Introduction: Impact melted materials occur in two main forms in the Ries impact structure [1]: (1) as isolated bodies of reddish, vesicular, fine-grained impact melt rock; (2) as in dividual glass y particles or c lasts in melt-bearing breccias or suevites. The latter lithologies have been the subject of a considerable number of investigations over the past few decades. In contrast, no detaile...

We suggest a new explanation for the presence of crustally derived zircons in the upper-mantle rocks of ophiolitic complexes, as an alternative to subduction-related models. Integrated isotopic (U-Pb, Hf, and O isotopes) and trace-element data for zircons from the Tumut ophiolitic complex (southeast Australia) indicate that these grains are related to granitic magmatism and were introduced into...

Autonomous geologic analysis of natural terrain is an important technique for science rovers exploring remote environments such as Mars. By automatically detecting and classifying rocks, rovers can efficiently survey an area, summarize results and concentrate on unusual discoveries, thus maximizing the scientific return. Similar techniques can be used in natural settings on land and under water...

Age Determination 105038 Kawano, Y. & Yuhara, M. Chronological and isotope geological study of Cretaceous granitic rocks, upper reach of the Nakagawa river, Fukuoka Prefecture. J. Geol. Soc. Japan, 114, 218-230, 8 figs., 2 tables (in Japanese with English abstract), 2008. Cretaceous granitic rocks, consisting of Itoshima granodiorite and Sawara granite, are occurred at upper reach of the Nakaga...

Rocks exposed west of the Coast Plutonic Complex in southern southeast Alaska form an imbricate thrust belt that overprints the tectonic boundary between two of the largest allochthonous crustal fragments in the North American Cordillera, the Insular and Intermontane composite terranes. In the Alexander terrane (Insular composite terrane), lower Paleozoic metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks ...

The 465 Ma Svarthopen pluton in northcentral Norway was emplaced under middle-crustal conditions (~700 MPa) into metasedimentary rocks of the Helgeland Nappe Complex. The pluton is characterized by zones of mingling and mixing of gabbro/ diorite with peraluminous, garnet-bearing biotite granite. Variation in bulk-rock Sr and Nd isotope ratios are consistent with simple mixing; however, nonunifo...

[1] Water played a major role in the formation and alteration of rocks and soils in the Columbia Hills. The extent of alteration ranges from moderate to extensive. Five distinct rock compositional classes were identified; the order for degree of alteration is Watchtower ffi Clovis > Wishstone ffi Peace > Backstay. The rover’s wheels uncovered one unusual soil (Paso Robles) that is the most S-ri...

[1] Thermal conductivity anisotropy was determined for three sets of metasedimentary and igneous rocks from central Utah, USA. Most conductivity measurements were made in transient mode with a half-space, line source instrument oriented in two orthogonal directions on a flat face cut perpendicular to bedding. One orientation of the probe yields thermal conductivity parallel to bedding (kpar) di...

Effect of Cracks on Elastic Properties of Low Porosity Rocks by Terrence Patrick Todd Submitted to the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences on May 1, 1973, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Microcracks in terrestrial and lunar rocks significantly alter elastic, thermal, and mechanical properties. The degree to which microcracks alter physica...

The Proterozoic eon is characterized by an unusual abundance of ferroan feldspathic rocks that range in composition from granite to quartz syenites to feldspathoid-bearing syenites. Three associations of ferroan rocks may be recognized on the basis of major element compositions: (1) metaluminous alkalic to alkali-calcic syenites and granites associated with anorthosites and iron-rich basaltic r...