Aims: This project will use CM carbonaceous chondrite meteorites to explore the geological evolution of C-complex asteroids during the early history of the Solar System. The overarching goal of the wider research programme is to understand the role of these water- and organic matter-rich asteroids in delivering bio-essential compounds to early Earth.
Context and science questions: C-complex asteroids formed 4560 million years ago within the protoplanetary disk from mineral grains (silicates, sulphides, metal), organic matter and ices. Soon after being built, the ice was melted by internal heating and the liquid water produced reacted with mineral grains to create secondary phases including phyllosilicates (mainly serpentine) and carbonates (calcite, dolomite, aragonite). The carbonate minerals are particularly valuable because their chemical and isotopic compositions, and microstructures, are powerful tools for understanding the geological evolution of these primitive bodies. Specifically, carbonates can provide unique insights into long-standing questions about asteroid evolution including the temperature and duration of water/rock interaction, the presence or absence of fluid flow, and the nature and timing of deformation by hypervelocity impacts (Lee et al. 2014).
This project comes at a uniquely important time in our understanding of the early Solar System and its most primitive bodies. Samples have recently returned from two C-complex asteroids: Ryugu (sampled by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Hayabusa2 mission), and Bennu (sampled by the NASA OSIRIS-REx mission). Furthermore, a CM carbonaceous chondrite recently landed in Winchcombe, Gloucestershire, and was the first UK meteorite to be recovered in 30 years (King, Daly et al. 2022).
Methodology: Carbonate minerals in a variety of CM meteorite samples will be analysed using conventional microanalytical techniques (e.g., scanning electron microscopy, electron backscatter diffraction, electron probe microanalysis, Raman spectroscopy) together with the novel tool of atom probe tomography, which enables determination of the chemical and isotopic composition of a sample at the atomic scale (Daly et al. 2020).
Dissemination and skills: This research area is inherently international in scope. The student will collaborate with partners in Europe, the USA and Australia, and share results at international conferences including the annual Meteoritical Society and Lunar and Planetary Sciences meetings. Upon completion the student will be equipped with skills that could lead to employment in areas such as space exploration, materials technology, or environmental management.
References
Daly, L., Lee, M., Bagot, P.A., Halpin, J., Smith, W., McFadzean, S., O'Brien, A.C., Griffin, S. and Cohen, B.E. (2020) Exploring Mars at the nanoscale: applications of transmission electron microscopy and atom probe tomography in planetary exploration. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering 891, 012008.
King A. J., Daly, L. et al. 2022. The Winchcombe meteorite, a unique and pristine witness from the outer solar system. Science Advances 8: eabq3925.
Lee M. R., Lindgren P. and Sofe M. R. (2014) Aragonite, breunnerite, calcite and dolomite in the CM carbonaceous chondrites: high fidelity recorders of progressive parent body aqueous alteration. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 144, 126–156.
The entry requirement is a 2.1 Honours degree or equivalent in geology, Earth science, planetary science, materials science or a cognate discipline.
Please refer to the following website for details on how to apply:
https://www.gla.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/geology/#tab=apply, or contact the principal supervisor with any questions ([Email Address Removed]).
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