Magnetite-like nanocrystals formed by laser-driven shocks in siderite

doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2006.01.060

Earth and Planetary Science Letters

Volume 243, Issues 3–4, 30 March 2006, Pages 820-827

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2006.01.060 Get rights and content

Abstract

Laser-driven shock experiments were carried out on Mn and Mg-bearing natural crystalline siderite under vacuum. Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy were performed on samples recovered from shock pressures between 8.4 GPa and 25.9 GPa. Two different iron oxides were observed in the laser impact crater: hematite – already present in the starting sample – and a spinel-structured phase, both associated with iron carbonates. This nanometer-sized Mn-bearing magnetite-like phase results from shock-induced decarbonation of siderite. High-pressure shocks, such as meteorite impacts, are a plausible mechanism for generating nanocrystals of magnetite from Fe-carbonate-bearing terrestrial and extraterrestrial materials.

Introduction

Siderite (FeCO₃) is a common carbonate mineral in iron-bearing sediments and soils. It is present on Earth in a large variety of environments, which can be targets of impacts. This mineral has also been identified in meteorites (e.g. [1]). Tiny magnetite crystals were found in the ALH84001 meteorite, a Martian orthopyroxenite, in carbonate globules consisting of MgCO₃–FeCO₃ solid solutions with variable Ca and Mn contents. It was initially suggested that the morphologies and grain sizes of these grains were typical of magnetite produced by magnetotactic bacteria living on Earth, suggesting a biological origin [2], [3], [4], [5]. A second hypothesis is that the magnetite from ALH84001 was formed by shock-induced decomposition of siderite [6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12], [13], [14]. The purpose of the present study is to investigate whether ultra short shocks on iron carbonates can generate nanometer-sized magnetite crystals.

Section snippets

Materials and methods

The siderite samples were collected from the Saint Georges d'Hurtière iron mine, Savoie, France. This natural siderite is Mn- and Mg-rich and contains a small amount of hematite due to partial oxidation of the natural rock. In a previous paper [15], we studied the mineralogical transformations of Mn-siderite heated in air. In the present study, we performed laser-driven shock experiments in order to document the transformations of siderite under dynamic pressure conditions. The laser-driven

Characterization of the starting material

In order to detect subtle shock effects, it is necessary to have a good knowledge of the accessory phases in the starting material. The samples used for the laser-driven shock experiments consisted of well-crystallized, millimeter-sized grains of Mn-rich siderite Fe_0.79(2)Mn_0.12(2)Mg_0.07(2)Ca_0.02(1)CO₃ partially oxidized into Mn-hematite. A detailed analysis of the initial material has been given in a previous study [15]. Raman spectra of the siderite powder were recorded at ambient

Shock-recovered samples

The shock-recovered samples have a color slightly darker than the initial chips and show craters of a few millimeters in diameter, corresponding to the irradiated areas (see Table 1).

Discussion

Raman spectra and TEM observations revealed the coexistence of three different phases in the centre of the impact craters, two types of iron oxides (hematite and a spinel phase) associated with the iron carbonate. Hematite was present in the initial material and comes from the oxidation of siderite, which is a metastable phase under ambient conditions of temperature, pressure and oxygen fugacity. The interesting feature of the present results is the appearance of a magnetite-type phase in the

Conclusion

We have shown that natural Mn-bearing siderite decomposes to Mn-magnetite-like phase by high-pressure shock-induced decarbonation within durations as short as a few nanoseconds. Magnetite, stabilized by the presence of Mn in its crystal lattice, which prevents it from further oxidation, is able to record the magnetic field present during its growth. The existence of stable remanence linked to such transformations may have profound implications for paleomagnetic studies of carbonate-bearing

Acknowledgements

The authors are pleased to acknowledge Dominique Gasquet from ENSG, Nancy, for having provided us with siderite and Gilles Montagnac for his assistance in the Raman experiments. Two helpful and constructive reviews helped to improve the manuscript. R van der Hilst is thanked for his careful edition of the paper.

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View full text

Magnetite-like nanocrystals formed by laser-driven shocks in siderite

Abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

Materials and methods

Characterization of the starting material

Shock-recovered samples

Discussion

Conclusion

Acknowledgements

Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta

Ultramicroscopy

Thermochim. Acta

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Record of fluid–rock interactions on Mars from the meteorite ALH 84001

Nature

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Science

Chains of magnetite crystals in the meteorite ALH84001: evidence of biological origin

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A.

Truncated hexa-octahedral magnetite crystals in ALH84001: presumptive biosignatures

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.

Magnetite in ALH 84001: product of decomposition of ferroan carbonate

Magnetite in ALH 84001: an origin by shock-induced thermal decomposition of iron carbonate

Meteorit. Planet. Sci.

Origin of supposedly biogenic magnetite in the Martian meteorite Allan Hills 84001

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A.

Transmission electron microscopy of minerals in the Martian meteorite, Allan Hills 84001

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A simple inorganic process for formation of carbonates, magnetites and sulfides in Martian meteorite ALH84001

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