Meteorite Crater or Collapsed Lava Tube on Mt. Ararat ??

On Nov. 20, 2010 and in "meteorite crater on Mt. Ararat?" at
http://six.pairlist.net/pipermail/meteorite-list/2010-November/070933.html

 

Don Giovanni posted;

" http://snipurl.com/1hm8yo

 

 "

Other web pages for this story are:
1. http://technologyreview.com/blog/arxiv/26039/

 

http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/arxiv/files/48956/Ararat.png

 

2. Meteorite Crater on Mount Ararat?
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2010/11/19/meteorite-crater-on-mount-ararat/

 

and wrote

""Technology Review," a publication of MIT, published a story 
on Thurs., Nov. 18 titled “Unrecorded Meteorite Crater Found 
on Mount Ararat?” The article reveals that two physicists, Vahe 
Gurzadyan from the Yerevan Physics Institute in Armenia and 
Sverre Aarseth from the University of Cambridge in the UK, 
somehow gained access to the northern and western slopes of 
Mount Ararat—areas that are off-limits to visitors—and there 
discovered a “well-preserved” crater “at an altitude of 2100 
meters, at coordinates 39˚ 47’ 30”N, 44˚ 14’ 40”E, and…some 
70 meters across.”"

It must have been a very slow newsday for "Technology 
Review" to have published what is essentially a nonstory.
The two page article can be found in "A meteorite crater 
on Mt. Ararat?" by V. G. Gurzadyan and S. Aarseth (Submitted 
on 16 Nov 2010) in the arXiv.org archive. 

Summary at http://arxiv4.library.cornell.edu/abs/1011.3715

 

PDF file at http://arxiv4.library.cornell.edu/pdf/1011.3715v1

 

Looking at the picture, it does not even look like a 
convincing volcanic crater and certainly does not look 
anything like a convincing impact crater. One possibility
which they do not address is that this depression is a 
collapsed lave tube. The roof collapse of lava tubes also 
creates circular depressions, which the picture in their
article definitely looks like one. 

Some examples of collapsed lava tubes are:

1. The Desert Caves Project
http://www.saudicaves.com/science/index.html

 

http://www.saudicaves.com/science/hib.jpg

 

2. "Lava tube listed only in Becka's rough guide of America" (Utah)
http://www.goatchurch.org.uk/atrips/usa/utah/utah.html

 

http://www.goatchurch.org.uk/atrips/usa/utah/lavatube.jpg

 

3. Pisgah Lava Tubes
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=ce5aa161-17aa-48a3-b1a1-89b72a9dff1f

 

http://img.geocaching.com/cache/log/2ef85cee-6cc7-4674-b8c7-10d867e3beb0.jpg

 

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/gallery.aspx?guid=ce5aa161-17aa-48a3-b1a1-89b72a9dff1f

 

4. Collapsed Lava Tube, Craters of the Moon
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/11599385

 

5. Volcanic ventures
http://volcanicventures.wordpress.com/

 

http://volcanicventures.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/shellyp.jpg?w=497&h=372

 

6. Martian caves
http://dwarmstr.blogspot.com/2007_05_01_archive.html

 

http://www2.lib.uchicago.edu/~dean/blog/mars-cave.jpg

 

http://www2.lib.uchicago.edu/~dean/blog/mars-cave-floor.jpg

 

Yours,

Paul H.

Ames Crater Museum (Ames, Oklahoma) 7NOV2010

Ames Crater Museum (Ames, Oklahoma)

Sunday, November 7, 2010 9:58 PM

Ames Crater Museum
http://www.amescrater.com/
http://enidnews.com/localnews/x518673449/Ames-Astrobleme-Museum-records-meteor-crater-history

Astrobleme Museum a Big Hit (PDF file)
http://www.aoghs.org/pdf/AOGHS_AstroMuseum.pdf

Other web pages are:

Ames Impact Structure, Oklahoma
http://principles.ou.edu/ames/index.html
http://geophysics.ou.edu/solid_earth/notes/solar_system/Ames3.htm

Hydrocarbons in meteorite impact structures: Oil 
reserves in the Ames feature
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa5348/is_199812/ai_n21430580/

Meteorites Make Good Impression: Impact Craters Can 
Yield Reservoirs. AAPG Exporer, March 2002
http://www.aapg.org/explorer/2002/03mar/impactcraters.cfm

Asteroid Impact Craters on Earth as Seen From Space 
Betsy Mason, Wired News, 
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/08/impactcraters/all/1 

Yours,

Paul H.

Free PDF Files of El'gygytgyn Impact Crater Papers 6NOV2010

Free PDF Files of El'gygytgyn Impact Crater Papers
Through November 30, 2010, the PDF files of papers about the El'gygytgyn Impact Crater can be downloaded for free from volume 37, no. 1 of the Journal of Paleolimnology from "Arctic Record of the Last 250 ka from El'gygytgyn Crater" at:

http://www.springerlink.com/content/0921-2728/37/1/

Yours,
Paul H.

El'gygytgyn Impact Crater Yields 3.6 Million Year-Long Paleoclimate Record 6NOV2010

El'gygytgyn Impact Crater Yields 3.6 Million Year-Long Paleoclimate Record

Saturday, November 6, 2010 11:07 PM

Arctic Lake Yields Planet’s Most Continuous Record 
of Ancient Climate by Alexandra Witze, Science News
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/11/el-gygytgyn-climate-core/
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/64958/title/Arctic_lake_yields_climate_record

Arctic lake offers up climate record, UPI.com, Nov 3, 2010‎
http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2010/11/03/Arctic-lake-offers-up-climate-record/UPI-99031288827205/

The talk is:

Brigham-Grette, J., and others, 2010, First collaborative 
results from Lake El’gygytgyn crater: proxies of change 
since 3.6 Ma, NE Russian Arctic. Geological Society of 
America Abstracts with Programs. vol. 42, no. 5, p. 167.
http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2010AM/finalprogram/abstract_182572.htm
http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2010AM/finalprogram/session_26189.htm

In addition, there is:

Koeberl, C., and L. Pittarello, 2010, El’gygytgyn, an impact 
crater in siliceous volcanic rocks: preliminary results from
the IGCP drilling project. Geological Society of America 
Abstracts with Programs. vol. 42, no. 5, p. 171
http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2010AM/finalprogram/abstract_179293.htm

Session No. 69, Impact Cratering: From the Lab to the Field; 
from the Earth to the Planets, 2010 GSA Denver Annual Meeting
http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2010AM/finalprogram/session_26355.htm

Other Web Pages:

El'gygytgyn Impact Crater and Elgygytgyn Lake
http://www.unb.ca/passc/ImpactDatabase/images/elgygytgyn.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elgygytgyn_Lake

El'gygytgyn Crater, Russian Far East
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=36151

El'gygytgyn Drilling Project
http://www.geo.umass.edu/lake_e/index.html

Arctic Record of the Last 250 ka from El'gygytgyn Crater
Journal of Paleolimnology, Volume 37, Number 1
http://www.springerlink.com/content/0921-2728/37/1/

Asteroid Impact Craters on Earth as Seen From Space
Betsy Mason, Wired News, 
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/08/impactcraters/all/1

Yours,

Paul H.

Secret Maps and Petroglyphs 5NOV2010

Secret Maps and Petroglyphs

In relation to “secret maps” of archaeological sites, E.P. wrote:

"Yes, they exist but their use is restricted to professional archaeologists. One problem is looting, and even petroglyphs have been cut from walls with saws. The other problem is vandalism."

E. P. is correct about maps of archaeological sites do exist. and are kept by specific federal and state agencies that have large tracts of land, which they manage and the State Historical Office for each of the various states in the United States. They are not "secret" in the sense that it is well known that such maps exist. It is just that they can be accessed and consulted only by
professional archaeologists and other people, who have an official need to know the location of
known archaeological sites for either research, land management, firefighting, or other official purposes.

E.P. also stated:

"So if you want to photograph petroglyphs, Thomas, the only way to do it will be with the help of a professional archaeologist."

There is nothing wrong in photographing rock art as long as nothing is done to the rock art. The problem comes iswhen people enhance the rock art, i.e. by outlining it in chalk or applying liquids, in order to make it stand out. Such actions can very easily and all too often does damage the rock art.

1. Photographing Rock Art on Archeological Sites and Rock
Walls by Morey Stinson.
http://bcn.boulder.co.us/environment/cacv/cacvphot.htm

 

2. Rock Art Site Etiquette
http://www.utahrockart.org/etiqt.htm

 

3. American Rock Research Association
A Basic Guide for Rock Art Recording, 5 MB
http://www.arara.org/Recording_Manual.pdf

 

http://www.arara.org/

 

4. Ethics, Eastern States Rock Art Research Association
http://www.esrara.org/ethics.html

 

http://www.esrara.org/

 

"You should not apply any substance such as liquid, powder, plastic, chalk, cloth, soil, or paper to enhance photography or drawing. Despite the ability to enhance photography, application of
materials to rock art surfaces may forever alter its integrity. This has been found to be particularly true in radiometric age estimation of rock surfaces."

E.P. noted:

"FOIA does not apply."

This is true. For a detailed discussion of this topic see:

U.S. Department of Energy, 2008, The Freedom of Information Act and Confidentiality of Cultural Resources. Environmental Policy and Assistance Information Brief HS-22-IB-2008-13 (December 31, 2008). Office of Nuclear Safety, Quality Assurance, and Environment, Washington, D.C.

PDF file at:
http://www.hss.energy.gov/nuclearsafety/env/guidance/cultural/foia_cultural_resources.pdf

 

"NHPA and ARPA specifically restrict disclosure of certain types of sensitive information regarding cultural resources. These statutory provisions may result in information developed under these acts being withheld from public disclosure under the FOIA exemption discussed above."

NHPA = National Historic Preservation Act
ARPA = Archaeological Resources Protection Act

Yours,

Paul H.

Photos of Comet Hartley 2 reveals Space Peanut 5NOV2010

Photos of Comet reveals Space Peanut

Friday, November 5, 2010 5:05 AM

First Close-up Photos of Comet Hartley 2 Reveal a Space Peanut by Mike Wall, Fox News, Nov. 4, 2010
http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/11/04/close-photos-comet-hartley-reveal-space-peanut/

 

Comet Hartley 2: NASA rendezvous a success, even better pics on the way by Pete Spotts, Christian Science Monitor, Nov. 4, 2010,
http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2010/1104/Comet-Hartley-2-NASA-rendezvous-a-success-even-better-pics-on-the-way

 

Deep space Comet Flyby: First Pictures: Empty NASA space bomber in race pass against 2nd
target by Lewis Page, the Register
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/11/04/epoxi_flyby_pics/

 

Yours,

Paul

Asteroid strike into ocean could deplete ozone layer

Wednesday, November 3, 2010 3:21 AM

 Asteroid strike into ocean could deplete ozone layer
by Lin Edwards, physOrg.
http://www.physorg.com/news/2010-10-asteroid-ocean-deplete-ozone-layer.html

 

Asteroid ocean strike 'could strip away ozone layer'
The Independent, Oct. 26, 2010.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/asteroid-ocean-strike-could-strip-away-ozone-layer-2117062.html

 

The paper is:
Pierazzo, E. R. R. Garcia, D. E. Kinnison, D. R. Marsh,
J. Lee-Taylor, and P. J. Crutzen, 2010, Ozone
perturbation from medium-size asteroid impacts
in the ocean. Earth and Planetary Science Letters.
vol. 299, no. 3-4, pp. 263-272.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2010.08.036

 

Online PDF files are:
Ozone perturbation from medium-size asteroid
impacts in the ocean by E. Pierazzo, R. Garcia, D.
Kinnison, D. Marsh, and P. J. Crutzen. (Lecture)
http://www.cesm.ucar.edu/events/ws.2010/Presentations/WACCM/pierazzo.pdf

 

(41st Lunar and Planetary Science Conference paper)
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2010/pdf/2445.pdf

 

Birks, J. W., P. J. Crutzen and R. G. Roble, 2005,
Frequent ozone depletion resulting from impacts of
asteroids and comets. In Comet/Asteroid Impacts
and Human Society, Peter Bobrowsky and Hans
Rickman, Eds., Springer Verlag (2005), in press.
http://www.twobtech.com/asteroid.pdf

 

Yours,

Paul H.

Pseudocraters on Earth and Mars

Tuesday, November 2, 2010 4:40 AM

Pseudocraters on Earth and Mars, IAG Planetary
Geomorphology Working Group Featured images
for November 2010:
http://www.psi.edu/pgwg/images/Nov10Image.html

 

Other images found at:
http://www.psi.edu/pgwg/images/index.html

 

Yours,
Paul H.

Video: Surfing on Supersonic Shock Waves at 3000MPH 23CT2010

Video: Surfing on Supersonic Shock Waves at 3000MPH

Saturday, October 23, 2010 11:51 AM

 

How to Surf a Supersonic Shock Wave
MIT Technology Review, ‎Oct. 19, 2010‎
http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/arxiv/25907/?p1=Blogs

 

Video: Surfing on Supersonic Shock Waves at 3000MPH
Popular Science, by Clay Dillow, Oct. 19, 2010
http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-10/surfing-supersonic-shock-waves

 

The Video is at:

Parziale, N. J., S. J. Laurence, R Deiterding, H. G. Hornung, and
J. E. Shepherd, 2010, Experimental Investigation of Shock Wave
Surfing. arXiv:1010.3248v2 [physics.flu-dyn]
http://arxiv.org/PS_cache/arxiv/pdf/1010/1010.3248v2.pdf

 

http://arxiv.org/abs/1010.3248

 

Yours,

Paul H.

Mysterious Rock Is a Meteorwrong (Tom River, New Jersey) 23OCT2010

Mysterious Rock Is a Meteorwrong (Tom River, New Jersey)

Saturday, October 23, 2010 11:58 AM

 

Toms River man learns mysterious rock that landed in his yard
is not a meteorite. Asbury Park Press, Jersey Shore, Oct. 6, 2010
http://www.app.com/article/20101006/NEWS/10060365/Toms-River-man-learns-mysterious-rock-that-landed-in-his-yard-is-not-a-meteorite

 

"Toms River, New Jersey — The mysterious rock that almost
conked township resident Salvadore D'Addario on the head
a year ago is still that: a mystery."

"...it most definitely is not a meteorite."

Yours,

Paul H. 

Meteorite hunters go far afield - Jacksonville, Illinois 23OCT2010

Meteorite hunters go far afield - Jacksonville, Illinois

Saturday, October 23, 2010 12:04 PM

 

Meteorite hunters go far afield, Jacksonville
Journal-Courier by Jake Russell, Sept 26, 2010
http://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/hunters-29122-meteorite-afield.html

 

Scientist confirms meteorite fall north of Jacksonville,
Illinois, by David C. Blauer, Journal-Courier
http://www.myjournalcourier.com/articles/illinois-29114-central-north.html

 

Yours,

Paul

Double-Blind Experiments Testing Dowsing 20OCT2010

Double-Blind Experiments Testing Dowsing

Wednesday, October 20, 2010 10:42 PM

 

In "You Naysaying Denialists Are All Wrong, Dowsing Works!"
for the meteorite list, JoshuaTreeMuseum wrote:

"Speaking of experimental scientific method, I would
like to propose a simple, reproducible experiment
that can be performed by any genius, near-genius,
idiot or near-idiot.",

Actually double-blind experiments testing the effectiveness
of dowsing have been conducted and published. They include:

Banks, G., D. Gill, and V. Ezerins, 2005, Test Report: The
Detection Capability of the Sniffex Handheld Explosives
Detector. Naval EOD Technology Division, Naval Seas
Systems Command, Department of Defense, Indian
Head, Maryland.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/26050076/Navy-Report-From-Pro-Public-A

 

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/23365128/Test-Report-The-Detection-Capability-of-the-Sniffex-Handheld-Explosives-Detector

 

Enright, J. T. 1995. Water dowsing: The Scheunen
experiments. Naturwissenschaften. vol. 82, no. 8, pp. 360-369.

Enright, J. T., 1999, Testing Dowsing: The Failure of the
Munich Experiments. Skeptical Inquirer. vol. 23, no. 1.
http://www.csicop.org/si/show/testing_dowsing_the_failure_of_the_munich_experiments/

 

McCarney, R., F. Fisher, F. Spink, G. Flint, and R. van Haselen,
2002, Can homeopaths detect homeopathic medicines by
dowsing? A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. vol. 4, pp. 189-191.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1279512/

 

Murray, D, 2002, Double-Blind Field Evaluation of the
MOLE Programmable Detection System. Entry Control
and Contraband Detection Department, Sandia National
Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
http://www.justnet.org/Pages/RecordView.aspx?itemid=440

 

http://www.justnet.org/Lists/JUSTNET%20Resources/Attachments/440/moleeval_apr02.pdf

 

Murray, D. W., F. W. Spencer, D. D. Spencer, 1998, Double-
Blind Evaluation of the DKL LifeGuard Model 2. Sandia
Report SAND98-0977. , Sandia National Laboratories,
Albuquerque, New Mexico.
http://prod.sandia.gov/techlib/access-control.cgi/1998/980977.pdf

 

A book that discusses dowsing in great detail is:

Vogt, E. Z., and R. Hyman, 2000. Water Witching USA., 2nd ed.,
University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 248 pp.

Related articles and papers are:

Brassington, F. C., 1998, Water divining. Encyclopedia of
Hydrology and Lakes. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series
no. 22, pp. 690-695. Kluwer Academic Publishers, New
York.

Carpenter, W. B., 1852, On the influence of suggestion in
modifying and directing muscular movement, independently
of volition. Proceedings of the Royal Institution of Great Britain.
vol. 1, pp. 147-153.

Carrold, R. T., 1999, Dowsing for Dollars: Fighting High-Tech
Promises with Low-Tech Critical Thinking Skills. Skeptics
Dictionary.
http://www.skepdic.com/essays/dowsingfordollars.html

 

Enright, J. T., 1996, Dowsers Lost in a Barn. Naturwissenschaften.
vol. 83, no. 6, pp. 275-277.

Perrine, L., 1998, 'Human presence detector' fails controlled
tests conducted by Sandia National Laboratories. Sandia
National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
http://www.sandia.gov/media/hudet.htm

 

Randi, J. dowsing, 1995,  James Randi Educational Foundation.
http://www.randi.org/encyclopedia/dowsing.html

 

Yours,

Paul H.

Mass Extinction, Iridium Anomalies, and Cretaceous-Paleogene Boundary in New Jersey

Mass Extinction, Iridium Anomalies, and Cretaceous-Paleogene Boundary in New Jersey
Sunday, October 3, 2010 11:37 PM
by Paul
 
Miller, K. G., R. M. Sherrell, J. V. Browning, M.P. Field, W. Gallagher, R. K. Olsson, P. J. Sugarman, S. Tuorto, and h. Wahyudi, 2010, Relationship between mass extinction and iridium across the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary in New Jersey. Geology. vol. 38, no. 10, pp. 867-870.

http://geology.geoscienceworld.org/cgi/content/abstract/38/10/867

http://geology.gsapubs.org/content/38/10/867.abstract

Yours,
Paul H.

New Paper About Younger Dryas Impact Hypothesis

New Paper About Younger Dryas Impact Hypothesis
Friday, October 1, 2010 3:52 AM

by Paul H.

Dear Friends,

A new paper about the Younger Dryas Impact Hypothesis has been published. Associated with it are a number of comments, both pro and con, about it. The paper is:

Holliday, V. T., and D. J. Meltzer, 2010, The 12.9-ka ET
Impact Hypothesis and North American Paleoindians.
Current Anthropology. vol. 51, pp. 575–607 (Oct. 2010)
0011-3204/2010/5105-0002
http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/656015
http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/pdf/10.1086/656015

The Current Anthropology press release about the above paper can be found at:

http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/story/10.1086/pr.2010.09.29.3011

Comments about this paper is “No Evidence For Clovis Comet Catastrophe, Archaeologists Say” by Alton Parrish at:

http://beforeitsnews.com/story/195/688/No_Evidence_For_Clovis_Comet_Catastrophe,_Archaeologists_Say.html

Yours,

Paul H.

Meteorites in Maine Web Page (Maine Geological Survey)

Meteorites in Maine Web Page (Maine Geological Survey)
Friday, October 1, 2010 12:00 PM


by Paul H.
 
The web page that the Maine Geological Survey has on Maine meteorites is "Meteorites in Maine: Is the sky falling???" at:

http://www.maine.gov/doc/nrimc/mgs/explore/minerals/sites/mar99.htm
This web page states:
"Though many meteorites probably have landed in Maine, only 5 have been found and authenticated and described in the scientific literature, and portions of each are preserved in museum collections."
Nowhere in this web page is there any mention of meteorites being found by lobstermen as described in previous posts, which started with:
http://six.pairlist.net/pipermail/meteorite-list/2010-September/069269.html

I am a little skeptical of such finds without seeing some documentation because last year, a person call me and another geologist to tell us that he had hauled up a 3-foot in diameter "meteorite" from the bottom of the the Gulf of Mexico off of Terrebonne Island, Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana while fishing. Anyway he brought over to my office in the back of his minivan. It turned out to be a well rounded boulder of granite gneiss. I still wonder how a 3-foot in diameter nicely rounded boulder of granite gneiss ended up on the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico.
Best wishes,
Paul

Radiometric Dating Still Reliable

Monday, September 20, 2010 10:41 PM by Paul H.

Radiometric Dating Still Reliable (Again), Research Shows,
Science News, September 18, 2010,
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100915171534.htm

http://www.physorg.com/news203788993.html

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Research_Shows_Radiometric_Dating_Still_Reliable_999.html

The paper is:

Lindstrom, R. M. E. Fischbach, J. B. Buncher, G. L. Greene,
J. H. Jenkins, D. E. Krause, J. J. Mattes, A. Yue, 2010,
Study of the dependence of 198Au half-life on source
geometry. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics
Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors
and Associated Equipment. vol. 622, no. 1, pp. 93-96.

Abstract at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2010.06.270

Yours,

Paul H.

New Paper on Lunar Impact Cratering History Saturday, September 18, 2010 4:27 AM

New Paper on Lunar Impact Cratering History

Saturday, September 18, 2010 4:27 AM

by Paul H.

The Hole Thing: Lunar Topographic Map Provides Rich
Record of Impacts on the Moon: Laser altimetry data from
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter have provided a
comprehensive look at the cratering history of the inner
solar system, National Geographic, spet. 16, 2010.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=lro-moon-craters

The paper is:

Head, J. W., III, C. I. Fassett, S. J. Kadish, D. E. Smith, M. T. Zuber,
G. A. Neumann, and E. Mazarico, 2010, Global Distribution
of Large Lunar Craters: Implications for Resurfacing and
Impactor Populations. Science. vol. 329, no. 5998,
pp. 1504-1506. [DOI: 10.1126/science.1195050]
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/329/5998/1504

Other Papers:

Greenhagen, B. T., P. G. Lucey, M. B. Wyatt, T. D. Glotch,
C. C. Allen, J. A. Arnold, J. L. Bandfield, N. E. Bowles, K. L.
D. Hanna, P. O. Hayne, E. Song, I. R. Thomas, and D. A.
Paige, 2010, Global Silicate Mineralogy of the Moon
from the Diviner Lunar Radiometer. Science. vol. 329,
no. 5998, pp. 1507-1509. [DOI: 10.1126/science.1192196]
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/sci;329/5998/1507

Glotch, T. D. P. G. Lucey, J. L. Bandfield, B. T. Greenhagen,
I. R. Thomas, R. C. Elphic, N. Bowles, M. B. Wyatt, C. C.
Allen, K. L. D. Hanna, and D. A. Paige, 2010, Highly Silicic
Compositions on the Moon. Science. vol. 329, no. 5998,
pp. 1510-1513. [DOI: 10.1126/science.1192148]
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/sci;329/5998/1510

Yours,

Paul H.

Young volcanism on Mercury

Saturday, September 4, 2010 11:14 AM

by Paul H.

Young volcanism on Mercury
http://www.psi.edu/pgwg/images/sep10.html

MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry,
and Ranging (MESSENGER) spacecraft
http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/index.php

http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/the_mission/gallery.html

Yours,

Paul H.

Debate Over Younger Dryas Impact Hypothesis Continues

Saturday, September 4, 2010 3:39 AM

by Paul H.

On the side of people disputing the Younger Dryas Impact
hypothesis there is:

Kerr, R. A., 2010, Mammoth-Killer Impact Rejected.
Science Now, August 30, 2010
http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2010/08/mammoth-killer-impact-rejected.html

Dalton, R., 2010, Comet theory carbonized: Sediment
studies rule out impact as cause of ancient cold spell.
Nature News. August 31, 2010.
http://www.nature.com/news/2010/100831/full/news.2010.441.html

Impact hypothesis loses its sparkle, Physorg.
August 30, 2010,
http://www.physorg.com/news202382634.html

http://www.physorg.com/news195979458.html

Kerr, R. A, 2010, Mammoth-Killer Impact Flunks Out.
Science, vol. 329, no. 5996, pp. 1140 - 1141
DOI: 10.1126/science.329.5996.1140
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/summary/329/5996/1140

The paper is:

Daulton, T. L., N. Pinter, and A. C. Scott, 2010,
No evidence of nanodiamonds in Younger–Dryas
sediments to support an impact event. Proceedings
of the National Academy of Science of the United
States. Published online before print August 30, 2010,
doi: 10.1073/pnas.1003904107
http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2010/08/26/1003904107.abstract?sid=f62eef7c-9d13-48e9-a003-ddd93d93d75b

On the other hand, the BBC Article stated:

“Allen West said further nanodiamond evidence in support
of the impact theory would be published in the coming weeks.”

One of these papers is:

Kurbatov, A. V., P. A. Mayewski, J. P. Steffensen, A. West, D. J.
Kennett, J. P. Kennett, T. E. Bunch, M. Handley, D. S. Introne,
S. S. Que Hee, C. Mercer, M. Sellers, F. Shen, S. B. Sneed, J. C.
Weaver, J. H. Wittke, T. W. Stafford, J. J. Donovan, S. Xie, J. J.
Razink Jr., A. Stich, C. R. Kinzie, W. S. Wolbach, Discovery of
a nanodiamond-rich layer in the Greenland ice sheet. Journal
of Glaciology, v. 56, n 199, 749-759.

PDF file at :
http://cci.siteturbine.com/facultystorm/profile/research/publication.php?publicationId=7406

http://www.climatechange.umaine.edu/people/profile/andrei_kurbatov

Thus, the debate continues.

Yours,

Paul H.

Known Tektite Strewn Fields - North American Strewn Field

Thursday, September 2, 2010 12:07 PM

"Paul H."

In the thread “[meteorite-list] Known Tektite Strewn Fields?”
http://six.pairlist.net/pipermail/meteorite-list/2010-August/068400.html

,
Sterling K. Webb asked:

“So, I have a question for the geologists on the List
(I know you're there), where do I go in the Eastern U.S.
to find Top-O-The-Eocene exposures (beside Georgia
and Texas)?”

First, figure 1 of Heinrich(2009) shows the approximate
distribution of the North American strewn field and
locations from where tektites and microtektites of
the North American strewn field has been reported.

Microtektites have been reported from St. Stephens Quarry
in Alabama from two levels in the North Twistwood Creek
Formation. This suggest that microtektites, possibly even
tektites, can be found within the outcrops within exposures
of the Moodys Branch Group from Georgia to Texas that
expose sediments which are contemporaneous with the
Chesapeake Bay Impact (King and Petruny 2008). The exact
outcrop belt in which find exposures, can be found in local
and regional geologic maps, county geologic reports, field trip
guidebooks and other publications. In Louisiana, the entire
Moodys Branch Group is still somewhat exposed at
Montgomery Landing Bluff on the Red River.

Reference Cited:

Heinrich, Paul V., 2009, Reevaluation of Tektites Reported
from Rapides Parish, Louisiana. Louisiana Geological Survey
NewsInsights. vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 10-14.

The PDF file of this article can be either requested from
the author of downloaded from either:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/18698759/Alleged-Tektites-From-Rapides-Parish-Louisiana

or
http://www.lgs.lsu.edu/deploy/uploads/Summer_09_LGS_Newsletter.pdf

King, D. T., Jr., and L. W. Petruny, 2008, Impact stratigraphy
of the U.S. Gulf coastal states: Gulf Coast Association of
Geological Societies Transactions. vol. 58, pp. 503-516.

Georgia Deposits

In Georgia, the source bed of Georgiaites has been located.
It is "a patchy coarse-grained sand layer up to 10 cm thick that
lies at the boundary between the Twiggs Clay and the underlying
Middle Eocene Huber Formation.” It contains shocked quartz
from the Chesapeake Bay impact. This sand layer, which is the
basal layer of the Twiggs Clay, is a transgressive sheet sand
consists of sand that has been redeposited, reworked, and
bioturbated,

Published papers and abstracts are:

Harris, R. C., M. F. Roden, P. A. Schroeder, S. M. Holland, M. S. Duncan,
and E. F. Albin, 2004, Upper Eocene impact horizon in east-central
Georgia. Geology. vol. 32, no. 8, pp. 717-720; DOI: 10.1130/G20562.1
http://geology.geoscienceworld.org/cgi/content/abstract/32/8/717

Harris, R. S., M. S. Duncan, S. M. Holland, M. Steven, M. F. Roden,
Michael, and P. A, Schroeder, 2002, Probable shocked quartz as
evidence of for an Upper Eocene Impact Horizon in Coastal Plain,
Warren County Georgia. Geological Society of America Abstracts
with Programs. vol. 34, no. 6, pp. 402.
http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2002AM/finalprogram/abstract_41931.htm

http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2002AM/finalprogram/session_3270.htm

Schroeder, P. ., and Harris, R. S., 2004, X-ray powder diffraction
evidence for shocked quartz in an upper Eocene sand deposit,
Warren County, Georgia, U.S.A. Southeastern Geology. vol. 42,
pp. 145–150

Schreoder, P. A., R. S. Harris, M. F. Roden, M. Duncan, S. Mack,
and S. M. Holland, 2002, 100% X-Ray Diffraction Evidence for
Shocked Quartz in an Upper Eocene Sand Deposit, Warren
County, Georgia. Geological Society of America Abstracts with
Programs. vol. 34, no. 6, pp. 544.
http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2002AM/finalprogram/abstract_38959.htm

http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2002AM/finalprogram/session_3270.htm

In addition, multi-lithic conglomerates and breccias, which
are one to two meters thick have been reported from Georgia.
These enigmatic conglomerates, occur between the middle
Eocene Hawthorne Group and middle Miocene Altahama
Formation. Although their origin is unknown, it has been
suggested that they might be deposits related to the Chesapeake
Bay impact. If so, they might contain ejecta from this impact
(Cocker 2007, King and Petruny 2008). Additional studies of
these conglomerates are definitely needed.

References Cited:

Cocker, M., 2007, Possible impact-related conglomeratic
sediments in the upper coastal plain of southwestern Georgia.
Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs.
vol. 39, no. 6, p. 311.
http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2007AM/finalprogram/abstract_131779.htm

King, D. T., Jr., and L. W. Petruny, 2008, Impact stratigraphy
of the U.S. Gulf coastal states. Gulf Coast Association of
Geological Societies Transactions. vol. 58, pp. 503-516.

Yours,

Paul H.