Significance of Secondary Fe-Oxide and Fe-Sulfide Minerals in Upper Peak Ring Suevite from the Chicxulub Impact Structure
The suevite (polymict melt rock-bearing breccia) composing the upper peak ring of the Chicxulub impact crater is extremely heterogeneous, containing a combination of relict clasts and secondary minerals. Using scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) a...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Minerals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/13/3/353 |
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| author | Christina M. Verhagen Ji-In Jung Sonia M. Tikoo Axel Wittmann David A. Kring Stefanie Brachfeld Laying Wu Dale H. Burns Sean P. S. Gulick |
| author_facet | Christina M. Verhagen Ji-In Jung Sonia M. Tikoo Axel Wittmann David A. Kring Stefanie Brachfeld Laying Wu Dale H. Burns Sean P. S. Gulick |
| author_sort | Christina M. Verhagen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The suevite (polymict melt rock-bearing breccia) composing the upper peak ring of the Chicxulub impact crater is extremely heterogeneous, containing a combination of relict clasts and secondary minerals. Using scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), we investigated the nature and occurrence of primary and secondary Fe-oxide and Fe-sulfide minerals to better understand hydrothermal trends such as mineral precipitation and dissolution, and to document the remobilization of Fe and associated siderophile elements within suevites. Large primary Fe-oxides (~20–100 µm) reveal decomposition and dissolution patterns, forming sub-micrometer to micrometer Fe-oxide phases. Secondary sub-micrometer Fe-oxide crystals are also visibly concentrated within clay. The occurrence of Fe-oxide crystals within clay suggests that these likely formed at temperatures ≤100 °C, near the formation temperature of smectite. The formation of Fe-oxide minerals on clay surfaces is of interest as it may form a micro-setting, where free electrons (from the oxidation of Fe<sup>2+</sup>) and the adsorption of simple organic molecules on the surface of clay could generate reactive conditions favorable to microbial communities. Primary and secondary Fe-sulfide minerals exhibiting a variety of morphologies are present within samples, representing different formation mechanisms. Secondary Fe-sulfide minerals occur within rims of clasts and vesicles and in fractures and voids. Some secondary Fe-sulfide grains are associated with Ni- and Co-rich phases, potentially reflecting the post-impact migration of siderophile elements within the suevite of the Chicxulub crater. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:09:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1b74ac0f08db47dca654016c051ff308 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-163X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:09:01Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Minerals |
| spelling | doaj.art-1b74ac0f08db47dca654016c051ff3082023-11-17T12:47:25ZengMDPI AGMinerals2075-163X2023-03-0113335310.3390/min13030353Significance of Secondary Fe-Oxide and Fe-Sulfide Minerals in Upper Peak Ring Suevite from the Chicxulub Impact StructureChristina M. Verhagen0Ji-In Jung1Sonia M. Tikoo2Axel Wittmann3David A. Kring4Stefanie Brachfeld5Laying Wu6Dale H. Burns7Sean P. S. Gulick8Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Rutgers University New Brunswick, Piscataway Township, NJ 08854, USADepartment of Geophysics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USADepartment of Geophysics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USAEyring Materials Center, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USALunar and Planetary Institute, Houston, TX 77058, USADepartment of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ 07043, USADepartment of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ 07043, USADepartment of Geological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USAInstitute for Geophysics and Department of Geological Sciences, Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USAThe suevite (polymict melt rock-bearing breccia) composing the upper peak ring of the Chicxulub impact crater is extremely heterogeneous, containing a combination of relict clasts and secondary minerals. Using scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), we investigated the nature and occurrence of primary and secondary Fe-oxide and Fe-sulfide minerals to better understand hydrothermal trends such as mineral precipitation and dissolution, and to document the remobilization of Fe and associated siderophile elements within suevites. Large primary Fe-oxides (~20–100 µm) reveal decomposition and dissolution patterns, forming sub-micrometer to micrometer Fe-oxide phases. Secondary sub-micrometer Fe-oxide crystals are also visibly concentrated within clay. The occurrence of Fe-oxide crystals within clay suggests that these likely formed at temperatures ≤100 °C, near the formation temperature of smectite. The formation of Fe-oxide minerals on clay surfaces is of interest as it may form a micro-setting, where free electrons (from the oxidation of Fe<sup>2+</sup>) and the adsorption of simple organic molecules on the surface of clay could generate reactive conditions favorable to microbial communities. Primary and secondary Fe-sulfide minerals exhibiting a variety of morphologies are present within samples, representing different formation mechanisms. Secondary Fe-sulfide minerals occur within rims of clasts and vesicles and in fractures and voids. Some secondary Fe-sulfide grains are associated with Ni- and Co-rich phases, potentially reflecting the post-impact migration of siderophile elements within the suevite of the Chicxulub crater.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/13/3/353hydrothermalismimpact crateringsueviteFe-oxide mineralsFe-sulfide minerals |
| spellingShingle | Christina M. Verhagen Ji-In Jung Sonia M. Tikoo Axel Wittmann David A. Kring Stefanie Brachfeld Laying Wu Dale H. Burns Sean P. S. Gulick Significance of Secondary Fe-Oxide and Fe-Sulfide Minerals in Upper Peak Ring Suevite from the Chicxulub Impact Structure Minerals hydrothermalism impact cratering suevite Fe-oxide minerals Fe-sulfide minerals |
| title | Significance of Secondary Fe-Oxide and Fe-Sulfide Minerals in Upper Peak Ring Suevite from the Chicxulub Impact Structure |
| title_full | Significance of Secondary Fe-Oxide and Fe-Sulfide Minerals in Upper Peak Ring Suevite from the Chicxulub Impact Structure |
| title_fullStr | Significance of Secondary Fe-Oxide and Fe-Sulfide Minerals in Upper Peak Ring Suevite from the Chicxulub Impact Structure |
| title_full_unstemmed | Significance of Secondary Fe-Oxide and Fe-Sulfide Minerals in Upper Peak Ring Suevite from the Chicxulub Impact Structure |
| title_short | Significance of Secondary Fe-Oxide and Fe-Sulfide Minerals in Upper Peak Ring Suevite from the Chicxulub Impact Structure |
| title_sort | significance of secondary fe oxide and fe sulfide minerals in upper peak ring suevite from the chicxulub impact structure |
| topic | hydrothermalism impact cratering suevite Fe-oxide minerals Fe-sulfide minerals |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/13/3/353 |
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