Title: The survivability of phyllosilicates and carbonates impacting Stardust Al foils: Facilitating the search for cometary water

Abstract

Abstract Comet 81P/Wild 2 samples returned by NASA's Stardust mission provide an unequalled opportunity to study the contents of, and hence conditions and processes operating on, comets. They can potentially validate contentious interpretations of cometary infrared spectra and in situ mass spectrometry data: specifically the identification of phyllosilicates and carbonates. However, Wild 2 dust was collected via impact into capture media at ~6 km s ⁻¹ , leading to uncertainty as to whether these minerals were captured intact, and, if subjected to alteration, whether they remain recognizable. We simulated Stardust Al foil capture conditions using a two‐stage light‐gas gun, and directly compared transmission electron microscope analyses of pre‐ and postimpact samples to investigate survivability of lizardite and cronstedtite (phyllosilicates) and calcite (carbonate). We find the phyllosilicates do not survive impact as intact crystalline materials but as moderately to highly vesiculated amorphous residues lining resultant impact craters, whose bulk cation to Si ratios remain close to that of the impacting grain. Closer inspection reveals variation in these elements on a submicron scale, where impact‐induced melting accompanied by reducing conditions (due to the production of oxygen scavenging molten Al from the target foils) has resulted in the production of native silicon and Fe‐ and Fe‐Si‐richmore » phases. In contrast, large areas of crystalline calcite are preserved within the calcite residue, with smaller regions of vesiculated, Al‐bearing calcic glass. Unambiguous identification of calcite impactors on Stardust Al foil is therefore possible, while phyllosilicate impactors may be inferred from vesiculated residues with appropriate bulk cation to Si ratios. Finally, we demonstrate that the characteristic textures and elemental distributions identifying phyllosilicates and carbonates by transmission electron microscopy can also be observed by state‐of‐the‐art scanning electron microscopy providing rapid, nondestructive initial mineral identifications in Stardust residues.« less

Authors:

Wozniakiewicz, Penelope J. ^[1]; Ishii, Hope A. ^[2]; Kearsley, Anton T. ^[1]; Bradley, John P. ^[2]; Price, Mark. C. ^[3]; Burchell, Mark J. ^[3]; Teslich, Nick ^[4]; Cole, Mike J. ^[3]

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+ Show Author Affiliations

1. School of Physical Science Centre for Astrophysics and Planetary Sciences University of Kent Canterbury CT2 7NH UK, Department of Earth Sciences Impacts &, Astromaterials Research Centre (IARC) Natural History Museum London SW7 5BD UK
2. Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology University of Hawai'i at Mānoa 1680 East‐West Road POST 602 Honolulu Hawai'i 96822 USA
3. School of Physical Science Centre for Astrophysics and Planetary Sciences University of Kent Canterbury CT2 7NH UK
4. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory 7000 East Avenue Livermore California 94550 USA

Publication Date:

Thu Nov 05 00:00:00 EST 2015

Research Org.:

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program

OSTI Identifier:

1457190

Alternate Identifier(s):

OSTI ID: 1401407; OSTI ID: 1430979

Report Number(s):

LLNL-JRNL-737684
Journal ID: ISSN 1086-9379

Grant/Contract Number:  

AC52-07NA27344; NNH07AG46I; NNX14AH86G

Resource Type:

Published Article

Journal Name:

Meteoritics and Planetary Science

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Name: Meteoritics and Planetary Science Journal Volume: 50 Journal Issue: 12; Journal ID: ISSN 1086-9379

Publisher:

Wiley-Blackwell

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS