Other
Scientific paper
Dec 2002
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2002agufm.p71a0440o&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2002, abstract #P71A-0440
Other
5480 Volcanism (8450)
Scientific paper
Peperites are typically the product of wet sediment-magma/lava/hot volcaniclastic deposits interaction and are therefore indicative for the existence of frozen/liquefied or fluid water in the history of a planet. Most of the peperites on Earth are found in a paleo-near-surface environment and are exposed to alteration if burial did not protect them (Skilling et al. 2002). Sediments can be incorporated into ascending magma (Obenholzner et al. 2003). These macro- or micro-xenoliths show various degrees of metamorphism. Carbonate and evaporite xenoliths brought to the surface could include fossils or even bacteria, otherwise hidden deeply in the sedimentary record. A xenolith-rich basaltic peperite of Pliocene age is exposed in a quarry at Neuhaus/Kl./Burgenland/Austria. These alkali basalts are related to the time-equivalent volcanism of the W Pannonian Basin/Hungary. Although the peperite sequence is highly altered the primary structures are well preserved. The xenolith spectrum comprises marls, argillitic and other basement rocks showing various degrees of metamorphism. The xenoliths are white to yellow colored, egg-shaped or blocky and typically manteled by the grey basalt in peperite fragments. This encapsulation of xenoliths by the basalt protects the xenoliths against various atmospheric interaction, execpt for Earth where water easily enters the peperite fragments. This sequence could be used as a structural model for similar sequences on planets known for the occurrences of basaltic volcanism and potential water-bearing sediments. The Neuhaus peperite represents a training site for scientists working with remotely operated analyzers to differentiate between xenoliths, the peperite (basalt and sandy sediment) and alteration-related structures. Similar peperites could be encountered on Mars and would be a proof for the existence of water or other fluids in its history, even if the alteration history of peperite sequences would be different from what is known on Earth. Xenoliths might provide a new view into the sedimentary record of Mars. Obenholzner et al. 2003. Particles from the plume of Popocatépetl volcano Mexico - the FESEM/EDS approach. In: Oppenheimer, Pyle, Barclay (eds.): Volcanic Degassing, Geol. Soc. UK, in press. Skilling et al. 2002. Peperite: a review of magma-sediment mingling. JVGR, 114, 1-17.
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