Carbonaceous matter in peridotites and basalts studied by XPS, SALI, and LEED

Abstract

Carbonaceous matter in peridotite xenoliths and basalt from the Hualalai Volcano, in a basalt glass collected directly from an active lava lake on the east rift of Kilauea, in garnet and diopside megacrysts from the Jagersfontein kimberlite, and in gabbros from the Stillwater and Bushveld Complexes has been studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermal-desorption surface analysis by laser ionization (SALI), and low-energy electron diffraction (LEED). The basalt and two of the four xenoliths from Hualalai and both Jagersfontein megacrysts yielded trace quantities (≤ 10 nanomoles) of organic compounds on heating to 700°C. Organics were not detected in the rocks from the layered intrusions, and neither carbonaceous matter nor organics were detected in the glass from the lava lake. Where detected, organics appear to be associated with carbonaceous films on microcrack surfaces. Carbonaceous matter exists as films less than a few nm thick and particles up to 20 μm across, both of which contain elements expected to be present in significant quantities in magmatic vapors, namely Si, alkalis, halogens, N, and transition metals. LEED studies suggest that the carbonaceous films are amorphous. The data suggest two possible mechanisms for the formation of the organics. One is that they are a product of abiotic heterogeneous catalysis of volcanic gas on new, chemically active mineral surfaces formed by fracturing during cooling. Alternatively, organics may have been assimilated into the volcanic gases prior to eruption and then deposited on cracks formed during eruption and cooling. In any case, there is no evidence to suggest that the organics represent laboratory or field biogenic contamination.