MAGNETIC SPHERULES FROM RECENT FLUVIAL SEDIMENTS IN ALBERTA, CANADA -CHARACTERISTICS AND POSSIBLE ORIGINS

Magnetic spherules were recently recovered in recent fluvial sediments in Alberta, Canada, and have been studied using X-ray diffraction, el ectron microprobe, scanning electron microscope, and neutron activatio n analysis. Results show that these spherules are composed of magnetit e, wustite, and hematite; some of them contain ct-iron metal cores. Th e similarities in morphology, mineralogy, and internal structure of th ese spherules to spherules of extraterrestrial origin found in other e nvironments suggest that some of these spherules from Alberta might al so be of extraterrestrial origin, in spite of their unusual compositio ns.