3C structure, including rare polytypes. Coordinated transmission electron microscopy analysis of one X and one mainstream SiC grain found them to be of 6H and 15R polytypes, respectively; (5) our correlated Raman and NanoSIMS study of mainstream SiC shows that high nitrogen content is a dominant factor in causing mainstream SiC Raman peak broadening without significant peak shifts; and (6) we found that the SiC condensation conditions in different stellar sites are astonishingly similar, except for X grains, which often condensed more rapidly and at higher atmospheric densities and temperatures, resulting in a higher fraction of grains with much downward shifted and broadened Raman TO peaks.  相似文献   

Reflectance spectroscopy of insoluble organic matter (IOM) and carbonaceous meteorites     

Hannah H. Kaplan  Ralph E. Milliken  Conel M. O'D. Alexander  Christopher D. K. Herd 《Meteoritics & planetary science》2019,54(5):1051-1068

Insoluble organic matter (IOM) is the major organic component of chondritic meteorites and may be akin to organic materials from comets and interplanetary dust particles (IDPs). Reflectance spectra of IOM in the range 0.35–25 μm are presented as a tool for interpreting organic chemistry from remote measurements of asteroids, comets, IDPs, and other planetary bodies. Absorptions in the IOM spectra were strongly related to elemental H/C (atom) ratio. The aliphatic 3.4 μm absorption in IOM spectra increased linearly in strength with increasing H/C for H/C > 0.4, but was absent at lower H/C values. When meteorite spectra from the Reflectance Experiment Laboratory (RELAB) spectral catalog (n = 85) were reanalyzed at 3.4 μm, this detection limit (H/C > 0.4) persisted. Aromatic absorption features seen in IOM spectra were not observed in the meteorite spectra due to overlapping absorptions. However, the 3.4 μm aliphatic absorption strength for the bulk meteorites was correlated with both H/C of the meteorite's IOM and bulk C (wt%). Gaussian modeling of the 3 μm region provided an additional estimate of bulk C for the meteorites, along with bulk H (wt%), which is related to phyllosilicate abundance. These relationships lay the foundation for determining organic and phyllosilicate abundances from reflectance spectra. Both the full IOM spectra and the spectral parameters discussed here will aid in the interpretation of data from asteroid missions (e.g., OSIRIS‐REx, Hayabusa2), and may be able to place unknown spectral samples within the context of the meteorite collection.  相似文献   

Presolar grains in primitive ungrouped carbonaceous chondrite Northwest Africa 5958     

Larry R. Nittler  Rhonda M. Stroud  Conel M. O'D. Alexander  Kaitlin Howell 《Meteoritics & planetary science》2020,55(6):1160-1175

We report a correlated NanoSIMS‐transmission electron microscopy study of the ungrouped carbonaceous chondrite Northwest Africa (NWA) 5958. We identified 10 presolar SiC grains, 2 likely presolar graphite grains, and 20 presolar silicate and/or oxide grains in NWA 5958. We suggest a slight modification of the commonly used classification system for presolar oxides and silicates that better reflects the grains’ likely stellar origins. The matrix‐normalized presolar SiC abundance in NWA 5958 is ppm (2σ) similar to that seen in many classes of unmetamorphosed chondrites. In contrast, the matrix‐normalized abundance of presolar O‐rich phases (silicates and oxides) is ppm (2σ), much lower than seen in interplanetary dust particles and the least‐altered CR, CO, and ungrouped C chondrites, but close to that reported for CM chondrites. NanoSIMS mapping also revealed an unusual ¹³C‐enriched (δ¹³C≈100–200‰) carbonaceous rim surrounding a 1.4 μm diameter phyllosilicate grain. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis of two presolar grains with a likely origin in asymptotic giant branch stars identified one as enstatite and one as Al‐Mg spinel with minor Cr. The enstatite grain amorphized rapidly under the electron beam, suggesting partial hydration. TEM data of NWA 5958 matrix confirm that it has experienced aqueous alteration and support the suggestion of Jacquet et al. (34) that this meteorite has affinities to CM2 chondrites.  相似文献   

Correlated nucleosynthetic isotopic variability in Cr, Sr, Ba, Sm, Nd and Hf in Murchison and QUE 97008     

Liping Qin  Conel M.O’D. Alexander 《Geochimica et cosmochimica acta》2011,75(24):7806-7828

Acid leaching of the primitive C-chondrite Murchison and O-chondrite QUE 97008 reveal nucleosynthetic anomalies in Cr, Sr, Ba, Nd, Sm and Hf. The anomalies in all but Cr and Sm are best explained by variable additions of pure s-process nuclides to a background nebular composition slightly enriched in r-process isotopes compared to average Solar System material. Leaching leaves a residue in Murchison that is strongly enriched in s-process nuclides with depletions of over 0.1% in ¹³⁵Ba and seven parts in 10,000 in ⁸⁴Sr. If there are p-process anomalies in these two elements, they are lost in the variability caused by different r-, s-process contributions to the normalizing isotopes. The concentration and isotope systematics are consistent with the Ba and Sr isotopic composition in the Murchison residue being strongly influenced by s-process-rich presolar SiC. In general, the nucleosynthetic isotope anomalies are 2- to 5-fold smaller in QUE 97008 than in Murchison. The different magnitudes of isotope anomalies are similar to the difference in matrix abundance between CM and O chondrites consistent with the suggestion that the carriers of nucleosynthetically anomalous material preferentially reside in the matrix and that some of this material has been distributed throughout the O-chondrite minerals as a result of thermal metamorphism.Neodymium, Sm and Hf display variable s-, r-process nuclide abundances as in Ba and Sr, but the anomalies are much smaller (e.g. ε¹⁴⁸Nd, ε¹⁴⁸Sm = −5.7, 2.1, respectively, in Murchison and −0.43, 0.16, respectively in QUE 97008 residues). After correcting Nd and Sm for s-, r-process variability, Sm in whole rock chondrites shows variable relative abundances of the p-process isotope ¹⁴⁴Sm that correlate weakly with ¹⁴²Nd suggesting that the direct p-process contribution to ¹⁴²Nd is small (∼7-9%). Nucleosynthetic variability in Nd explains the range in ¹⁴²Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd seen between C and O, E-chondrites, but not the difference between chondrites and all modern Earth rocks, leaving decay of ¹⁴⁶Sm and a superchondritic Sm/Nd ratio as the likely explanation for Earth’s high ¹⁴²Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd.  相似文献   

A molecular and isotopic study of the macromolecular organic matter of the ungrouped C2 WIS 91600 and its relationship to Tagish Lake and PCA 91008     

Hikaru YABUTA  Conel M. O&#x;D. ALEXANDER  Marilyn L. FOGEL  A. L. David KILCOYNE  George D. CODY 《Meteoritics & planetary science》2010,45(9):1446-1460

Abstract– Insight into the chemical history of an ungrouped type 2 carbonaceous chondrite meteorite, Wisconsin Range (WIS) 91600, is gained through molecular analyses of insoluble organic matter (IOM) using solid‐state ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, X‐ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy (XANES), and pyrolysis‐gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (pyr‐GC/MS), and our previous bulk elemental and isotopic data. The IOM from WIS 91600 exhibits similarities in its abundance and bulk δ¹⁵N value with IOM from another ungrouped carbonaceous chondrite Tagish Lake, while it exhibits H/C, δ¹³C, and δD values that are more similar to IOM from the heated CM, Pecora Escarpment (PCA) 91008. The ¹³C NMR spectra of IOM of WIS 91600 and Tagish Lake are similar, except for a greater abundance of CH_xO species in the latter and sharper carbonyl absorption in the former. Unusual cross‐polarization (CP) dynamics is observed for WIS 91600 that indicate the presence of two physically distinct organic domains, in which the degrees of aromatic condensation are distinctly different. The presence of two different organic domains in WIS 91600 is consistent with its brecciated nature. The formation of more condensed aromatics is the likely result of short duration thermal excursions during impacts. The fact that both WIS 91600 and PCA 91008 were subjected to short duration heating that is distinct from the thermal history of type 3 chondrites is confirmed by Carbon‐XANES. Finally, after being briefly heated (400 °C for 10 s), the pyrolysis behavior of Tagish Lake IOM is similar to that of WIS 91600 and PCA 91008. We conclude that WIS 91600 experienced very moderate, short duration heating at low temperatures (<500 °C) after an episode of aqueous alteration under conditions that were similar to those experienced by Tagish Lake.  相似文献   

Automated isotopic measurements of micron-sized dust: application to meteoritic presolar silicon carbide     

Larry R. Nittler  Conel M.O'D. Alexander 《Geochimica et cosmochimica acta》2003,67(24):4961-4980

We report the development of a new analytical system allowing the fully automated measurement of isotopic ratios in micrometer-sized particles by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) in a Cameca ims-6f ion microprobe. Scanning ion images and image processing algorithms are used to locate individual particles dispersed on sample substrates. The primary ion beam is electrostatically deflected to and focused onto each particle in turn, followed by a peak-jumping isotopic measurement. Automatic measurements of terrestrial standards indicate similar analytical uncertainties to traditional manual particle analyses (e.g., ∼3‰/amu for Si isotopic ratios). We also present an initial application of the measurement system to obtain Si and C isotopic ratios for ∼3300 presolar SiC grains from the Murchison CM2 carbonaceous chondrite. Three rare presolar Si₃N₄ grains were also identified and analyzed. Most of the analyzed grains were extracted from the host meteorite using a new chemical dissolution procedure. The isotopic data are broadly consistent with previous observations of presolar SiC in the same size range (∼0.5-4 μm). Members of the previously identified SiC AB, X, Y, and Z subgroups were identified, as was a highly unusual grain with an extreme ³⁰Si enrichment, a modest ²⁹Si enrichment, and isotopically light C. The stellar source responsible for this grain is likely to have been a supernova. Minor differences in isotopic distributions between the present work and prior data can be partially explained by terrestrial contamination and grain aggregation on sample mounts, though some of the differences are probably intrinsic to the samples. We use the large new SiC database to explore the relationships between three previously identified isotopic subgroups—mainstream, Y, and Z grains—all believed to originate in asymptotic giant branch stars. The isotopic data for Z grains suggest that their parent stars experienced strong CNO-cycle nucleosynthesis during the early asymptotic giant branch phase, consistent with either cool bottom processing in low-mass (M < 2.3M_⊙) parent stars or hot-bottom burning in intermediate-mass stars (M > 4M_⊙). The data provide evidence for a sharp threshold in metallicity, above which SiC grains form with much higher ¹²C/¹³C ratios than below. Above this threshold, the fraction of grains with relatively high ¹²C/¹³C decreases exponentially with increasing ²⁹Si/²⁸Si ratio. This result indicates a sharp increase in the maximum mass of SiC parent stars with decreasing metallicity, in contrast to expectations from Galactic chemical evolution theory.  相似文献   

Bleached chondrules: Evidence for widespread aqueous processes on the parent asteroids of ordinary chondrites     

Jeffrey N. GROSSMAN  Conel M. O'D. ALEXANDER  Jianhua WANG  Adrian J. BREARLEY 《Meteoritics & planetary science》2000,35(3):467-486

Abstract— We present the first detailed study of a population of texturally distinct chondrules previously described by Kurat (1969), Christophe Michel‐Lévy (1976), and Skinner et al. (1989) that are sharply depleted in alkalis and Al in their outer portions. These “bleached” chondrules, which are exclusively radial pyroxene and cryptocrystalline in texture, have porous outer zones where mesostasis has been lost. Bleached chondrules are present in all type 3 ordinary chondrites and are present in lower abundances in types 4–6. They are most abundant in the L and LL groups, apparently less common in H chondrites, and absent in enstatite chondrites. We used x‐ray mapping and traditional electron microprobe techniques to characterize bleached chondrules in a cross section of ordinary chondrites. We studied bleached chondrules from Semarkona by ion microprobe for trace elements and H isotopes, and by transmission electron microscopy. Chondrule bleaching was the result of low‐temperature alteration by aqueous fluids flowing through finegrained chondrite matrix prior to thermal metamorphism. During aqueous alteration, interstitial glass dissolved and was partially replaced by phyllosilicates, troilite was altered to pentlandite, but pyroxene was completely unaffected. Calcium‐rich zones formed at the inner margins of the bleached zones, either as the result of the early stages of metamorphism or because of fluid‐chondrule reaction. The mineralogy of bleached chondrules is extremely sensitive to thermal metamorphism in type 3 ordinary chondrites, and bleached zones provide a favorable location for the growth of metamorphic minerals in higher petrologic types. The ubiquitous presence of bleached chondrules in ordinary chondrites implies that they all experienced aqueous alteration early in their asteroidal histories, but there is no relationship between the degree of alteration and metamorphic grade. A correlation between the oxidation state of chondrite groups and their degree of aqueous alteration is consistent with the source of water being either accreted ices or water released during oxidation of organic matter. Ordinary chondrites were probably open systems after accretion, and aqueous fluids may have carried volatile elements with them during dehydration. Individual radial pyroxene and cryptocrystalline chondrules were certainly open systems in all chondrites that experienced aqueous alteration leading to bleaching.  相似文献   

Molecular and compound-specific hydrogen isotope analyses of insoluble organic matter from different carbonaceous chondrite groups     

Yi Wang  Conel M.O.’D. Alexander  George Cody 《Geochimica et cosmochimica acta》2005,69(14):3711-3721

We have conducted the first systematic analyses of molecular distribution and δD values of individual compounds in pyrolysates of insoluble organic matter (IOM) from different carbonaceous chondrite groups, using flash pyrolysis coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and compound-specific D/H analysis. IOM samples from six meteorites of different classifications, Elephant Moraine (EET) 92042 (CR2), Orgueil (CI1), Allan Hills (ALH) 83100 (CM1/2), Murchison (CM2), ALH 85013 (CM2), and Tagish Lake (C2) were isolated and studied. Except for the pyrolysate of Tagish Lake IOM, pyrolysates of all five meteorite IOM samples were dominated by an extensive series of aromatic (C₁ to C₇ alkyl-substituted benzenes, C₀ to C₂ alkyl-substituted naphthalenes), with aliphatic (straight chain and branched C₁₀ to C₁₅ alkanes) hydrocarbons and several S- and O- containing compounds (C₁ to C₂ alkylthiophenes, benzothiophene, benzaldehyde) being also present. The strong similarity in the pyrolysates of different carbonaceous chondrites suggests certain common characteristics in the formation mechanisms of IOM from different meteorites. The Tagish Lake IOM sample is unique in that its pyrolysate lacks most of the alkyl-substituted aromatic hydrocarbons detected in other meteorite IOM samples, suggesting distinctively different formation processes. Both bulk δD values of meteorite IOMs and weighted-average δD values of individual compounds in pyrolysates show a decreasing trend: CR2 > CI1 > CM2 > C2 (Tagish Lake), with the EET 92042 (CR2) IOM having the highest δD values (∼2000‰ higher than other samples). We attribute the high D contents in the IOM to primitive interstellar organic sources.  相似文献