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sciencespies · 4 years ago

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These ants suit up in a protective 'biomineral armor' never seen before in insects

https://sciencespies.com/nature/these-ants-suit-up-in-a-protective-biomineral-armor-never-seen-before-in-insects/

These ants suit up in a protective 'biomineral armor' never seen before in insects

Ants are pretty organised little creatures. Highly social insects, they know how to forage, build complicated nests, steal your pantry snacks, and generally look after the queens and the colony, all by working together.

Leaf-cutter ants turn that cooperation up several notches. Leaf-cutter ant colonies like Acromyrmex echinatior can contain millions of ants, split into four castes that all have different roles to maintain a garden of fungus that the ants eat.

These farming ants might make a top-tier team of gardeners, but that doesn’t mean they don’t get into the occasional scrap, and living in such large groups usually also means facing an increased risk of pathogens.

For these reasons, a little protection never goes astray, and although scientists aren’t entirely sure why, it seems these little guys needed protection enough to evolve their own natural body armour.

A team led by researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison analysed this ‘whitish granular coating’ on A. echinatior and came to the conclusion that the coating is a self-made biomineral body armour – the first known example in the insect world.

“We have been working on these leaf-cutting ants for many years, especially focusing on this fascinating association they have with bacteria that produce antibiotics that help them deal with diseases,” senior author and University of Wisconsin-Madison microbiologist Cameron Currie told ScienceAlert.

“It was in our effort to identify what the ant might produce for the bacteria that [first author Li] Hongjie discovered the biomineral crystals on the surface of the ant.”

The team peered deep onto the mineral layer that covers the ant’s exoskeleton, using electron microscopy, electron backscatter diffraction, and a number of other techniques. They found the coating is made up of a thin layer of rhombohedral magnesium calcite crystals around 3-5 micrometres in size.

Top: the shiny armour. Bottom: SEM image of the coating. (Li et al., Nature Communications, 2020)

You might be more familiar with biomineral skeletons in crustaceans such as the hard shells of lobsters. However, insects evolved from crustaceans, so it makes sense that some may have retained a similar armour-like trait.

The team also reared the ants to see when this coating occurred, and how it protects them – finding that the coating is not present in baby ants, but develops rapidly as the ants mature, and that this finished coating significantly hardens the exoskeleton.

To confirm this, the researchers put the ants into experimental battles, finding that those with the armour were more protected in battle, and also from pathogens.

“To further test the role of the biomineral as protective armour, we exposed Acromyrmex echinatior major workers with and without biomineral armour to Atta cephalotes soldiers in ant aggression experiments designed to mimic territorial ‘ant wars’ that are a relatively common occurrence in nature,” the team write.

“In direct combat with the substantially larger and stronger At. cephalotes soldier workers, ants with biomineralised cuticles lost significantly fewer body parts and had significantly higher survival rates compared to biomineral-free ants.”

They also discovered that without the armour, the ants were significantly more likely to be infected with an insect attacking fungus called Metarhizium anisopliae.

Although we don’t understand how this leaf-cutter ant species evolved this coating, the team thinks that it’s probably not the only insect that developed such a protection.

“Given that fungus-growing ants are among the most extensively studied tropical insects,” the team writes, “our finding raises the intriguing possibility that high-magnesium calcite biomineralisation may be more widespread in insects than previously suspected, suggesting a promising avenue for future research.”

While there might be a number of species of ants that have a similar coating, with more research the ‘armour’ technology could even make the leap to humans – or at least our stuff.

“We think that there is potential for development of the material as adding strength to a range of products. It is light and thin,” Currie told ScienceAlert.

“The field of material science is an exciting area of science.”

The research has been published in Nature Communications.

#Nature

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didyouknow-wp · 2 years ago

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#wikipedia #random facts #did you know

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joyfuldelusionchaosvaliant · 3 years ago

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Science and Chemistry Classes

New technique advances the way researchers measure and analyze battery materials

by National Renewable Energy Laboratory

"This breakthrough allows NREL to perform single-particle characterization for Li-ion cells," said Donal Finegan, an NREL energy storage researcher and staff scientist leading the project. "We know that the morphology and orientation of grains within the cell can greatly affect the rate performance and life of the electrode. With this model, we can evaluate the physical conditions that lead to improved batteries."

For researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), precise and accurate measurement is crucial to understand and optimize lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. Li-ion batteries are everywhere, from personal devices to electric vehicles and stationary storage systems that support the transition to renewable energy generation by mitigating negative grid impacts. To meet evolving energy needs, researchers are focused on improving the performance, safety, and energy density of Li-ion batteries. recent breakthrough by NREL and the University of Ulm advances the way researchers measure and analyze battery materials. The research, published in npj Computational Materials, artificially generated the representative architecture of a Li-ion electrode particle with sub-particle grain detail. This first-of-its-kind artificial electrode will allow researchers to manipulate the model to evaluate opportunities for battery design improvements."Understanding the invisibleOne of the greatest challenges in Li-ion research is the microscopic scale of the work; small details often result in big impacts to battery performance. No existing technique allows researchers to measure sub-particle information that is integral to understanding Li-ion battery behavior. For years, researchers at NREL have pushed the boundaries of specialized imaging capabilities to improve understanding of Li-ion electrode-level structures, but these tools have so far been unable to offer a complete picture of sub-particle detail."Microscopy techniques always require a trade-off," Finegan said. "For example, tools that measure particle morphology overlook vital information about the chemical properties or crystal structure due to systematic limitations. We've realized there is no way to get all of the information we need in one place."To address this gap in understanding, a multiscale, multimodal imaging approach was used to generate the artificial Li-ion electrode model, ultimately merging two of NREL's existing advanced capabilities. Researchers used X-ray nano-computed tomography to capture the morphology of the particle's outer shape. For the internal grain distribution, researchers used focused-ion beam electron backscatter diffraction (FIB-EBSD) to capture high-resolution sub-particle information.The language of microscopyThis project is not the first time NREL has combined microscopy techniques to get a closer look at battery behaviors. NREL's energy storage researchers often leverage state-of-the-art X-ray diagnostic capabilities to examine the composition of battery materials. However, where previous research focused on imaging results, this project used complicated characterization to merge data streams."Merging data streams is not a trivial task," Finegan said. "Microscopy itself is highly specialized, and these tools each output data in their own way. To generate this model, our team was tasked with not only characterizing the information from each data source, but then translating it to an entirely new format."Early analysis with the artificial model has already provided researchers with greater understanding of the physical conditions that affect how lithium travels through the electrode and around the crystals. The sub-particle details from this model help analyze an ion's journey and will inform research aimed at developing batteries that can withstand extreme fast charging conditions without accelerated degradation.Still, this is just the beginning for NREL's artificial model. Future research will apply machine learning techniques to acquire and translate data faster, leading to higher-quality models and even greater insights to build better batteries in the future.

#17/12/2021

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labatoz · 3 years ago

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New EBSD website from Oxford Instrument

EBSD: Electron Backscatter Diffraction EBSD, Electron Backscatter Diffraction, is used to perform quantitative microstructural analyses in the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), on a millimetre to a nanometre scale. This website provides knowledge and guidance for anyone interested in EBSD – from students and newcomers to the technique, through regular users who need a quick refresher, to…

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scanningelectron · 4 years ago

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the most used methods in research using a scanning electron microscope

are X-ray, Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), and Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope(STEM). the most used methods in research using scanning electron microscope are X-ray, Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) and Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope(STEM).

The Scanning electron microscope is capable of providing information about the elemental composition, phase content, microstructure, crystallographic texture or other features on a micrometer scale. It has been widely used by both academic researchers as well as industrial research & development staff for a variety of purposes. A scanning electron microscope is capable of providing information about the elemental composition, phase content, microstructure, crystallographic texture, or other features on a micrometer scale. It has been widely used by both academic researchers as well as industrial research & development staff for a variety of purposes.

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juniperpublishers-ttsr · 4 years ago

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Practical Approach for Elements within Incorporated Charged Zinc Particles in an Anode Zinc Reactor of a Fabricated Zinc Bromine Battery Cell System (ZnBr2) with Fitting Materials

Abstract

Batteries with different chemistries and designs encounters various (redox reactions) to store energy through applying charges and discharges rates. Redox flow batteries systems such as zinc bromine batteries cells systems (ZnBr2) can be enclosed with high surface area anode electrodes (reactors) and charged with some amount of added carbon particles for zinc deposition. The electrochemical reactions within a fabricated ZnBr2 battery cell system have been investigated with the coupled inlets and outlet brass fitting materials (15mm and 30mm) of different anode and cathode electrolyte compositions. SEM analysis was explored on some charged particles collected from the anode reactor to identify all the existing elements within the deposited charged zinc particles after several charges. The investigated zinc particles were between 254 microns to 354 microns. The electrolyte composition includes 3 moles of KBr (535.51 grams), 1 mole of KCl (111.89 grams) as the cathode side electrolyte and 3 moles of ZnBr2 (675 grams), 1 mole of ZnCl2 (205 grams), and 1M of KCl (111.826 grams) as the anode electrolyte solution. Originally, this journal paper has discovered the importance of coupling chemically resistance materials to ZnBr2 cells as investigated on the fabricated ZnBr2 cell that was initially converted to a CuZn2 battery cell system and reverted to the ideal ZnBr2 cell system before using an SEM technique to identify separately the present elements.

Keywords: SEM Analysis on Elements; Flow Rate; Reverting Battery Cell System

Introduction

As previously presented in a journal titled (Practical Development of a ZnBr2 Flow Battery with a Fluidized Bed Anode Zinc-Electrode), Journal of the Electrochemical Society, Volume 167, Number 5, various categories of anode reactors designed in solidwork were numerically examined before choosing the best candidate reactor and later passed different coulombs of charges and discharges to the fabricated ZnBr2 battery cell after the incorporated chosen reactor to the cell anode side and later explored the presented SEM analysis carried out in this paper on some particles collected from the anode reactor [1].

The fluent version in Ansys has assisted to successfully modelled a fluidized bed to address problems facing zinc-bromine battery cells systems. Such as dendrites problems within the cell; puncturing membranes of these cells systems and thereby resulting to cut off voltages, short circuits that also reduces their life span. Introducing and modelling a fluidized bed zinc electrode has demonstrated fast deposition of zinc ions within the battery system zinc electrode and serve as an incorporated alternative electrode to prevent depositing zinc ions onto a solid electrode previously making ZnBr2 cells to encounter mechanical abrasion and deteriorating the electrodes as zinc ions stays longer on them than the expected time [1-3]. See the presented schematic diagram in Figure 1.

Introduction to SEM and Fluidized Bed Reactors

SEM (scanning electrons microscopy) and fluidized bed zinc anode reactors has several benefits. Some of these benefits include using SEM to examine electrode sample homogeneity and fluidized bed reactors for multiphase mixing purposes etc. Elements present within injected particles to zinc bromine batteries cells systems; anode zinc electrode can be examined using SEM analysis. Redox flow batteries cells systems (RFB’s) such as zinc bromine batteries cells systems enclosed with high surface area zinc electrodes are capable to prevent the issue of dendrite formation within these batteries cells systems.

By means of SEM, scanning of electrons microscopy, samples images sample can be produced through focusing on the beam of electrons [4]. Anode zinc reactors of ZnBr2 batteries cells systems are usually in liquid and solid phases. Both the two phases, liquid and solid are common in petrochemical industries, biological industries in chemical industries and particularity for adsorption, cracking (catalytic), crystallization and for ion exchange [5] etc. Particles sizes and shapes within anode reactors has huge impact to achieve fluidization and prevent dendrite formation in ZnBr2 cells. However, majority of these fluidized beds are not always designed properly before fabrication and to tailoring them to the mean particle size; especially for those in use for particle size distributions [6-18].

Particles behaviour are now usually modelled using the DEM technique, (discrete element method). DEM approaches are used to represent particles numerically and individually by identifying them with their specific properties (shapes, magnitude, properties of their material and the original velocity) [19-21]. The geometry interior shape accommodating all the injected particles are the domain for the simulation. Designed reactors can be separated by grids to identify the positions of particles prior to modelling and simulating.

Based on Newton’s laws, injected particles in reactors are subjected to have good contacts and can be exposed to a small motion during the iteration process [22-24]. Contacts among injected particles in a ZnBr2 anode reactor can be monitored throughout discrete reactions, modelling stages and to determine the particles contact forces ad magnitude through a spring dashpot model. The acceleration of drag forces on fluid and particles, total forces and summation can be computationally balanced before determining individually the parameters and particles motion [25].

Particles properties, such as structure can differently be observed using SEM, scanning of electrons microscopy and their sample compositions, and any interacted atoms within the provided sample [26,27]. In most application, over the surface of samples, data collections are possible within the selected area and spatially displayed variances in their properties. Areas in between 1 cm to 5 microns can be imaged using such technique and within a spatial resolution of 50 to 100nm through using conventional scanning electrons microscopy method [28-31].

Suitable qualitative approaches, semi-quantitative, structural crystal or using EBSD to observe the orientation of the crystal and selecting point on samples are possible on SEM to determine chemically various compositions by means of an energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) [29,32]. Typically, scanning electron microscopy, as probes electrons micro-analyzer, EPMA, has considerably several existing designed functions of overlapped capabilities among other analytical instruments.

Backscattered electrons can be standardly collected using an SEM and electrons sources are the basic part of SEM. Through SEM analysis, electron’s properties, electrodes dispersion and their homogeneity can also be observed [33,34]. The sources of electrons, high voltages encountered across them, electrons accelerating toward the samples, electromagnetic lenses, temperatures, detectors, and data systems collections are diffractions of samples usually at high incidence angles [35-40]. Within a user interface, SEM does not rely on a 2θ angle, rather to act marginally and similarly to a light microscope [41]. Some SEMs are equipped to count samples, detect, and analyze off a scattered x-ray. Through such type of detectors, the elemental composition of a sample can possibly be determined [42-44]. Table 1 has further presented other advantages and disadvantages of scanning electrons microscopy, SEM.

Materials and Suppliers

Materials and Method

SEM Preparation

By exploring scanning of electrons microscopy (SEM) on some of the collected charged particles from the anode zinc reactor was to discover all the enclosed various elements after charging and discharging the zinc bromine battery cell at different charge rates. Before exploring SEM analyses on the charged deposited zinc morphology collected from the anode reactor were dried in an oven at a temperature of 50°C to prevent these particles from agglomerating together.

The investigated particles sizes were in between (254 microns to 354 microns). Some of these particles from the anode-side zinc electrode after charging the cell were viewed at different microns (100 microns, 50 microns, 10 microns and 5 microns) by using the JEOL JSM-6010 PLUS/LA (SEM) scanning electron microscope machine.

The SEM characterization of the zinc electrodeposits were examined after charging the cell at a charge rate of 0.27 amps and 0.3 amps. The anode-electrolyte composition includes 3 moles of ZnBr2 (675 grams) Solution, 1 mole of ZnCl2 (205 grams), and 1 mole of KCl (111.826 grams). The cathode electrolyte solution includes 3 moles of KBr (535 grams) and 1 mole of KCl (111.897 grams). The anode electrolyte solution density was 1.47g cm-3 which was used to gauge the cathode-electrolyte. A flow rate of (166.7cm3/ min) was maintained throughout the experiment. The used JSM-6010LA/JSM-6010LV equipment for the scanning process was a compact mobile SEMs device with high performance and suitable for research use (Figure 2). The surface structures are observed by secondary electrons, the distribution of materials in a specimen was observed by backscattering the electrons and analysing the elements by EDS (energy dispersive X-ray analyser). All the necessary functions are available in the all-in-one mobile multi-touch-panel SEM [45-49].

Results Analysis and Discussion

Examined Particles

Particles collected from the anode zinc reactor in the lab for SEM analysis (scanning of electrons image) occupied some white edges after the charge and discharge experiments according to the colour mapping. (Figures 3a-3c) for the decoupled anode and cathode cell reactor, the anode zinc reactor incorporating charged zinc particles, the collected and prepared charged electrodeposited zinc morphology enclosed within the small glass coin beaker for SEM analysis. Encountered degasification, the removal of dissolved gases from the anode and cathode electrolyte solution was due to the solid and liquid interfaces enclosing some formed bubbles during the experimental work. The observed degasification was concluded to have originated from particles that were not properly dried before removing them from the oven and before the SEM process. Particles not properly dried before the SEM analysis were expected to have strangely behaved and changed the zinc morphology (shape and structure) due to the observed gasification.

The dried and examined zinc morphologies presented in Figures 4-6 were studied using the scanning of electron microscopy, SEM characterization to observe elements enclosed within these particles after the redox reaction (charged and discharged) to store and discharge the stored energy by the fabricated zinc bromine battery cell and after observing copper deposits at the cathode-side electrolyte due to the brass fittings that were not chemically resistance that initially changed the battery to a copper-zinc RFB cell before it was reverted back to a zinc-bromine battery cell by changing some of the materials. See the two graphical peak plots in Figure 7a & 7b for the identified copper showing the presence of copper at a wavelength of 740nm and at a wavelength of 900nm with a UV-visible spectrophotometer device (Table 2).

As presented in Tables 3-5, the images of the mapped elements during the SEI, scanning of electrons images showed no hydrogen traces subsequently after charging the ZnBr2 battery cell at various charged and discharged amperes.

Zinc deposited within the anode reactor via SEM were viewed using different microns. Picture 1, observed as 100 microns has a sedimentary rock shape, photo 3, viewed in 10 microns has high mossy deposits that look like zinc clusters. Picture 2 of 50 microns resemble silt sand that was sticky together, and photo 4, was observed in 5 microns. Particles collected after discharging the stored energy by the battery cell were like the charged particles examined via SEM. Furthermore, the carbon fibre feeder electrode materials also contributed to the low current in between (-300 mA to 300 mA) that was observed continuously when the fabricated battery cell was charged and throughout its mode of operation. In the past, a similar magnificently SEM results have been achieved despite using the appropriate working electrodes materials, primary and secondary supporting electrolyte which also enhanced a good electrochemical behaviour [50].

Charged and Dried Particles

Discharged and Dried Particles

Cu Electrodeposition at Charge and Discharge

UV-Visible Spectrometer Device and Peak Plots

As presented in Figure 8, a UV-Vis spectroscopy laboratory device is a simple, quick, and not expensive measurable technique for measuring the amount of light absorbs by a chemical substance. See also Figure 7a-7c and Figure 9 for other results. The process can be carried out by gaging the light intensity passing through a sample in relation to the light intensity through a blank reference or sample. Multiple techniques can measure types of multiple samples, either in thin film, glass, liquids, or solids. UV-Vis Spectroscopy as a measuring device is suitable to know the transmitting, absorption and the functioning reflection of a material wavelength in the range of 190 nanometers to 1,100 manometers [51,52].

With a UV-Vis spectroscopy device, it was possible the observed brown deposits within the cathode electrolyte solution as copper by collecting some of this electrolyte solution in a small glass bottle after passing these charges to the cell: (1) 0.1 amps and -0.1 amps for 3600 secs and 800 secs (2) At 0.1 amps and -0.1 amps for 3500 secs and 200 secs and (3) At 0.25 amps for 3600 secs and -0.25 amps for 100 secs with 3 moles of KBr (535.51 grams), 1 mole of KCl (111.89 grams) as the cathode-side electrolyte solution and 3 moles of ZnBr2 (675 grams), 1M of ZnCl2 (205 grams), and 1 mole of KCl (111.826 grams) as the anode electrolyte solution [53,54].

The cathode electrolyte solution contains 3 moles of KBr (535.51g), 1 mole of KCl (111.89g). The anode electrolyte solution contains 3 moles of ZnBr2, 1 mole of KCl and 1 mole of ZnCl2. Both electrolytes solution contained 24.1g of Sodium Bromoacetate acid and Bromoacetic acid and 240g of MEM-Sequestering agent.

Conclusion and Future Work

The fabricated ZnBr2 cell chemically converted to a CuZn2battery cell due to the non-chemically fitted brass materials coupled to the fabricated battery cell according to the investigated brown deposits within the cathode-side electrolyte observed to be copper and further to the explored SEM analysis on some of the electrodeposited charged zinc particles incorporated within the anode-reactor. The outcome of the results encouraged interrupting the cell from operating further and led to pulling apart the cell components to be properly cleaned and the sieving separation technique carried out on the cathode and anode electrolyte solution due the escaped charged zinc-particles.

Furthermore, as previously mentioned the possibility to revert the cell back to a zinc-bromine battery cell from a copper-zinc battery cell had occurred by changing the brass fitting materials (BFM) to a plastic fitting material (PFM). The observed brown deposits which had converted the zinc-bromine batteries cell to a copper-zinc battery cell was only possible to be reverted to a zinc-bromine battery cells by carrying out repeatedly a filtration process to separate the sediments observed from the anode and cathode electrolyte solution.

Initially by not fabricating the Nafion membrane size to the actual length and cell breadth size (190mm*190mm), had supported allowing the anode and cathode electrolyte to mix. Therefore, fabricating the membrane size to a cell shape will prevent any future occurrence from allowing any cross-mixing of any anode-side and cathode-side electrolyte.

By using a UV-visible spectrophotometer device to detect why the cathode-side electrolyte did not change to a reddish brown or yellow colour during the charge rate and discharged rate after identifying a dark green coloured electrolyte at the cathode-side cell; which was recognized as copper at a wavelength of 900nm and with two peaks (see Figure 7a & 7b) had also supported having the establishment of a good redox reaction according to the electrochemical results according to the experimental observation. Furthermore, see Figures 1 & 7b. Therefore, identifying the chemistry behind the electrolyte colour had further helped.

The presence of oxygen (O2) was agreed to have occurred because the cell was exposed before coupling it and due to the presence of H2O. Silicon has originated due to the applied adhesive glue to prevent leakages. Chromium (Cr), Iron (Fe) and carbon (C) were both produced due to the coupled anode-inlet and anode-outlet pipe steel materials and brass fittings that were not chemical resistance. The anode and cathode inlets and outlets brass fittings materials had supported the origination of the identified selenium element during the chemical reaction. Selenium as non-metallic chemical elements in the group xvi of the periodic table could conducts electricity better in the light than in the dark and used in photocells. It was not peculiar by identifying some potassium elements during the SEM since the cell electrolytes consisted of some added salt.

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cloudtales · 7 years ago

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Electron backscatter diffraction yields microstructure insights

Soft magnetic materials are required for electrical motors, and their magnetic properties depend on their composition and structure. This methodology examines both. […] Read More

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materialsscienceandengineering · 5 years ago

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Machine learning technique speeds up crystal structure determination

Nanoengineers at the University of California San Diego have developed a computer-based method that could make it less labor-intensive to determine the crystal structures of various materials and molecules, including alloys, proteins and pharmaceuticals. The method uses a machine learning algorithm, similar to the type used in facial recognition and self-driving cars, to independently analyze electron diffraction patterns, and do so with at least 95% accuracy.

The work is published in the Jan. 31 issue of Science.

A team led by UC San Diego nanoengineering professor Kenneth Vecchio and his Ph.D. student Kevin Kaufmann, who is the first author of the paper, developed the new approach. Their method involves using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) to collect electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) patterns. Compared to other electron diffraction techniques, such as those in transmission electron microscopy (TEM), SEM-based EBSD can be performed on large samples and analyzed at multiple length scales. This provides local sub-micron information mapped to centimeter scales. For example, a modern EBSD system enables determination of fine-scale grain structures, crystal orientations, relative residual stress or strain, and other information in a single scan of the sample.

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elar-urfu-ru · 5 years ago

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sciencespies · 6 years ago

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'Martian CSI' reveals how asteroid impacts created running water under red planet

https://sciencespies.com/biology/martian-csi-reveals-how-asteroid-impacts-created-running-water-under-red-planet/

'Martian CSI' reveals how asteroid impacts created running water under red planet

A graphical model of how asteroid impacts help create temporary sources of running water on the Mars. The nakhlite meteorites are a suite of igneous rocks that crystallised around a complex volcanic edifice on Mars 1.3-1.4 billion years ago. New quantitative textural analysis of these meteorites has revealed evidence for an impact generated hydrothermal system on Mars 633 million years ago. These meteorites were then ejected from Mars during a second impact 11 million years ago. Credit: University of Glasgow

Modern analysis of Martian meteorites has revealed unprecedented details about how asteroid impacts help create temporary sources of running water on the red planet.

This study helps to narrow down the potential location of the impact crater on the Martian surface which blasted some of those Martian rocks into space millions of years ago.

The findings are the outcome of a kind of “Martian CSI’ which uses sophisticated techniques to reconstruct major events that shaped the rock since it formed on Mars around 1.4 billion years ago.

The paper, titled “Boom boom pow: shock-facilitated aqueous alteration and evidence for two shock events in the Martian nakhlite meteorites,” is published in Science Advances. The research was funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).

In the new paper, University of Glasgow planetary scientists and colleagues from Leeds, Italy, Australia and Sweden describe how they used a technique known as electron backscatter diffraction to examine slices of two different Martian meteorites known as “nakhlites.”

The nakhlites are group of volcanic Martian meteorites named after El Nakhla in Egypt, where the first of them fell to Earth in 1911. Excitingly, these meteorite’s preserve evidence of the action of liquid water on the Martian surface approximately 633 million years ago. However, the process which generated these fluids has been a mystery until now.

Dr. Luke Daly, Research Associate in Solar System Science at the University of Glasgow’s School of Geographical and Earth Sciences, is the paper’s lead author.

Dr. Daly said: “There’s a huge amount of information about Mars locked inside the little pieces of the red planet which have fallen to Earth as meteorites, which new analytical techniques can allow us to access.

��By applying this electron backscatter diffraction technique, we’ve been able to look very closely at the orientation and deformation of minerals across the whole area of these samples of Martian rock to look for patterns.

“What we’ve seen is that the pattern of deformation in the minerals matches exactly the distribution of weathering veins that formed from the Martian fluids. This coincidence provide us with exciting data about two big events from the history of those rocks. The first is that, about 633 million years ago, they were hit by an asteroid that deformed them into part of an impact crater.

“This impact was big enough and hot enough to melt the ice under the Martian surface and send it rushing through newly-formed cracks in the rock—effectively forming a temporary hydrothermal system below the surface of Mars, which altered the composition of the minerals in the rocks, close to these cracks. It suggests an asteroid impact was the mystery mechanism for generating liquid water in the nakhlites long after the volcano that formed them on Mars had become extinct.

“The second exciting thing it tells us is that the rocks must have been hit twice. A second impact about 11 million years ago had the right combination of angle and force to blast the rocks off the surface of the planet and begin their long journey through space towards Earth.”

The team believe that their findings provide new insight into the formation of the Martian landscape. Regular asteroid bombardments could have had similar effects on underground ice throughout the course of Martian history, creating temporary hydrothermal systems all over the planet and important sources of liquid water.

Their analysis also provides important clues which could help pinpoint exactly where on Mars the nakhlites originated.

Dr. Daly added: “We’re currently trying to understand Martian geology through these meteorites without knowing what part of Mars’ surface these so-called nakhlites came from. Our new findings tightly constrain the possible origins of the nakhlites—we now know that we’re looking for a complex volcanic edifice, about 1.3-1.4 billion years old, with one crater around 633 million years old and another one about 11 million years old. Very few places on Mars could fit that bill.”

“It’s a piece of interplanetary detective work which is still ongoing but we’re keen to crack the case.”

The researchers, from the University of Glasgow, Leeds University, Uppsala University, Oxford Instruments Nanoanalysis, Università di Pisa, the University of New South Wales, and Curtin University, looked at samples from two nakhlites.

One, known as Miller Range 03346, was found and recovered from the Miller range mountains in Antarctica in 2003 by the Antarctic Search for Meteorites expedition. Prof. Gretchen Benedix, a co-author on this study, was part of the expedition that recovered Miller Range 03346. The second, “Lafayette,” was found in Purdue University’s collection of rock samples in 1931.

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Analysis of Martian meteorites has uncovered 90 million years’ worth of new information about one of the red plan

More information: L. Daly et al. Boom boom pow: Shock-facilitated aqueous alteration and evidence for two shock events in the Martian nakhlite meteorites, Science Advances (2019). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aaw5549

Provided by University of Glasgow

Citation: ‘Martian CSI’ reveals how asteroid impacts created running water under red planet (2019, September 5) retrieved 5 September 2019 from https://phys.org/news/2019-09-martian-csi-reveals-asteroid-impacts.html

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sciencebulletin · 6 years ago

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'Martian CSI' reveals how asteroid impacts created running water under red planet

Modern analysis of Martian meteorites has revealed unprecedented details about how asteroid impacts help create temporary sources of running water on the red planet. This study helps to narrow down the potential location of the impact crater on the Martian surface which blasted some of those Martian rocks into space millions of years ago. The findings are the outcome of a kind of "Martian CSI' which uses sophisticated techniques to reconstruct major events that shaped the rock since it formed on Mars around 1.4 billion years ago. The paper, titled "Boom boom pow: shock-facilitated aqueous alteration and evidence for two shock events in the Martian nakhlite meteorites," is published in Science Advances. The research was funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). In the new paper, University of Glasgow planetary scientists and colleagues from Leeds, Italy, Australia and Sweden describe how they used a technique known as electron backscatter diffraction to examine slices of two different Martian meteorites known as "nakhlites." The nakhlites are group of volcanic Martian meteorites named after El Nakhla in Egypt, where the first of them fell to Earth in 1911. Excitingly, these meteorite's preserve evidence of the action of liquid water on the Martian surface approximately 633 million years ago. However, the process which generated these fluids has been a mystery until now. Dr. Luke Daly, Research Associate in Solar System Science at the University of Glasgow's School of Geographical and Earth Sciences, is the paper's lead author. Dr. Daly said: "There's a huge amount of information about Mars locked inside the little pieces of the red planet which have fallen to Earth as meteorites, which new analytical techniques can allow us to access. "By applying this electron backscatter diffraction technique, we've been able to look very closely at the orientation and deformation of minerals across the whole area of these samples of Martian rock to look for patterns. "What we've seen is that the pattern of deformation in the minerals matches exactly the distribution of weathering veins that formed from the Martian fluids. This coincidence provide us with exciting data about two big events from the history of those rocks. The first is that, about 633 million years ago, they were hit by an asteroid that deformed them into part of an impact crater. "This impact was big enough and hot enough to melt the ice under the Martian surface and send it rushing through newly-formed cracks in the rock—effectively forming a temporary hydrothermal system below the surface of Mars, which altered the composition of the minerals in the rocks, close to these cracks. It suggests an asteroid impact was the mystery mechanism for generating liquid water in the nakhlites long after the volcano that formed them on Mars had become extinct. "The second exciting thing it tells us is that the rocks must have been hit twice. A second impact about 11 million years ago had the right combination of angle and force to blast the rocks off the surface of the planet and begin their long journey through space towards Earth." The team believe that their findings provide new insight into the formation of the Martian landscape. Regular asteroid bombardments could have had similar effects on underground ice throughout the course of Martian history, creating temporary hydrothermal systems all over the planet and important sources of liquid water. Their analysis also provides important clues which could help pinpoint exactly where on Mars the nakhlites originated. Dr. Daly added: "We're currently trying to understand Martian geology through these meteorites without knowing what part of Mars' surface these so-called nakhlites came from. Our new findings tightly constrain the possible origins of the nakhlites—we now know that we're looking for a complex volcanic edifice, about 1.3-1.4 billion years old, with one crater around 633 million years old and another one about 11 million years old. Very few places on Mars could fit that bill." "It's a piece of interplanetary detective work which is still ongoing but we're keen to crack the case." The researchers, from the University of Glasgow, Leeds University, Uppsala University, Oxford Instruments Nanoanalysis, Università di Pisa, the University of New South Wales, and Curtin University, looked at samples from two nakhlites. One, known as Miller Range 03346, was found and recovered from the Miller range mountains in Antarctica in 2003 by the Antarctic Search for Meteorites expedition. Prof. Gretchen Benedix, a co-author on this study, was part of the expedition that recovered Miller Range 03346. The second, "Lafayette," was found in Purdue University's collection of rock samples in 1931. Provided by: University of Glasgow More information: L. Daly et al. Boom boom pow: Shock-facilitated aqueous alteration and evidence for two shock events in the Martian nakhlite meteorites. Science Advances (2019). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aaw5549 Image: A graphical model of how asteroid impacts help create temporary sources of running water on the Mars. The nakhlite meteorites are a suite of igneous rocks that crystallised around a complex volcanic edifice on Mars 1.3-1.4 billion years ago. New quantitative textural analysis of these meteorites has revealed evidence for an impact generated hydrothermal system on Mars 633 million years ago. These meteorites were then ejected from Mars during a second impact 11 million years ago. Credit: University of Glasgow Read the full article

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lefafta · 6 years ago

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Discover More About Laboratory Pivoting In Quartz Countertops

By Michael Bennett

Quartz axis path patterns are used fundamentally in understanding the shear sense related to rocks. This type of graphic plots have been generally adopted inside the geological components in order to investigate various tectonic processes. This is really from restoration of crustal block position towards the reconstruction concerning tectonic transport direction in an exceedingly collisional chair belt similar to quartz countertops Fort Worth. A few journalists have connected this way to deal with determination questions concerning estimation including strain, dimension of missing coaxially of shear area, and furthermore warm deformational range. A couple of these issues should be tended to subjectively originating from kinematic pointers. Consequently quartz hub study might be employed twice as beyond any doubt with respect to its kinematics. Furthermore, a series of lab experiments happen to be done upon analog components. It was additionally done in synergy kinematic microscopy connected with experimentally deformed quartz as well as feldspar wealthy aggregates in order to fabric development at managed pressure, temperatures and tension conditions and also to compare associated with its favored crystallographic positioning patterns within naturally sheared bearing boulders. After the very first published material diagram acquired with the common stage, a number of techniques are already applied. This comprises of a photometric technique, the adjusted magnifying instrument. A controlled rotating polar stage for the magnifying lens, post figure measurements neutron scattering, synchrotron scattering and electron backscatter scattering. This capacity analyzes results from 4 procedures, through most obsolete to contemporary and prevalent ones. Specialists apply these types of to a collection with examples from internal shear sector. These people include direction proportions having a traditional microscopic lens equipped with any kind of universal time period. It includes some kind of mechanized technique good image assessment of domains within thin section, the actual pc incorporated polarization microscopy released, coming back flight neutron diffraction in addition to electron backscatter diffraction. Scientists consider whether or not subjects attained by indicates above tend to be comparable if you take into account that every technique provides a piece of info related to the amount area below investigation. Certainly, the same skinny sections had been investigated through these methods. Whereas, stone cylinders in the same examples have been utilized for neutron diffraction research and additional refined thin areas were reduce from the exact same specimens similar to the extending lineation along with perpendicular in order to foliation with regard to analyses. Remember that thin portions analyzed obtain by sectioning of the identical specimen looked into by providing equal quartz websites. To make numerous datasets in line with each other, actual crystallographic orientations determined by regular means are actually stored in a new database. They are plunge in addition to azimuth dimension of axis for each feed with regard a research direction the particular strike about foliation. This particular rotated making use of the stereo system internet software program. This particular permitted experts to symbolize about post numbers orientations obtained regularly according to some other strategies. Experts will certainly talk about its adoptions of every technique, additionally showing the actual effectiveness associated with effects with regard to strength geology. Investigated sheared rubble have a place with your structural nap of moderately high caliber changeable gadget made essentially out of gneisses. This partook in Alpine orogeny. These kinds of happen over the crustal range district editing in the area. Present frameworks more often than not catch in addition to settle structures to get incredibly introductions in a split second at costs of one method for estimating per second or speedier from regions a couple of 100 nanometers in measurements. The examination not just offers introductions of the major minerals.

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