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Multispectroscopic methodology to study Libyan desert glass and its formation conditions

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Abstract

Libyan desert glass (LDG) is a melt product whose origin is still a matter of controversy. With the purpose of adding new information about this enigma, the present paper analyzes the inner part of LDG specimens and compares them with the results of LDG surfaces. An integrated analytical methodology was used combining different techniques such as Raman spectroscopy, in point-by-point and imaging modes, scanning electron microscopy with X-ray microanalysis (SEM-EDS), energy-dispersive micro X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (μ-EDXRF), electron probe micro analyzer (EPMA), and optical cathodoluminescence (Optical-CL). According to our results, flow structures of the melt and the amorphous nature of the matrix could be discerned. Moreover, the observed displacement of Raman bands, such as in the cases of quartz and zircon, and the identification of certain compounds such as coesite (the most clarifying phase of high pressures), α-cristobalite, gypsum, anhydrite, corundum, rutile, amorphous calcite, aragonite, and calcite allowed us to know that LDGs could be subjected to shock pressures between 6 and more than 30 GPa, and temperatures between 300 and 1470 °C. The differences of temperature and pressure would be provoked by different cooling processes during the impact. Besides, in most cases the minerals corresponding to high pressure and temperatures were located in the inner part of the LDGs, with some exceptions that could be explained because they were trapped subsequently to the impact; there was more than one impact or heterogeneous cooling.

Furthermore, nitrogen and oxygen gases were identified inside bubbles, which could have been introduced from the terrestrial atmosphere during the meteorite impact.

These data helped us to clarify some clues about the origin of these enigmatic samples.

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Acknowledgements

This work has been funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and FEDER, the European Development Regional Fund “Development of the RAMAN instrument for the ESA EXOMARS Mission: Science development, Prototype Tests and Operation” project (Ref. ESP2014-56138-C3-2-R) and the Special Action EA13/28 funded by the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU). Moreover, technical and human support provided by the Raman-LASPEA Laboratory of the SGIker (UPV/EHU, MICINN, GV/EJ, ERDF, and ESF) is gratefully acknowledged. The wholehearted technical support of Iñaki Aretxaga together with the owners of the equipment is also appreciatively acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, P.O. Box 644, 48080, Bilbao, Spain

    Leticia Gomez-Nubla, Julene Aramendia, Silvia Fdez-Ortiz de Vallejuelo, Kepa Castro & Juan Manuel Madariaga

  2. Department of Mineralogy and Petrology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, P.O. Box 644, 48080, Bilbao, Spain

    Ainhoa Alonso-Olazabal, Maria Cruz Zuluaga & Luis Ángel Ortega

  3. Departament of Stratigraphy and Palaeontology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, P.O. Box 644, 48080, Bilbao, Spain

    Xabier Murelaga

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  1. Leticia Gomez-Nubla
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  2. Julene Aramendia
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  3. Silvia Fdez-Ortiz de Vallejuelo
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Correspondence to Leticia Gomez-Nubla or Silvia Fdez-Ortiz de Vallejuelo.

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Gomez-Nubla, L., Aramendia, J., Fdez-Ortiz de Vallejuelo, S. et al. Multispectroscopic methodology to study Libyan desert glass and its formation conditions. Anal Bioanal Chem 409, 3597–3610 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-017-0299-5

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