Meteorite curation at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Meteorite curation at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences"

Nora Wood
5 years ago
Views:

Universiteit Brussel 2 Royal Belgian Institute of

1 Meteorite curation at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences Lidia Pittarello 1, M. De Ceukelaire 2, Vinciane Debaille 3, and Philippe Claeys 1 1 Earth System Science, Vrije Universiteit Brussel 2 Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences 3 Laboratoire G- Time, Université Libre de Bruxelles

2 A collection must be alive (cit.) Curation: What does it mean? Why is it important? Samples conservation: from the A of acquisition to the S of storage (including classification). Samples allocation: balance between science and preservation. Samples preparation: the importance of a dedicated laboratory. Growth of the collection. Promotion of the collection and scientific research.

3 Curation: what does it mean? Curation is not only conservation, although good conservation is a relevant part of curation. Meteorites are special specimens: rare, fragile, valuable, easily contaminated. Antarctic meteorites are very special samples. Curation involves: Conservation - > preservation of specimens in a manner that precludes chemical or physical degradation; Providing sample description, classification, and documentation of the specimen history; Promotion - > own research and making specimens available to scientists on a timely basis.

4 Curation: learning from large collections - Naturhistorisches Museum Wien (A), curators: F. Brandstätter and L. Ferriere - Natural History Museum London (UK), curator: C. Smith - National Institute of Polar Research (JP), curator: A. Yamaguchi - and others...

Curation: policy for BELAM meteorites Samples

Cutting samples larger than 50 g in two halves,

5 Curation: policy for BELAM meteorites Samples arrival in Japan from Antarctica Defrosting Conservation in labeled plastic bags in controlled environment Hand sample description Cutting samples larger than 50 g in two halves, one comes to Belgium Polished thin sections preparation and classification

Official curator: Marleen De Ceukelaire Collections: historical (422

6 Curation at the RBINS Curation facilities initially settled by Walter DeVos and Celine Martin. Official curator: Marleen De Ceukelaire Collections: historical (422 specimens) and SAMBA- BELAM (currently 252 Antarctic meteorites). The meteorite lab is run by Thierry Leduc and Lidia Pittarello.

7 Meteorites conservation: repository Dedicated room with controlled temperature and humidity In labeled plastic bags and paper boxes With individual cards recording the sample history

8 Meteorites conservation: first steps After acquisition (arrival from Japan): Weight Photographs Card Database A (eucrite)

group determined by optical microscopy on polished thin sections.

9 Meteorite conservation: classification Achondrite and Iron meteorites > in cooperation with the ULB Ordinary Chondrites - > NIPR but also possible at the RBINS Classification of OC (NIPR method): - chemical group determined by microprobe analyses of selected phases; - petrologic group determined by optical microscopy on polished thin sections. At the RBINS: - chemical group determined by EDS- SEM analyses with reference material; - petrologic group determined by optical microscopy on polished preparations. FEI Inspect SEM Standards: Astimex 53 Minerals Mount MINM25-53

10 Meteorite conservation: classification Recent improvements: - Using a meteorite of the collection as reference material. - Testing Raman spectroscopy as alternative technique for chemical group identification (Pittarello et al., submitted).

11 Meteorites allocation Decision made by the Loan Committee: Marleen DeCeukelaire, Vinciane Debaille, and Philippe Claeys. Rules in the Meteorite Curation Handbook and here: geology/meteorites/antarctic/how- to- loan- a- piece- from- the- collection Antarctic Meteorite Goal: Finding the delicate balance between good conservation and availability to scientists.

Meteorites preparation Dedicated lab to avoid

(deionized H 2 O, ethanol or specific liquid as

12 Meteorites preparation Dedicated lab to avoid contamination. Preparation of chips and polished sections in Al- ring. Sample cutting trim saw with diamond and CBN blades (deionized H 2 O, ethanol or specific liquid as coolant) diamond wire saw (deionized H 2 O or ethanol as coolant) impregnation in epoxy (araldite or EpoFix)!

Sample cutting trim saw with diamond and CBN blades (deionized H 2 O, ethanol or specific liquid as

13 Meteorites preparation Dedicated lab to avoid contamination. Preparation of chips and polished sections in Al- ring. Sample cutting trim saw with diamond and CBN blades (deionized H 2 O, ethanol or specific liquid as coolant) diamond wire saw (deionized H 2 O or ethanol as coolant) impregnation in epoxy (araldite or EpoFix) polishing (manually with sandpaper and mechanically for finishing with alumina suspension)

Growth of the collection Asuka09 Half of meteorites >50 g (32 samples) Sharing of meteorites weighing between 5 g and 50 g (51 samples) Asuka10 Half of meteorites >50 g (23

14 Growth of the collection Asuka09 Half of meteorites >50 g (32 samples) Sharing of meteorites weighing between 5 g and 50 g (51 samples) Asuka10 Half of meteorites >50 g (23 samples) Asuka12 Half of meteorites > 50 g (146 samples, including A12389) A09474 (CM) Received in 6 separate batches between 2013 and More samples are waited in the next months.

Growth of the collection New missions in Antarctica (2015-2016?

15 Growth of the collection New missions in Antarctica ( ?) Donations Exchanges Classification for externals (10% material) Collection of meteorites fallen in Belgium (Fripon project) Fireball Recovery and InterPlanetary Observation Network

16 Promotion: exhibition Temporary allocation of meteorites for local exhibitions (e.g., Ice Lab New architecture and Sciences in Antarctica, for the British Council) Permanent exhibition: A12389, now on display at RBINS in collaboration with NIPR. Opening of the temporary exhibition in 2013 with representatives of the NIPR

Promotion: scientific research PhD students Geneviève Hublet (ULB) Eucrites, diogenites and ureilites dating with Al- Mg systematics Maria Valdes (ULB) Ca isotope composition in achondrites and lunar

17 Promotion: scientific research PhD students Geneviève Hublet (ULB) Eucrites, diogenites and ureilites dating with Al- Mg systematics Maria Valdes (ULB) Ca isotope composition in achondrites and lunar samples Nadia van Roosbroek (ULB) Silicate inclusions in IIE meteorites Claudio Ventura Bordenca (VUB) Breccia A12389 Micrometeorites Harry Zekollari (VUB) Terrestrial age of meteorites for constraining ice flow µ- XRF element map Post- Docs Seann McKibbin (VUB) Chromite in pallasites Olivine in enstatite chondrites Yoshihiro Hidaka (ULB) A10077: geochemistry of a winonaite Matthew Huber (VUB) Micrometeorites Steven Goderis (VUB) Micrometeorites Os isotope systematics Rosalind Armytage (ULB) 142 Nd systematics of chondrites Lidia Pittarello (VUB) Shock metamorphism of olivine Metamorphic history of a mesosiderite Janos Kodolanyi (formerly VUB) Pre- solar grains

18 Thanks to: Brigitte Zanda (MNHN Paris, France) Christian Koeberl (NHM Wien, Austria) Luigi Folco (Uni Pisa, Italy) Akira Yamaguchi (NIPR, Japan) Caroline Smith (NHM London, UK)

(%,& ) " METEORITE NEWSLETTER '+ ) +# + ()#+ * ) " '+ ) +#(' % '+#+,+ (! (% ) ) " ($-(

(%,& ) METEORITE NEWSLETTER '+ ) +# + ()#+ * ) '+ ) +#(' % '*+#+,+ (! (% ) * ) ($-( METEORITE NEWSLETTER INTRODUCTION Classification and Description of Antarctic Meteorites This newsletter reports 352 Yamato98 and Yamato00 meteorites. They include 7 CM2 chondrites, 1 EH3 chondrite, 1