|
Solid hydrocarbons (bitumens)?typical specimens of natural organic minerals?are one of the most essential objects of petroleum geology and at the same time?one of the least investigated objects of organic mineralogy. Moreover they can be treated as admissible analogs of meteorite carbonaceous materials. According to terrestrial analog of meteoritic organic matter it's possible to estimate the chemical structure of extraterrestrial matter. Further investigation of impact force influence on the bitumen chemical structure change will make it possible to connect them with extraterrestrial organic matter.
This work represents the research of impact influence on the processes of transformation and structuring of bitumen (asphaltite) by IR-spectroscopy. In percussion experiments peak pressure varied from 10 to 63.4 GPa; temperature ? from the first tens degrees to several hundreds degrees Celsius.
Asphaltite, which sustained shock load from 17.3 to 23 GPa, didn't undergo considerable changes in its element composition. Though their IR-spectra differ from the spectrum of initial asphaltite by heightened intensity of absorption bands of aromatic groups, as well as by insignificant rise of heterogroups and condensed structures oscillation strength. At the same time the intensity of aliphatic (CH2 and CH3) groups absorption hasn't changed. Probably there've just been the carbon and hydrogen atomic rearrangement. However, shock load up to 26.7 GPa leads to asphaltite transformation into the albertite. There've been observed the intensity decrease of aliphatic groups on its IR-spectrum. Under growth of shock load up to 60 GPa bitumen has lost essential part of aliphatic, hetero-groups. Relative intensity of absorption bands of aromatic groups has dramatically increased. By nature and intensity of absorption bands this spectrum looks more similar to the impsonite/lower anthraxolite.
A pressure of 60 GPa has lead to further matter carbonization. IR-spectra of these specimens have weak absorption bands and are mostly presented by aromatic structures. They've become similar to middle/high anthraxolite. A pressure of more than 60 GPa (with kamacite) has resulted in dramatic coalification of the material. The details have completely vanished in their spectra and they've grown similar with graphite. It should be noted that these specimens have been taken from the lower parts of ampoules. At the same time it has been established that IR-spectra of specimens from the upper parts are indicative of less coalification. Their spectra illustrate absorption bands of aliphatic, aromatic, and hetero-groups. They look similar to impsonite.
Thus it might be supposed that if solid bitumens can be extraterrestrial matter analog (asteroids) than it might be probable that the formation of the whole spectrum of solid bitumens from kerite-like to antraxolite-like can be the result of impact events on asteroids.
I'd like to thank A.V. Korochantsev for specimens kindly put at my disposal.
|
