Characterization of cosmic micro-objects by SEM- EDS, DIGE, MICRO-PIXE and SRXRF techniques

Impact material, especially magnetizable tiny grains (spherules, globules and platelets) of Barringer Meteor Crater (Arizona) was studied by combined nuclear analytical techniques. The samples were analyzed first by micro-proton-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) and deuteron-induced gamma-ray emission (DIGE) methods. In this way it was possible to determine the distribution of elements down to carbon. Using micro-synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence technique (SRXRF) we could determine medium and high atomic number trace elements such as the platinum-group metals. Our methodological developments made it possible for the first time to carry out quantitative analysis for more than 40 elements, providing new perspectives for the interpretation of the impact materials. Various compositions of the findings around the Barringer Crater were compared to analytical data of similar objects found in Carpathian Basin to elucidate their origin. This paper summarizes the more important results obtained by using ion beam microanalytical techniques.