Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Hiroshima University/Department of Earth and Planetary Science, Faculty of Science, Kyushu University/National Institute of Polar Research/Department of Materials and Biological Sciences, Ibaraki University/Department of Earth and Planetary Science, Faculty of Science, Kyushu University/Computer Center, Gakushuin University/Planetary Science Division, The Institute of Space and Astronautical Science/Department of Earth and Planetary Science, Faculty of Science, Kyushu University/The Kyushu University Museum, Kyushu University/Department of Materials and Biological Sciences, Ibaraki University/Department of Materials and Biological Sciences, Ibaraki University/Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Hiroshima University/Department of Applied Chemistry, Science University of Tokyo/Department of Applied Chemistry, Science University of Tokyo/Department of Applied Chemistry, Science University of Tokyo/Department of Applied Chemistry, Science University of Tokyo/Laboratory for Earthquake Chemistry, The University of Tokyo/Laboratory for Earthquake Chemistry, The University of Tokyo/Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, The University of Tokyo/Laboratory for Earthquake Chemistry, The University of Tokyo/Department of Environmental Systems, Rissho University/Department of Physics, Dokkyo University School of Medicine/Department of Physics, Dokkyo University School of Medicine/Department of Ocean Sciences, Tokyo University of Fisheries
From November 1998 to January 1999,the 39th Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE-39) undertook Japanese first large-scale collection of Antarctic micrometeorites (AMMs), with sizes larger than 10μm, at the Meteorite Ice Field around the Yamato Mountains in Antarctica (at three different locations, for a total of 24 collection sites). The number of collected AMMs larger than 40μm is estimated to be about 5000. Here we present the general characterization (i.e., micro-morphology and surface chemical composition using SEM/EDS) of ∿810 AMMs chosen from 5 of the 24 sites. Additionally, the mineral composition of 61 out of 810 AMMs was determined by Synchrotron X-ray radiation. Preliminary results on mineralogical and chemical compositions show similarities with that of previous studies, even though a pronounced alteration of some AMMs is noticed. A correlation is found between the Mg/Si ratio at the sample\u27s surfaces of unmelted AMMs and the age of snow/ice in which the AMMs are embedded