Sampling methane in hydrothermal minerals on Earth and Mars

2012 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 163-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean McMahon ◽  
John Parnell ◽  
Nigel J. F. Blamey
Keyword(s):  
Gas Production ◽  
Mineral Deposits ◽  
Geological History ◽  
Atmospheric Methane ◽  
Mass Spectrometry Technique ◽  
Calcite Veins ◽  
History Of ◽  
Spectrometry Technique ◽  
Lines Of Evidence ◽  
Hydrothermal Mineral

AbstractThe source of Martian atmospheric methane is unknown. On Earth, hydrothermal mineral deposits contain ancient methane together with a host of chemical and geological lines of evidence for the mechanism of gas production. Such deposits are therefore potentially attractive sampling sites on Mars. In order to evaluate this potential, hydrothermal calcite veins were sampled across the Caithness region of Scotland and analysed for methane by an incremental-crushing mass spectrometry technique that may be adaptable to Mars rovers. Methane was detected in all samples. Variations in the quantity of methane released were found to relate directly to the geological history of the localities. Calcite particle size was found to affect measurements in a systematic and informative way. Oxidative weathering had no discernable effect on methane recoverability. These results suggest that the technique is sensitive and informative enough to deserve consideration for missions to Mars.

scholarly journals Sampling methane in basalt on Earth and Mars

2013 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 113-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean McMahon ◽  
John Parnell ◽  
Nigel J.F. Blamey
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Martian Surface ◽  
Low Concentrations ◽  
Geothermal Activity ◽  
Mass Spectrometry Technique ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Spectrometry Technique ◽  
Hydrothermal Mineral

AbstractIf confirmed, the extremely low concentrations of methane (CH4) detected in the Martian atmosphere may represent reservoirs and emission processes that would normally be considered negligible on Earth. One such process is the release of ancient volatiles from fluid inclusions and interstitial sites in rocks and minerals during erosion or geothermal activity. Using a highly sensitive rock-crushing and mass-spectrometry technique previously shown to detect CH4 in serpentinites and hydrothermal mineral deposits, we have demonstrated that CH4 and other ancient volatiles can be recovered from basalt, the dominant rock type on the Martian surface. Basalt samples from a wide range of ages and geological systems were tested, all of which released CH4 when crushed. Oxidative weathering was associated with lower quantities of CH4. Otherwise, CH4 recoverability showed no relationship with age or geological context. Mineral veins, cross-cutting one locality were found to share the volatile composition of the basalt. In general, the results suggest that CH4-release from ancient basalts could be a significant process on Mars, which could be further investigated by Martian rovers using a similar rock-crushing and mass spectrometry technique in situ.

LATE QUATERNARY GEOLOGICAL HISTORY OF RIO GRANGE DO SUL COASTAL PLAIN, SOUTHERN BRAZIL

2000 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 474-476 ◽  
Author(s):  
LUIZ JOSÉ TOMAZELLI ◽  
SÉRGIO REBELLO DILLENBURG ◽  
JORGE ALBERTO VILLWOCK
Keyword(s):  
Coastal Plain ◽  
Late Quaternary ◽  
Geological History ◽  
Southern Brazil ◽  
History Of

Geoinformation Mapping Through the Types of Geological and Geomorphological Structure of the Katun Valley (Altay Mountains) Based on Morphometric Indicators

2018 ◽  
Vol 938 (8) ◽  
pp. 38-43
Author(s):  
S.A. Kotler ◽  
I.D. Zolnikov ◽  
D.V. Pchelnikov
Keyword(s):  
Morphometric Parameters ◽  
Morphometric Parameter ◽  
Geological History ◽  
Mountain Rivers ◽  
Quaternary Period ◽  
Modern Variety ◽  
Altay Mountains ◽  
History Of

The types of geological and geomorphological structure of the Katun valley are distinguished in the work. For this, a method of geoinformation mapping using morphometric indicators of the valley’s width and meandering of the channel was developed. The morphometric parameter of the valley’s width was calculated as the total area of terraces. As the morphometric parameters of the channel’s meandering, the angles of the river segments’ deviation relative to each other were calculated. Conjugated analysis of these morphometric indicators enabled identifying 18 morphotypes. These morphotypes according to the geological and geomorphological structure of the valley were combined into 4 classes. Separation of the Katun valley in certain classes and morphotypes is due to the different geological history of these sites during the Quaternary period. The most important reasons predetermining the modern variety of geological and geomorphological types of the valley are neotectonic movements and exogenous phenomena (glaciers, dam lakes, landslides, etc.) naturally localized in the space from the upstream of the river to its exit into the foothills. The developed method can be applied for quantitative morphometric classification of the mountain rivers’ valleys in other regions.

BORON ISOTOPES AS TRACERS OF THE TECTONIC ORIGIN AND GEOLOGICAL HISTORY OF SERPENTINITES IN SUBDUCTION AND SUTURE ZONES

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Celine Martin ◽  
◽  
George E. Harlow ◽  
George E. Harlow ◽  
George E. Harlow ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boron Isotopes ◽  
Geological History ◽  
History Of ◽  
Tectonic Origin

Beyond Wallace: a new lineage of Chrysorthenches (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutoidea: Glyphipterigidae) reveals a journey tracking its host-plants, Podocarpus (Pinopsida: Podocarpaceae)

2020 ◽  
Vol 190 (2) ◽  
pp. 709-736
Author(s):  
Jae-Cheon Sohn ◽  
Shigeki Kobayashi ◽  
Yutaka Yoshiyasu
Keyword(s):  
Maximum Likelihood ◽  
East Asia ◽  
Host Plants ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Species Group ◽  
Geological History ◽  
Dna Barcodes ◽  
History Of ◽  
Species Groups ◽  
Maximum Likelihood Phylogeny

Abstract A northward trans-Wallacean radiation is demonstrated for Chrysorthenches, a member of the Orthenches group. Here we review Chrysorthenches and allied genera resulting in a generic transfer of Diathryptica callibrya to Chrysorthenches and two new congeners: C. muraseaeSohn & Kobayashisp. nov. from Japan and C. smaragdinaSohnsp. nov. from Thailand. We review morphological characters of Chrysorthenches and allied genera, and find polyphyly of Diathryptica and the association of the Orthenches-group with Glyphipterigidae. These findings were supported in a maximum likelihood phylogeny of DNA barcodes from ten yponomeutoids. We analysed 30 morphological characters for 12 species of Chrysorthenches, plus one outgroup, via a cladistic approach. The resulting cladogram redefined two pre-existing Chrysorthenches species-groups and identified one novel lineage: the C. callibrya species-group. We review the host associations between Chrysorthenches and Podocarpaceae, based on mapping the working phylogenies. Our review suggests that ancestral Chrysorthenches colonized Podocarpus and later shifted to other podocarp genera. Biogeographical patterns of Chrysorthenches show that they evolved long after the Podocarpaceae radiation. Disjunctive trans-Wallacean distribution of the C. callibrya species-group is possibly related to the tracking of their host-plants and the complicated geological history of the island-arc system connecting Australia and East Asia.

scholarly journals The geological history of the Lake Rudolf Basin, Kenya colony

1939 ◽  
Vol 229 (560) ◽  
pp. 219-274 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Rift Valley ◽  
Public Works ◽  
General Description ◽  
Geological History ◽  
East African ◽  
The Public ◽  
Geographical Society ◽  
History Of ◽  
African Rift ◽  
At Home

The Lake Rudolf Rift Valley Expedition was designed to carry out many different lines of investigation in the Lake Rudolf Basin. One of the chief of these was a study of the geological history of that part of the East African Rift Valley. The expedition was assisted financially by The Royal Society, The Geological Society of London, The Royal Geographical Society, The Percy Sladen Trustees and the Geographical and Geological Sections of the British Association. A general description of the activities of the Expedition was given in a paper read before the Royal Geographical Society (Fuchs 1935). Owing to the tragic loss of two members of the expedition, Dr W. S. Dyson and Mr W. R. H. Martin, two fruitless months were spent searching for them. Consequently a great amount of the work planned for the east side of the lake had to be abandoned. Nevertheless, the considerable distance travelled within the 50,000 sq. miles of the Rudolf Basin has enabled me to make out the chief events of its geological history. I am very much indebted to all those who assisted us in the field and at home, in particular to the Kenya Government, the Officers of the King’s African Rifles, and Mr H. L. Sikes of the Public Works Department; I would also like to thank Mr A. M. Champion, Provincial Commissioner of Turkana, who wholeheartedly assisted us in every way possible both in the field and at home, for he has placed at my disposal his own excellent topographical maps and his extensive observations on the geology of the area. I am also deeply indebted to Professor O. T. Jones, Mr Henry Woods and Mr W. Campbell Smith for their criticisms. Mr Campbell Smith has also given me provisional identifications of the rocks.

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