Phosphorus (P) speciation in 21 basaltic and four non-basaltic Irish grassland soils was determined by NaOH–EDTA extraction and P NMR spectroscopy. Organic P in basaltic soils ranged between 30 and 697 mg P kg 1 and consisted of phosphate monoesters (84–100%), DNA (0–16%) and phosphonates (0–5%). Inorganic P was mainly phosphate (83–100%) with small concentrations of pyrophosphate (0–17%). Phos...

We present the observational results of a survey designed to target and detect asteroids whose colors are similar to those of Vesta family members and thus may be considered as candidates for having a basaltic composition. Fifty basaltic candidates were selected with orbital elements that lie outside of the Vesta dynamical family. Optical and near-infrared spectra were used to assign a taxonomi...

Lunar meteorites provide a wider sampling of the lunar surface compared to the samples collected during the Apollo and Luna Missions. Apatite is the main hydroxyl-bearing (proxy for water) mineral in lunar samples, especially in basaltic rocks. Apatite is also amenable to in-situ U-Pb age dating studies. The ages of lunar basaltic meteorites also span over a larger range compared to basaltic sa...

Introduction: Lunar meteorites arguably provide a wider sampling of the lunar surface compared to the samples collected during the Apollo and Luna Missions. Apatite is the main hydroxyl-bearing (proxy for water) mineral in lunar samples, especially in basaltic rocks. The ages of lunar basaltic meteorites also span a larger range compared to basaltic samples collected during Apollo and Luna miss...

Aims. The identification of other basaltic objects in the asteroid belt is mandatory to explain the diversity in the collection of basaltic meteorites. This diversity requires more than one differentiated parent body, a fact that is consistent with the diversity of differentiated parent bodies implied by the iron meteorites. Methods. Based on a list of previously identified candidate basaltic (...

Understanding the influence of bubble foams on magma permeability and strength is critical to investigations of volcanic eruption mechanisms. Increasing foam porosity decreases strength, enhancing the probability of an eruption. However, higher porosities lead to larger permeabilities, which can lessen the eruption hazard. Here we measure bubble size and wall thickness distributions, as well as...

The Rocknest aeolian deposit is similar to aeolian features analyzed by the Mars Exploration Rovers (MERs) Spirit and Opportunity. The fraction of sand <150 micrometers in size contains ~55% crystalline material consistent with a basaltic heritage and ~45% x-ray amorphous material. The amorphous component of Rocknest is iron-rich and silicon-poor and is the host of the volatiles (water, oxygen,...

Introduction: The Miniature Thermal Emission Spectrometer (Mini-TES) instrument aboard the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity has been used to acquire thousands of spectra from the surface of Merid-iani Planum [1]. The Mini-TES measures thermal in-frared energy at a similar spectral resolution and range to that of the Thermal Emission Spectrometer (TES) aboard the Mars Global Surveyor orbiting ...

To explore the capability of basaltic glass to support the growth of chemosynthetic microorganisms, complementary in situ and in vitro colonization experiments were performed. Microbial colonizers containing synthetic tholeitic basaltic glasses, either enriched in reduced or oxidized iron, were deployed off-axis from the Mid Atlantic Ridge on surface sediments of the abyssal plain (35°N; 29°W)....