In the Footsteps of Warren B. Hamilton: New Ideas in Earth Science

This unusual book, published to honor the late iconoclast and geologist extraordinaire Warren Bell Hamilton, comprises a diverse, cross-disciplinary collection of bold new ideas in Earth and planetary science. Some chapters audaciously point out all-too-obvious deficits in prevailing theories. Other ideas are embryonic and in need of testing and still others are downright outrageous. Some are doubtless right and others likely wrong. See if you can tell which is which. See if your students can tell which is which. This unique book is a rich resource for researchers at all levels looking for interesting, unusual, and off-beat ideas to investigate or set as student projects.
Geochemical indicators of a biogenic component in source materials of moldavites Available to Purchase
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Published:May 03, 2022
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CiteCitation
Jiří Mizera, Zdeněk Řanda, 2022. "Geochemical indicators of a biogenic component in source materials of moldavites", In the Footsteps of Warren B. Hamilton: New Ideas in Earth Science, Gillian R. Foulger, Lawrence C. Hamilton, Donna M. Jurdy, Carol A. Stein, Keith A. Howard, Seth Stein
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ABSTRACT
Formation of the Central European tektites, known as moldavites, has been associated with a large meteorite impact in southern Germany 14.8 m.y. ago. The geochemical link between moldavites and their source materials, and the processes of their possible chemical differentiation still remain uncertain. Some differences in chemical composition between moldavites and sediments of corresponding age from the surroundings of the Ries crater could be explained by a hypothesis according to which biomass covering the pre-impact area contributed to the source materials. In a comparison of the geochemical compositions of a large representative set of moldavites and suitable Ries sediments, enrichment in elements K, Ca, Mg, and Mn and depletion of Na in moldavites, similar to redistribution of these elements during their transfer from soil to plants, could indicate the unconventional biogenic component in moldavite source materials. Simple mixing calculations of the most suitable Ries sediments and a model biogenic component represented by burned biomass residue are presented. The plausibility of the estimated biomass contribution considering reconstructions of the middle Miocene paleoenvironment in the pre-impact Ries area is discussed. No significant vapor fractionation is required to explain the observed variability of moldavite chemical composition.
- ash content
- Bavaria Germany
- biomass
- C-13
- carbon
- Cenozoic
- Central Europe
- chemical composition
- combustion
- enrichment
- Europe
- Germany
- impact craters
- impact features
- impactites
- isotopes
- metamorphic rocks
- metamorphism
- moldavite
- organic compounds
- Pleistocene
- Quaternary
- regolith
- Ries Crater
- shock metamorphism
- stable isotopes
- strewn fields
- tektites