Metallic Iron and Nickel in Cretaceous and Cenozoic Sediments: The Results of Thermomagnetic Analysis
Diamar M. Pechersky
.
DOI: 10.4236/jep.2010.12019   PDF    HTML     4,100 Downloads   8,079 Views   Citations

Abstract

With the aid of thermomagnetic analysis (TMA) up to 800ºС the composition and distribution of particles of native iron and Fe-Ni alloy was studied in 15 sections, Gams (Austria), Verhorechie and Selbuhra (Crimea), Kvirinaki and Tetritskaro (Georgia), Aimaki, Bass, Dzhengutaj, Madzhalis and Gergebil (North Caucasus, Russia), Klyuchi and Tep-lovka (Volga Region, Russia), Koshak (Kazakhstan), Kara-Kala and Khalats (Turkmenistan). The age of sediments varies from Miocene to Early Cretaceous. Iron particles are present at 521samples out of 921studied. Their percentage varies from 10-5% to 0.05%. The distribution consists of two groups: 1) “zero” group (iron is not found by TMA); 2) group of logarithmic normal distribution with a differing modes. The global enrichment by iron particles in synchronous deposits of Miocene, Maastrichtian-Danian, Santonian and Cenomanian was discovered. With respect to nickel content, the iron particles fall into two groups: 1) nearly pure iron without nickel; and 2) iron with nickel content up to 20%, with modal value of 5%. The source of iron particles is the cosmic dust. Particles of pure nickel and the alloy containing more of 20% of nickel are very rare. Possibly, such particles are related mainly with impact events. A peak of elevated iron content with nearly constant nickel of 5-6% was found in almost all studied sections. It is a global effect which is not dependent of place and time of deposition of iron particles.

Share and Cite:

D. Pechersky, "Metallic Iron and Nickel in Cretaceous and Cenozoic Sediments: The Results of Thermomagnetic Analysis," Journal of Environmental Protection, Vol. 1 No. 2, 2010, pp. 143-154. doi: 10.4236/jep.2010.12019.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1] A. F. Grachev, O. A. Korchagin, H. A. Kollmann, et al., “The K/T Boundary of Gams (Eastern Alps, Austria) and the Nature of Terminal Cretaceous Mass Extinction,” Be- richte der Geologischen Bundesanstalt - A, Vol. 78, 2009, p. 199.
[2] E. A. Molostovskii, V. A. Fomin and D. M. Pechersky, “Sedimentogenesis in Maastrichtian-Danian Basins of the Russian Plate and Adjacent Areas in the Context of Plume Geodynamics,” Russian Journal of Earth Sciences, Vol. 8, 2006, pp. 1-13.
[3] D. M. Pechersky, “Metallic Iron in Sediments at the Me- sozoic-Cenozoic (K/T) Boundary,” Russian Journal of Earth Sciences, Vol. 10, 2008, pp. 1-9.
[4] D. M. Pechersky, D. K. Nourgaliev and Z. V. Sharonova, “Magnetolithologic and Magnetomineralogical Characteristics of Deposits at the Mesozoic/Cenozoic Boundary: Koshak Section (Mangyshlak),” Izvestiya, Physics of the Solid Earth, Vol. 42, No. 11, November 2006, pp. 99-102.
[5] D. M. Pechersky, D. K. Nourgaliev and V. M. Trubikhin, “Native Iron in Miocene Sediments,” Russian Journal of Earth Sciences, Vol. 10, 2008, pp. 1-11.
[6] D. M. Pechersky, B. Z. Asanidze, D. K. Nourgaliev and Z. V. Sharonova, “Rock-Magnetism and Magnetostratigraphy of Sediments at the Mesozoic-Cenozoic Boundary: Tetrytskaro Section (Georgia),” Izvestiya, Physics of the Solid Earth, Vol. 45, No. 2, February 2009, pp. 134-145.
[7] D. M. Pechersky, D. K. Nourgaliev, V. A. Fomin, Z. V. Sharonova and D. M. Gilmanova, “Cosmic Iron in the Cretaceous-Danian Sediments,” Izvestiya, Physics of the Solid Earth, Vol. 46, No. 12, December 2010.
[8] B. V. Burov, D. C. Nourgaliev and P. G. Yasonov, “Paleomagnetic Analysis,” in Russian, Kazan State University Publishers, Kazan, 1986.
[9] R. M. Bozorth, “Ferromagnetism,” David Van Nostrand Company Inc., Toronto, 1951.
[10] T. Nagata, M. Funaki and J. Danon, “Magnetic Properties of Tetrataenite-Rich Iron Meteorites,” Memoirs of National Institute of Polar Research, Special Issue, Vol. 41, 1986, pp.364-370.
[11] N. P. Lyakishev, “Diagrams of the States of Double Metallic Systems,” Mashinostroenie, Moscow, Book 1, Vol. 3, 1997.
[12] P. Gorria, D. Martinez-Blanco, M. Pérez, et al., “Stress- Induced Large Curie Temperature Enhancement in Fe64Ni36 Invar Alloy,” Physical Review, Vol. B80, 2009, pp. 1-6.
[13] T. Nagata and M. Funaki, “Tetrataenite Phase in Antarctic Meteorites,” Memoirs of National Institute of Polar Research, Special Issue, Vol. 46, 1987, pp. 245-262.
[14] T. Nagata, J. Danon and M. Funaki, “Magnetic Properties of Ni-Rich Iron Meteorites,” Memoirs of National Institute of Polar Research, Special Issue, Vol. 46, 1987, pp. 263-282.
[15] D. E. Brownlee, “Morphological, Chemical and Minera-logical Studies of Cosmic Dust,” Philosophical Transac-tions of the Royal Society London, Vol. A323, 1987, pp. 305-323.
[16] D. W. Parkin, “Cosmic Dust in Antarctic,” British Antarctic Survey Bulletin, Vol. 23, 1964.
[17] M. Shima and H. Yabuki, “Study of the Extraterrestrial Material in Antarctica,” National Institute of Polar Research, No. 3, March 1988, pp. 53-66.
[18] F. M. Gradstein, J. Ogg and M. van Kranendonk, “On the Geological Time Scale (2008),” Newsletters on Stratigraphy, Vol. 43, No. 1, June 2008, pp. 5-13.
[19] E. A. Molostovskii, D. M. Pechersky and I. Y. Frolov, “Magnetostratigraphic Time Scale of the Phanerozoic and its Description Using a Cumulative Distribution Function,” Izvestiya, Physics of the Solid Earth, Vol. 43, No. 10, October 2007, pp. 811-818.
[20] K. B. Doell, C. S. Gromme, A. N. Thorne and F. E. Sentfle, “Magnetic Studies of Lunar Samples,” Science, Vol. 167, No. 3918, January 1970, pp.695-697.
[21] C. E. Helsley, “Magnetic Properties of Lunar Dust and Rock Samples,” Science, Vol. 167, No. 3918, January 1970, pp. 693-695.
[22] C. E. Helsley, “Magnetic Properties of Lunar 10022, 10069, 10084 and 10085 Samples,” Proceedings of Apollo 11 Lunar Science Conference, Houston, Vol. 3, 5-8 January 1970, pp. 2213-2216.
[23] A. Larochelle and E. J. Schwarz, “Magnetic Properties of Lunar Sample 10048-22,” Science, Vol. 167, No. 3918, January 1970, pp. 700-703.
[24] T. Nagata, Y. Ishikawa, H. Kinoshita, et al., “Magnetic Properties of Lunar Samples,” Science, Vol. 167, No. 3918, January 1970, pp. 703-706.
[25] S. K. Runcorn, D. W. Collinson, W. O'Reilly, A. Stephenson, et al., “Magnetic Properties of Lunar Samples,” Science, Vol. 167, No. 3918, January 1970, pp. 697-700.
[26] S. K. Runcorn, D. W. Collinson, W. O'Reilly, A. Stephenson, et al., “Magnetic Properties of Lunar Samples,” Proceedings of Royal Society of London, Vol. A325, 1971, pp. 157-174.
[27] D. W. Strangway, E. E. Larson and G. H. Pearce, “Magnetic Properties of Lunar Samples,” Science, Vol. 167, No. 3918, January 1970, pp. 691-693.
[28] A. M. Reid, C. M. Ir, R. S. Harmon and R. Brett, “Metal Grains in Apollo 12 Igneous Rocks,” Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Vol. 9, No. 1, 1970, pp. 1-5.
[29] J. I. Goldstein and H. Yakowitz, “Metallic Inclusions and Metal Particles in the Apollo 12 Lunar Soil,” Proceedings of 2nd Lunar Science Conference, Houston, Vol. 1, 11-14 January 1971, pp. 177-191.
[30] H. Wanke, F. Wlotzka, E. Jagoutz and F. Beglmann, “Composition and Structure of Metallic Iron Particles in Lunar Fines,” Proceedings of Apollo 11 Lunar Science Conference, Houston, Vol. 1, 5-8 January 1970, pp. 931- 935.
[31] F. Wlotzka, B. Spettel and H. Wanke, “On the Composition of Metal from Apollo 16 Fines and Meteoritic Component,” Proceedings of 4th Lunar Science Conference, Houston, Vol. 2, 5-8 March 1973, pp. 1483-1491.

Copyright © 2024 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.

Creative Commons License

This work and the related PDF file are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.