Diagenetically altered fossil micrometeorites suggest cosmic dust is common in the geological record
File(s)1-s2.0-S0012821X17304399-main.pdf (2.23 MB) 07_Chalk_Paper_Draft_EPSL.docx (4.93 MB)
Published version
Accepted version
Author(s)
Suttle, M
Genge, MJ
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
We report the discovery of fossil micrometeorites from Late Cretaceous chalk. Seventy-six cosmic spherules were recovered from Coniacian (87±1 Ma) sediments of the White Chalk Supergroup. Particles vary from pristine silicate and iron-type spherules to pseudomorphic spherules consisting of either single-phase recrystallized magnetite or Fe-silicide. Pristine spherules are readily identified as micrometeorites on the basis of their characteristic mineralogies, textures and compositions. Both magnetite and silicide spherules contain dendritic crystals and spherical morphologies, testifying to rapid crystallisation of high temperature iron-rich metallic and oxide liquids. These particles also contain spherical cavities, representing weathering and removal of metal beads and irregular cavities, representing vesicles formed by trapped gas during crystallization; both features commonly found among modern Antarctic Iron-type (I-type) cosmic spherules. On the basis of textural analysis, the magnetite and Fe-silicide spherules are shown to be I-type cosmic spherules that have experienced complete secondary replacement during diagenesis (fossilization). Our results demonstrate that micrometeorites, preserved in sedimentary rocks, are affected by a suite of complex diagenetic processes, which can result in disparate replacement minerals, even within the same sequence of sedimentary beds. As a result, the identification of fossil micrometeorites requires careful observation of particle textures and comparisons with modern Antarctic collections. Replaced micrometeorites imply that geochemical signatures the extraterrestrial dust are subject to diagenetic remobilisation that limits their stratigraphic resolution. However, this study demonstrates that fossil, pseudomorphic micrometeorites can be recognised and are likely common within the geological record.
Date Issued
2017-10-15
Date Acceptance
2017-07-31
Citation
Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 2017, 476 (1), pp.132-142
ISSN
0012-821X
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
132
End Page
142
Journal / Book Title
Earth and Planetary Science Letters
Volume
476
Issue
1
Copyright Statement
© 2017 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
License URL
Sponsor
Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
Identifier
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0012821X17304399
Grant Number
ST/N000803/1
ST/M003167/1
ST/J001260/1
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Geochemistry & Geophysics
fossil micrometeorites
diagenesis
replacement
cosmic spherule
I-type
iron silicide
ATMOSPHERIC ENTRY
ACCRETION RATE
SPHERULES
SEDIMENTS
SEA
ORDOVICIAN
CLASSIFICATION
METEORITES
DIAGENESIS
ROCKS
02 Physical Sciences
04 Earth Sciences
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2017-09-01