High spatial resolution geochemistry and textural characteristics of ‘microtektite’ glass spherules in proximal Cretaceous–Paleogene sections: Insights into glass alteration patterns and precursor melt lithologies

Belza, Joke; Goderis, Steven; Smit, Jan; Vanhaecke, Frank; Baert, Kitty; Terryn, Herman; Claeys, Philippe

doi:10.1016/j.gca.2014.12.013

Cited by 29 publications

(38 citation statements)

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“…13) though previously similar techniques have been applied to, e.g., spherule-rich Cretaceous-Paleogene event bed in sediments of western Atlantic (Berndt et al 2011) or glass spherules for Chicxulub distal ejecta in Mexico and Haiti (Belza et al 2015). A simultaneous increase in Ca, Mg, Mn and partly Sr indicates that carbonate of dolomitic composition contributed to the chemistry of BSE-bright schlieren.…”

Section: Size Morphology and Chemical Compositionmentioning

confidence: 97%

New constraints on the Polish moldavite finds: a separate sub-strewn field of the central European tektite field or re-deposited materials?

Skála¹,

Jonášová²,

Žák³

et al. 2016

J. Geosci.

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Rusko and Mielęcin represent the most remote localities from the Ries impact structure with the distance of about 475 km. The previously published data were limited to electron-microprobe analyses of four specimens. Here we provide additional compositional data for a single moldavite from the North Stanisław sandpit near Rusko. Combined data of electron microprobe (EPMA; major elements) and laser-ablation inductively-coupled--plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS; minor and trace elements) provide new insights into chemical variability of CET. Electron-microprobe analyses supplemented with back-scattered electron images showed marked chemical heterogeneity of the Polish moldavite on the micrometre scale, confirmed also by LA-ICP-MS. The major-element composition of the volumetrically dominating glass of the specimen is indistinguishable from the majority of c. 5000 available EPMA analyses of moldavites from other regions and, consequently, it does not provide any unambiguous link to any of these sub-strewn fields. Rare schlieren in the sample with unique Ca-Mg-rich composition have counterparts among several South Bohemian moldavites. In general, Polish moldavites are small (less than 0.5 g) irregular fragments or splinters of angular shape with multistage sculpturing. Their morphological character and paleogeography of Central Europe in the last 15 Myr suggest that they were redeposited at time of the Gozdnica Fm. sedimentation from yet unknown sub--strewn field north of the Sudetic Mountains. : moldavites, tektites, Lower Silesia, Poland, Ries impact structure, geochemistry Received: 4 December, 2015; accepted: 3 May, 2016; handling editor: E. Jelínek The online version of this article (doi: 10.3190/jgeosci.214) contains supplementary electronic material. KeywordsCentral European tektites (CET) are called moldavites. They were formed from the uppermost sedimentary rocks layer during the Ries-Steinheim impact event in Miocene. The recent occurrences of CET in several small areas (sub-strewn fields) reflect the paleogeography at the time of impact as well as further geological history of the area.

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Section: Size Morphology and Chemical Compositionmentioning

confidence: 97%

New constraints on the Polish moldavite finds: a separate sub-strewn field of the central European tektite field or re-deposited materials?

Skála¹,

Jonášová²,

Žák³

et al. 2016

J. Geosci.

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“…; and the palagonite‐like material “Beloc Layer L1” of the Beloc profile—Belza et al. ) show low Nb/Ta and variable Zr/Hf (Fig. ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Data sources: ♦ and ∆–Belza et al. (); + and x –Ritter et al. (); chondritic values after Pfänder et al.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Cretaceous/Paleogene (K‐Pg) boundary at the J Anomaly Ridge, Newfoundland (IODP Expedition 342, Hole U1403B)

Loroch

Deutsch

Berndt

et al. 2016

Meteorit & Planetary Scien

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We present results of an in‐situ geochemical study using laser‐ablation inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS) analyses along a ~4.3 cm long section across the K‐Pg event bed, drilled during IODP Expedition 342 at J Anomaly Ridge south of St. John's, Newfoundland. This section comprises the Maastrichtian with a sharp boundary to the graded, between 1.5 and 1.8 cm thick ejecta layer with totally altered impact glass spherules, which in turn is topped by Danian sediments. The porous and clayey material required elaborate preparation in order to yield reliable data. The ejecta bed shows a highly variable depletion in rare earth elements that even results in strongly subchondritic concentrations. The Ce/Ce* varies strongly (0.81–34), Ni/Cr ranges from 0.38 to 2.79. The maximum platinum group elements (PGE) concentrations are located in one LA‐spot exactly at the basis of the ejecta layer; they amount (in μg g−1) to 0.35 (Rh), 1.64 (Pd), 2.79 (Pt), and 0.86 (Au). The Nb/Ta ratio increases in the Ma from ~10 to 35.9 toward the ejecta horizon, which itself has higher Nb, Ta, Zr, and Hf concentrations than the background sedimentation, combined with low Nb/Ta (~5–10), and low Zr/Hf (~20–30). The overall result is that alteration processes changed totally the original geochemical characteristics of this K‐Pg spherule bed. To explain the exorbitant element mobility at distances of hundreds of μm, we discuss a combination of mostly reducing redox processes and interaction with organic compounds. This study demonstrates the high potential of in‐situ analyses with high spatial resolution at complex geological materials. Moreover, our results indicate that some caution is necessary in determining the projectile type in impactites via PGE ratios.

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“…These analytical tools together with classical more mass and X-ray spectrometers, microdrill microscope have been used on chondritic, achondritic, and iron meteorites (McKibbin et al 2013;McKibbin and Claeys 2014; and in the analysis of impact rocks, both terrestrial (Goderis et al 2013a, b;Belza et al 2015;Simonson et al 2015) and extraterrestrial (Van Roosbroek et al 2015). These studies of meteoritic and ejecta materials have provided access to elementary and isotopic composition, and have shed light on the impact crater and the overlying turbulent vapour plume environment responsible for the formation and distribution of ejecta material on Earth.…”

Section: Petrography/geochemistry Of Ejecta Material Meteorites Andmentioning

confidence: 99%

PLANET TOPERS: Planets, Tracing the Transfer, Origin, Preservation, and Evolution of their ReservoirS

Déhant¹,

Asael²,

Baland³

et al. 2016

Orig Life Evol Biosph

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The PLANET TOPERS (Planets, Tracing the Transfer, Origin, Preservation, and Evolution of their ReservoirS) group is an Inter-university attraction pole (IAP) addressing the question of habitability in our Solar System. Habitability is commonly understood as "the potential of an environment (past or present) to support life of any kind" (Steele et al., 2005, http://mepag.jpl.nasa.gov/reports/archive.html). Based on the only known example of Earth, the concept refers to whether environmental conditions are available that could eventually support life, even if life does not currently exist (Javaux and Dehant, 2010, Astron. Astrophys. Rev., 18, 383-416, DOI: 10.1007/s00159-010-0030-4). Life includes properties such as consuming nutrients and producing waste, the ability to reproduce and grow, pass on genetic information, evolve, and adapt to the varying conditions on a planet (Sagan, 1970, Encyclopedia Britannica, 22, 964-981). Terrestrial life requires liquid water. The stability of liquid water at the surface of a planet defines a habitable zone (HZ) around a star. In the Solar System, it stretches between Venus and Mars, but excludes these two planets. If the greenhouse effect is taken into account, the habitable zone may have included early Mars while the case for Venus is still debated. Important geodynamic processes affect the habitability conditions of a planet. As envisaged by the group, this IAP develops and closely integrates the geophysical, geological, and biological aspects of habitability with a particular focus on Earth neighboring planets, Mars and Venus. It works in an interdisciplinary approach to understand habitability and in close collaboration with another group, the Helmholtz Alliance "Life and Planet Evolution", which has similar objectives. The dynamic processes, e.g. internal dynamo, magnetic field, atmosphere, plate tectonics, mantle convection, volcanism, thermo-tectonic evolution, meteorite impacts, and erosion, modify the planetary surface, the possibility to have liquid water, the thermal state, the energy budget and the availability of nutrients. Shortly after formation (Hadean 4.4-4.0 Ga (billion years)), evidence supports the presence of a liquid ocean and continental crust on Earth (Wilde et al., 2001, Nature, 409, 175-178), Earth may thus have been habitable very early on. The origin of life is not understood yet but the oldest putative traces of life occur in the early Archaean (∼3.5 Ga). Studies of early Earth habitats documented in rock containing traces of fossil life provide information about environmental conditions suitable for life beyond Earth, as well as methodologies for their identification and analyses. The extreme values of environmental conditions in which life thrives today can also be used to characterize the "envelope" of the existence of life and the range of potential extraterrestrial habitats. The requirement of nutrients for biosynthesis, growth, and reproduction suggest that a tectonically active planet, with liquid water is required to replenish nutrients ...

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High spatial resolution geochemistry and textural characteristics of ‘microtektite’ glass spherules in proximal Cretaceous–Paleogene sections: Insights into glass alteration patterns and precursor melt lithologies

Cited by 29 publications

References 73 publications

New constraints on the Polish moldavite finds: a separate sub-strewn field of the central European tektite field or re-deposited materials?

New constraints on the Polish moldavite finds: a separate sub-strewn field of the central European tektite field or re-deposited materials?

The Cretaceous/Paleogene (K‐Pg) boundary at the J Anomaly Ridge, Newfoundland (IODP Expedition 342, Hole U1403B)

PLANET TOPERS: Planets, Tracing the Transfer, Origin, Preservation, and Evolution of their ReservoirS

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