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At least 541 records · Page 30

Mineralogic and petrologic implications of Viking geochemical results from Mars - Interim report

Chemical results from four samples of Martian fines delivered to Viking landers 1 and 2 are remarkably similar in that they all have high iron; moderate magnesium, calcium, and sulfur; low aluminum; and apparently very low alkalies and trace elements. This composition is best interpreted as representing the weathering products of mafic igneous rocks. A mineralogic model, derived from computer mixing studies and laboratory analog preparations, suggests that Mars fines could be an intimate mixture of about 80% iron-rich clay, about 10% magnesium sulfate (kieserite), about 5% carbonate (calcite), and about 5% iron oxides (hematite, magnetite, maghemite, goethite). The mafic nature of the present fines (distributed globally) and their probable source rocks seems to preclude large-scale planetary differentiation of a terrestrial nature.

Baird, A. K.↗

Preliminary findings of the Viking gas exchange experiment and a model for Martian surface chemistry

Earlier results reported from the Viking Lander-1 experiment are reexamined and interpreted in terms of a model of the Martian soil surface morphology and chemistry. Major events in the gas exchange experiment (GEX) first cycle are tabulated and data are presented on the sample processing and transport environments experienced by the soil samples. Oxygen and CO2 evolved from humidified Martian soil in GEX and slight changes in N2 present are investigated. A soil model involving iron oxide coating on silicate material is entertained to yield a mechanistic explanation of the experimental findings, and invocation of biotic processes is eschewed.

Oyama, V. I.↗

The Kramer Creek, Colorado meteorite - A new L4 chondrite

Results of bulk chemical analyses and mineralogical and petrographic studies of a chondrite found at Kramer Creek, Colorado, are reported. The meteorite has been classified as an L-group chondrite on the basis of its bulk chemistry, the fayalite content of its olivine (21.7%) and the ferrosilicate content of its pyroxene (18.3%). The presence of interstitial glass and the iron oxide percent mean deviations for olivine and low-Ca pyroxene (2.4 and 4.6%) place the specimen in petrologic group 4 of the Van Schmus and Wood classification (1967)

Gibson, E. K., Jr.↗

Deep electromagnetic sounding of the moon with Lunokhod 2 data

Results of electromagnetic sounding distinguished an outer high resistance shell about 200 km thick in the moon's structure. A preliminary petrological interpretation of the moon's layers indicated their origin as a consequence of differentiation of the initial peridotite material. Upon melting, 20% to 40% of the material melts and is removed to form a high resistance basaltic shell underlain by a layer of spinal peridotites enriched in divalent iron oxides and having a reduced resistance.

Vanyan, L. L.↗

LANDSAT detection of hydrothermal alteration in the Nogal Canyon Cauldron, New Mexico

In 1974 a circular-shaped iron oxide anomaly was observed in an image of a LANDSAT frame centered near Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. Field examination of the anomaly has shown that it coincides with a zone of hydrothermal alteration on the northern edge of the Nogal Canyon Cauldron. The altered area contains clay minerals ranging in colors from white to vivid red, the latter presumably resulting from hematite staining. In situ gas measurements showed no evidence of active hydrogen sulfide seepage. Preliminary geochemical analyses of grab samples have detected no significant amounts of mineralization. Whereas this area does not at present appear to be economically important, it provides an example of how LANDSAT can be utilized in reconnaissance mapping for cauldrons, calderas, and other volcanic features which display hydrothermal alteration.

Vincent, R. K.↗

Friction and wear of radiofrequency-sputtered borides, silicides, and carbides

The friction and wear properties of several refractory compound coatings were examined. These compounds were applied to 440 C bearing steel surfaces by radiofrequency (RF) sputtering. The refractory compounds were the titanium and molybdenum borides, the titanium and molybdenum silicides, and the titanium, molybdenum, and boron carbides. Friction testing was done with a pin-on-disk wear apparatus at loads from 0.1 to 5.0 newtons. Generally, the best wear properties were obtained when the coatings were bias sputtered onto 440 C disks that had been preoxidized. Adherence was improved because of the better bonding of the coatings to the iron oxide formed during preoxidation. As a class the carbides provided wear protection to the highest loads. Titanium boride coatings provided low friction and good wear properties to moderate loads.

Brainard, W. A.↗

Application of ESCA to the determination of stoichiometry in sputtered coatings and interface regions

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to characterize radiofrequency sputter deposited films of several refractory compounds. Both the bulk film properties such as purity and stoichiometry and the character of the interfacial region between the film and substrate were examined. The materials were CrB2, MoS2, Mo2C, and Mo2B5 deposited on 440C steel. It was found that oxygen from the sputtering target was the primary impurity in all cases. Biasing improves the film purity. The effect of biasing on film stoichiometry is different for each compound. Comparison of the interfacial composition with friction data suggests that adhesion of these films is improved if a region of mixed film and iron oxides can be formed.

Wheeler, D. R.↗

The Viking magnetic properties experiment - Primary mission results

Three permanent magnet arrays were mounted on each Viking lander: a strong array fixed on a photometric reference test chart on top of the landers; and two arrays, one strong and one weak, incorporated into the backhoe of the surface sampler. Some or all of the magnetic particles detected could be highly magnetic unoxidized mineral grains (metallic Fe, magnetite, pyrrhotite) forming the core beneath a reddish coating of limonite or hematite; or grains composed of gamma-Fe2O3, with and without other iron oxides; or igneous rock (or mineral particles) which consist of an admixture of unweathered silicate material or minerals with a significant fraction of highly magnetic phase, again with a reddish coating; they could be also igneous rock or mineral particles, intrinsically nonmagnetic, but having a reddish coating containing gamma-Fe2O3; or clay mineral particles which contain and/or are coated with Fe2O3, of which a substantial fraction is in the gamma-Fe2O3 form.

Hargraves, R. B.↗

The meaning of desert color in earth orbital photographs

The color of desert surfaces as seen in earth orbital photographs is indicative of soil composition. Apollo-Soyuz photographs of the Sturt and Simpson Deserts of Australia confirm that sand grains become redder as the distance from the source increases. Reddening is caused by a thin iron-oxide coating on individual sand grains and can be used, in some cases, to map relative-age zones. Photographs of the Western (Libyan) Desert of Egypt indicate three distinct and nearly parallel color zones that have been correlated in the field with: (1) arable soil composed of quartz, clay, and calcium carbonate particles; (2) relatively active sand with or without sparse vegetation; and (3) relatively inactive sand mixed with dark (desert-varnished) pebbles. The youngest sands are in the form of longitudinal dunes, which are migrating to the south-southeast along the prevailing wind direction. Some of the young dune fields are encroaching on the western boundary of the fertile Nile Valley.

El-Baz, F.↗

Application of ESCA to the determination of stoichiometry in sputtered coatings and interface regions

X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) was used to characterize radiofrequency sputter deposited films of several refractory compounds. Both the bulk film properties such as purity and stoichiometry and the character of the interfacial region between the film and substrate were examined. The materials were CrB2, MoS2, Mo2C, and Mo2B5 deposited on 440C steel. It was found that oxygen from the sputtering target was the primary impurity in all cases. Biasing improves the film purity. The effect of biasing on film stoichiometry is different for each compound. Comparison of the interfacial composition with friction data suggests that adhesion of these films is improved if a region of mixed film and iron oxides can be formed.

Wheeler, D. R.↗

Thermally stimulated conductivity studies of trapping centers in alkali-borosilicate glasses

Thermally stimulated conductivity studies have been performed on unirradiated borosilicate glasses made to contain various amounts of sodium, lithium, nickel, and iron oxides. Measurements were made between 77 and 570 K. All the samples gave one or more conductivity peaks below room temperature. Analysis of the initial-rise slope of the conductivity peaks of the various samples gave trapping-level energies ranging from 0.1 to 1.9 eV. The shape and temperature of the maximum of most of the peaks changed on each measurement cycle. A few samples exhibited a common peak that formed on annealing.

Catchings, R. M.↗

Non-equilibrium effects on the chemistry of nebular condensates - Implications for the planets and asteroids

Kinetic effects, for example nucleation constraints and slow reactions, should have been important in nebular condensation. Consideration of these effects leads to the prediction of pressure-dependent compositions and physical properties of nebular condensates which is consistent with (1) the differences between different classes of chondritic meteorites, (2) some of the differences between planets, and (3) the presence of oxidized iron on the moon and in the eucrite parent body (presumably an asteroid) despite the low abundance of volatiles. Diffusion effects appear to be important for understanding oxygen isotope anomalies in refractory inclusions in Allende. The consideration of kinetic effects leads to more information concerning nebular processes than if equilibrium is assumed.

Blander, M.↗

Characteristic variations in reflectance of surface soils

Surface soil samples from a wide range of naturally occurring soils were obtained for the purpose of studying the characteristic variations in soil reflectance as these variations relate to other soil properties and soil classification. A total 485 soil samples from the U.S. and Brazil representing 30 suborders of the 10 orders of 'Soil Taxonomy' was examined. The spectral bidirectional reflectance factor was measured on uniformly moist soils over the 0.52 to 2.32 micron wavelength range with a spectroradiometer adapted for indoor use. Five distinct soil spectral reflectance curve forms were identified according to curve shape, the presence or absence of absorption bands, and the predominance of soil organic matter and iron oxide composition. These curve forms were further characterized according to generically homogeneous soil properties in a manner similar to the subdivisions at the suborder level of 'Soil Taxonomy'. Results indicate that spectroradiometric measurements of soil spectral bidirectional reflectance factor can be used to characterize soil reflectance in terms that are meaningful to soil classification, genesis, and survey.

Stoner, E. R.↗

Absorption of visible radiation in atmosphere containing mixtures of absorbing and nonabsorbing particles

The presence of a strongly absorbing material, tentatively identified as graphitic carbon, or 'soot', is indicated by measurements of single-scattering albedo of tropospheric aerosols. Although theoretical calculations based on models of the ways in which soot may mix with other aerosol materials yield the single-scattering albedo values of 0.6, accounted for by a minimum 20% soot by volume, in urban regions and 0.8, yielded by 1-5% soot by volume, in rural settings, it is found that these same values can be produced by similar amounts of the iron oxide magnetite. Magnetite is shown to be indistinguishable from soot by optical measurements performed on bulk samples, and calculation of various mixtures of soot indicate the difficulty of determining aerosol composition by optical scattering techniques.

Ackerman, T. P.↗

UV radiation from the young sun and oxygen and ozone levels in the prebiological palaeoatmosphere

UV measurements of young T-Tauri stars, resembling the sun at an age of a few million years, have recently been made with the International Ultraviolet Explorer. They indicate that young stars emit up to 10,000 times more UV than the present sun. The implications for the origin and evolution of O2 and O3 in the prebiological palaeoatmosphere are presented here. The results of photochemical calculations indicate that the O2 surface mixing ratio was a factor 10,000-1,000,000 times greater than the standard value of 10 to the -15. This new value reconciles the simultaneous existence of oxidized iron and reduced uranium.

Canuto, V. M.↗

Refractory precursor components of Semarkona chondrules and the fractionation of refractory elements among chondrites

Instrumental neutron activation analysis has been used to measure about 20 of the lithophile elements in 30 chondrules from the Semarkona chondrite. The amounts of oxidized iron were calculated from other compositional parameters, and Si concentrations are estimated from mass-balance considerations. It is suggested that the refractory component probably forms from fine grained materials that were able to equilibrate down to lower nebular temperatures. The chondrite matrix may have had an origin similar to that of the nonrefractory material. The low abundance of refractories and Mg in ordinary and enstatite chondrites was produced by the loss of materials having a higher refractory element/Mg ratio than that of the refractory element of the chondrules.

Grossman, J. N.↗

Landsat-D TM application to porphyry copper exploration

For a number of years Landsat data have been used to locate areas of iron oxide occurrences which might be associated with hydrothermal alteration zones. However, the usefulness of the Landsat data was restricted because of certain limitations of the spectral information provided by Landsat. A new generation multispectral scanner will, therefore, be carried by the fourth Landsat, which is to be launched in July, 1982. This instrument, called the Thematic Mapper (TM), will have seven channels and provide data with 30 m spatial resolution. Two of the spectral channels (1.6 micron and 2.2 micron) should allow detection of hydrous minerals. Possible applications of Landsat-D TM data for copper exploration were studied on the basis of a comparison of Landsat data with simulated TM data acquired using an aircraft scanner instrument. Three porphyr copper deposits in Arizona were selected for the study. It is concluded that the new Landsat-D TM scanner will provide Exploration geologists with a new improved tool for surveying mineral resources on a global basis.

Abrams, M.↗

The microstructure of minerals in coarse-grained Ca-Al-rich inclusions from the Allende meteorite

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is used to investigate the microstructure and microchemistry of minerals in Ca-Al-rich, coarse-grained inclusions (CAI) from the meteorite. The spinels contain only low to moderate dislocation densities and are characterized by a ubiquitous, fine black spotty texture that is thought to originate from a slightly nonstoichiometric composition. Whereas the Ti-Al-pyroxenes are relatively devoid of features, they contain veins of secondary phases apparently deposited in unhealed cracks. Chromite is identified in the veins, indicating transport of oxidized iron during alteration. The melilites show the greatest variety of microstructures and are the most heavily altered phase in CAI. High dislocation densities are common and the crystals exhibit considerable internal strain, suggesting that they have not been annealed.

Barber, D. J.↗