The novel hydrogen-rich BN materials Me2NHBH3 and c-N2B2H4Me4 have been studied by a combination of vibrational spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffraction over the pressure range 0-40 GPa. Assignments of Raman-active vibrational modes were made for c-N2B2H4Me4 on the basis of a combination of gas-phase predictions and previous assignments for similar compounds. The Raman spectrum of single crystals were found to have excellent signal-to-noise for pressures over the 0-40 GPa range, making it an ideal method for in situ analysis of high pressure reactions involving c-N2B2H4Me4. The enthalpy of the reaction c-N2B2H4Me4 + 2 H-2 -> 2 Me2NHBH3 was estimated to be 2.9 kcal/mol endothermic at ambient pressure. The corresponding pressure dependence of Delta G(rxn), was estimated from the P-V equations of state (EOS) measured for Me2NHBH3, c-N2B2H4Me4, and H-2 over the 0-12 GPa range. Using the EOS for fluid hydrogen, the reaction is estimated to have a favorable Delta Delta G(rxn) of 10 kcal/mol over the 0-2 GPa pressure range. Above 2 GPa, a positive pressure dependence of Delta G(rxn) is observed. On the basis of these experimental observations, we estimate the reaction thermochemistry to approach a thermoneutral equilibrium over the 0-2 GPa range. Above 2 GPa, the reaction volume becomes positive, causing this hydrogenation pathway to remain unfavorable over a pressure range extending to greater than 100 GPa at 298 K.

The novel hydrogen-rich BN materials Me2NHBH3 and c-N2B2H4Me4 have been studied by a combination of vibrational spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffraction over the pressure range 0-40 GPa. Assignments of Raman-active vibrational modes were made for c-N2B2H4Me4 on the basis of a combination of gas-phase predictions and previous assignments for similar compounds. The Raman spectrum of single crystals were found to have excellent signal-to-noise for pressures over the 0-40 GPa range, making it an ideal method for in situ analysis of high pressure reactions involving c-N2B2H4Me4. The enthalpy of the reaction c-N2B2H4Me4 + 2 H-2 -> 2 Me2NHBH3 was estimated to be 2.9 kcal/mol endothermic at ambient pressure. The corresponding pressure dependence of Delta G(rxn), was estimated from the P-V equations of state (EOS) measured for Me2NHBH3, c-N2B2H4Me4, and H-2 over the 0-12 GPa range. Using the EOS for fluid hydrogen, the reaction is estimated to have a favorable Delta Delta G(rxn) of 10 kcal/mol over the 0-2 GPa pressure range. Above 2 GPa, a positive pressure dependence of Delta G(rxn) is observed. On the basis of these experimental observations, we estimate the reaction thermochemistry to approach a thermoneutral equilibrium over the 0-2 GPa range. Above 2 GPa, the reaction volume becomes positive, causing this hydrogenation pathway to remain unfavorable over a pressure range extending to greater than 100 GPa at 298 K.

Here, we present the results of a multitechnique study of the bulk properties of insoluble organic material (IOM) from the Tagish Lake meteorite, including four lithologies that have undergone different degrees of aqueous alteration. The IOM C contents of all four lithologies are very uniform and comprise about half the bulk C and N contents of the lithologies. However, the bulk IOM elemental and isotopic compositions vary significantly. In particular, there is a correlated decrease in bulk IOM H/C ratios and delta D values with increasing degree of alteration-the IOM in the least altered lithology is intermediate between CM and CR IOM, while that in the more altered lithologies resembles the very aromatic IOM in mildly metamorphosed CV and CO chondrites, and heated CMs. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, C X-ray absorption near-edge (XANES), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirm and quantitate this transformation from CR-like, relatively aliphatic IOM functional group chemistry to a highly aromatic one. The transformation is almost certainly thermally driven, and probably occurred under hydrothermal conditions. The lack of a paramagnetic shift in C-13 NMR spectra and 1s-sigma* exciton in the C-XANES spectra, both typically seen in metamorphosed chondrites, shows that the temperatures were lower and/or the timescales were shorter than experienced by even the least metamorphosed type 3 chondrites. Two endmember models were considered to quantitatively account for the changes in IOM functional group chemistry, but the one in which the transformations involved quantitative conversion of aliphatic material to aromatic material was the more successful. It seems likely that similar processes were involved in producing the diversity of IOM compositions and functional group chemistries among CR, CM, and CI chondrites. If correct, CRs experienced the lowest temperatures, while CM and CI chondrites experienced similar more elevated temperatures. This ordering is inconsistent with alteration temperatures based on mineralogy and O isotopes.

Here, we present the results of a multitechnique study of the bulk properties of insoluble organic material (IOM) from the Tagish Lake meteorite, including four lithologies that have undergone different degrees of aqueous alteration. The IOM C contents of all four lithologies are very uniform and comprise about half the bulk C and N contents of the lithologies. However, the bulk IOM elemental and isotopic compositions vary significantly. In particular, there is a correlated decrease in bulk IOM H/C ratios and delta D values with increasing degree of alteration-the IOM in the least altered lithology is intermediate between CM and CR IOM, while that in the more altered lithologies resembles the very aromatic IOM in mildly metamorphosed CV and CO chondrites, and heated CMs. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, C X-ray absorption near-edge (XANES), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirm and quantitate this transformation from CR-like, relatively aliphatic IOM functional group chemistry to a highly aromatic one. The transformation is almost certainly thermally driven, and probably occurred under hydrothermal conditions. The lack of a paramagnetic shift in C-13 NMR spectra and 1s-sigma* exciton in the C-XANES spectra, both typically seen in metamorphosed chondrites, shows that the temperatures were lower and/or the timescales were shorter than experienced by even the least metamorphosed type 3 chondrites. Two endmember models were considered to quantitatively account for the changes in IOM functional group chemistry, but the one in which the transformations involved quantitative conversion of aliphatic material to aromatic material was the more successful. It seems likely that similar processes were involved in producing the diversity of IOM compositions and functional group chemistries among CR, CM, and CI chondrites. If correct, CRs experienced the lowest temperatures, while CM and CI chondrites experienced similar more elevated temperatures. This ordering is inconsistent with alteration temperatures based on mineralogy and O isotopes.

The Sutter's Mill (SM) meteorite fell in El Dorado County, California, on April 22, 2012. This meteorite is a regolith breccia composed of CM chondrite material and at least one xenolithic phase: oldhamite. The meteorite studied here, SM2 (subsample 5), was one of three meteorites collected before it rained extensively on the debris site, thus preserving the original asteroid regolith mineralogy. Two relatively large (10 mu m sized) possible diamond grains were observed in SM2-5 surrounded by fine-grained matrix. In the present work, we analyzed a focused ion beam (FIB) milled thin section that transected a region containing these two potential diamond grains as well as the surrounding fine-grained matrix employing carbon and nitrogen X-ray absorption near-edge structure (C-XANES and N-XANES) spectroscopy using a scanning transmission X-ray microscope (STXM) (Beamline 5.3.2 at the Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory). The STXM analysis revealed that the matrix of SM2-5 contains C-rich grains, possibly organic nanoglobules. A single carbonate grain was also detected. The C-XANES spectrum of the matrix is similar to that of insoluble organic matter (IOM) found in other CM chondrites. However, no significant nitrogen-bearing functional groups were observed with N-XANES. One of the possible diamond grains contains a Ca-bearing inclusion that is not carbonate. C-XANES features of the diamond-edges suggest that the diamond might have formed by the CVD process, or in a high-temperature and -pressure environment in the interior of a much larger parent body.

The Sutter's Mill (SM) meteorite fell in El Dorado County, California, on April 22, 2012. This meteorite is a regolith breccia composed of CM chondrite material and at least one xenolithic phase: oldhamite. The meteorite studied here, SM2 (subsample 5), was one of three meteorites collected before it rained extensively on the debris site, thus preserving the original asteroid regolith mineralogy. Two relatively large (10 mu m sized) possible diamond grains were observed in SM2-5 surrounded by fine-grained matrix. In the present work, we analyzed a focused ion beam (FIB) milled thin section that transected a region containing these two potential diamond grains as well as the surrounding fine-grained matrix employing carbon and nitrogen X-ray absorption near-edge structure (C-XANES and N-XANES) spectroscopy using a scanning transmission X-ray microscope (STXM) (Beamline 5.3.2 at the Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory). The STXM analysis revealed that the matrix of SM2-5 contains C-rich grains, possibly organic nanoglobules. A single carbonate grain was also detected. The C-XANES spectrum of the matrix is similar to that of insoluble organic matter (IOM) found in other CM chondrites. However, no significant nitrogen-bearing functional groups were observed with N-XANES. One of the possible diamond grains contains a Ca-bearing inclusion that is not carbonate. C-XANES features of the diamond-edges suggest that the diamond might have formed by the CVD process, or in a high-temperature and -pressure environment in the interior of a much larger parent body.