Sample records for carbonaceous chondrite parent

  1. Evolution of carbonaceous chondrite parent bodies: Insights into cometary nuclei

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Mcsween, Harry Y., Jr.

    1989-01-01

    It is thought that cometary samples will comprise the most primitive materials that are able to be sampled. Although parent body alteration of such samples would not necessarily detract from scientists' interest in them, the possibility exists that modification processes may have affected cometary nuclei. Inferences about the kinds of modifications that might be encountered can be drawn from data on the evolution of carbonaceous chondrite parent bodies. Observations suggest that, of all the classes of chondrites, these meteorites are most applicable to the study of comets. If the proportion of possible internal heat sources such as Al-26 in cometary materials are similar to those in chondrites, and if the time scale of comet accretion was fast enough to permit incorporation of live radionuclides, comets might have had early thermal histories somewhat like those of carbonaceous chondrite parent bodies.

  2. The effects of parent body processes on amino acids in carbonaceous chondrites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Glavin, Daniel P.; Callahan, Michael P.; Dworkin, Jason P.; Elsila, Jamie E.

    2010-12-01

    To investigate the effect of parent body processes on the abundance, distribution, and enantiomeric composition of amino acids in carbonaceous chondrites, the water extracts from nine different powdered CI, CM, and CR carbonaceous chondrites were analyzed for amino acids by ultra performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection and time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-FD/ToF-MS). Four aqueously altered type 1 carbonaceous chondrites including Orgueil (CI1), Meteorite Hills (MET) 01070 (CM1), Scott Glacier (SCO) 06043 (CM1), and Grosvenor Mountains (GRO) 95577 (CR1) were analyzed using this technique for the first time. Analyses of these meteorites revealed low levels of two- to five-carbon acyclic amino alkanoic acids with concentrations ranging from approximately 1 to 2,700 parts-per-billion (ppb). The type 1 carbonaceous chondrites have a distinct distribution of the five-carbon (C5) amino acids with much higher relative abundances of the γ- and δ-amino acids compared to the type 2 and type 3 carbonaceous chondrites, which are dominated by α-amino acids. Much higher amino acid abundances were found in the CM2 chondrites Murchison, Lonewolf Nunataks (LON) 94102, and Lewis Cliffs (LEW) 90500, the CR2 Elephant Moraine (EET) 92042, and the CR3 Queen Alexandra Range (QUE) 99177. For example, α-aminoisobutyric acid (α-AIB) and isovaline were approximately 100 to 1000 times more abundant in the type 2 and 3 chondrites compared to the more aqueously altered type 1 chondrites. Most of the chiral amino acids identified in these meteorites were racemic, indicating an extraterrestrial abiotic origin. However, nonracemic isovaline was observed in the aqueously altered carbonaceous chondrites Murchison, Orgueil, SCO 06043, and GRO 95577 with L-isovaline excesses ranging from approximately 11 to 19%, whereas the most pristine, unaltered carbonaceous chondrites analyzed in this study had no detectable L-isovaline excesses. These results are consistent with the

  3. The Effects of Parent Body Processes on Amino Acids in Carbonaceous Chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Glavin, Daniel P.; Callahan, Michael P.; Dworkin, Jason P.; Elsila, Jamie E.

    2010-01-01

    To investigate the effect of parent body processes on the abundance, distribution, and enantiomeric composition of amino acids in carbonaceous chondrites, the water extracts from nine different powdered Cl, CM, and CR carbonaceous chondrites were analyzed for amino acids by ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection and time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-FD/ToF-MS). Four aqueously altered type 1 carbonaceous chondrites including Orgueil (C11), Meteorite Hills (MET) 01070 (CM1), Scott Glacier (SCO) 06043 (CM1), and Grosvenor Mountains (GRO) 95577 (CR1) were analyzed using this technique for the first time. Analyses of these meteorites revealed low levels of two- to five-carbon acyclic amino alkanoic acids with concentrations ranging from -1 to 2,700 parts-per-billion (ppb). The type 1 carbonaceous chondrites have a distinct distribution of the five-carbon (C5) amino acids with much higher relative abundances of the gamma- and delta-amino acids compared to the type 2 and type 3 carbonaceous chondrites, which are dominated by a-amino acids. Much higher amino acid abundances were found in the CM2 chondrites Murchison, Lonewolf Nunataks (LON) 94102, and Lewis Cliffs (LEW) 90500, the CR2 Elephant Moraine (EET) 92042, and the CR3 Queen Alexandra Range (QUE) 99177. For example, a-aminoisobutyric acid ((alpha-AIB) and isovaline were approximately 100 to 1000 times more abundant in the type 2 and 3 chondrites compared to the more aqueously altered type 1 chondrites. Most of the chiral amino acids identified in these meteorites were racemic, indicating an extraterrestrial abiotic origin. However, non-racemic isovaline was observed in the aqueously altered carbonaceous chondrites Murchison, Orgueil, SCO 06043, and GRO 95577 with L-isovaline excesses ranging from approximately 11 to 19%, whereas the most pristine, unaltered carbonaceous chondrites analyzed in this study had no detectable L-isovaline excesses. These results are consistent with the

  4. Early aqueous activity on the ordinary and carbonaceous chondrite parent bodies recorded by fayalite

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Doyle, Patricia M.; Jogo, Kaori; Nagashima, Kazuhide

    Here, chronology of aqueous activity on chondrite parent bodies constrains their accretion times and thermal histories. Radiometric 53Mn– 53Cr dating has been successfully applied to aqueously formed carbonates in CM carbonaceous chondrites. Owing to the absence of carbonates in ordinary (H, L and LL), and CV and CO carbonaceous chondrites, and the lack of proper standards, there are no reliable ages of aqueous activity on their parent bodies. Here we report the first 53Mn– 53Cr ages of aqueously formed fayalite in the L3 chondrite Elephant Moraine 90161 as 2.4 +1.8 -1.3 Myr after calcium–aluminium-rich inclusions (CAIs), the oldest Solar Systemmore » solids. In addition, measurements using our synthesized fayalite standard show that fayalite in the CV3 chondrite Asuka 881317 and CO3-like chondrite MacAlpine Hills 88107 formed and 4.2 +0.8 -0.7 Myr after CAIs, respectively. Thermal modelling, combined with the inferred conditions (temperature and water/rock ratio) and 53Mn– 53Cr ages of aqueous alteration, suggests accretion of the L, CV and CO parent bodies ~1.8–2.5 Myr after CAIs.« less

  5. Early aqueous activity on the ordinary and carbonaceous chondrite parent bodies recorded by fayalite

    DOE PAGES

    Doyle, Patricia M.; Jogo, Kaori; Nagashima, Kazuhide; ...

    2015-06-23

    Here, chronology of aqueous activity on chondrite parent bodies constrains their accretion times and thermal histories. Radiometric 53Mn– 53Cr dating has been successfully applied to aqueously formed carbonates in CM carbonaceous chondrites. Owing to the absence of carbonates in ordinary (H, L and LL), and CV and CO carbonaceous chondrites, and the lack of proper standards, there are no reliable ages of aqueous activity on their parent bodies. Here we report the first 53Mn– 53Cr ages of aqueously formed fayalite in the L3 chondrite Elephant Moraine 90161 as 2.4 +1.8 -1.3 Myr after calcium–aluminium-rich inclusions (CAIs), the oldest Solar Systemmore » solids. In addition, measurements using our synthesized fayalite standard show that fayalite in the CV3 chondrite Asuka 881317 and CO3-like chondrite MacAlpine Hills 88107 formed and 4.2 +0.8 -0.7 Myr after CAIs, respectively. Thermal modelling, combined with the inferred conditions (temperature and water/rock ratio) and 53Mn– 53Cr ages of aqueous alteration, suggests accretion of the L, CV and CO parent bodies ~1.8–2.5 Myr after CAIs.« less

  6. Exposure ages of carbonaceous chondrites, 1

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Nishiizumi, K.; Arnold, J. R.; Caffee, M. W.; Finkel, R. C.; Southon, J. R.; Nagai, H.; Honda, M.; Sharma, P.; Imamura, M.; Kobayashi, K.

    1993-01-01

    The recent exposure histories of carbonaceous chondrites have been investigated using cosmogenic radionuclides. Our results may indicate a clustering of exposure ages of C1 and C2 chondrites into two peaks, 0.2 My and 0.6 My, perhaps implying two collisional events of Earth-crossing parent bodies. Among carbonaceous chondrites are some having short exposure ages which Mazor et al. hypothesized cluster into a small number of families. This hypothesis is based on spallogenic Ne-21 exposure ages, which in some instances are difficult to determine owing to the large amounts of trapped noble gases in carbonaceous chondrites. Also, since Ne-21 is stable, it integrates a sample's entire exposure history, so meteorites with complex exposure histories are difficult to understand using exclusively Ne-21. Cosmogenic radionuclides provide an alternative means of determining the recent cosmic ray exposure duration. To test the hypothesis of Mazor et al. we have begun a systematic investigation of exposure histories of Antarctic and non-Antarctic carbonaceous chondrites especially C2s.

  7. Water and the thermal evolution of carbonaceous chondrite parent bodies

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Grimm, Robert E.; Mcsween, Harry Y., Jr.

    1989-01-01

    Two hypotheses are proposed for the aqueous alteration of carbonaceous chondrites within their parent bodies, in which respectively the alteration occurs (1) throughout the parent body interior, or (2) in a postaccretional surface regolith; both models assume an initially homogeneous mixture of ice and rock that is heated through the decay of Al-26. Water is seen to exert a powerful influence on chondrite evolution through its role of thermal buffer, permitting substitution of a low temperature aqueous alteration for high temperature recrystallization. It is quantitatively demonstrated that liquid water may be introduced by either hydrothermal circulation, vapor diffusion from below, or venting due to fracture.

  8. Opaque Assemblages in CK and CV Carbonaceous Chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Neff, K. E.; Righter, K.

    2006-01-01

    CK carbonaceous chondrites are the only group of carbonaceous chondrites that exhibit thermal metamorphism. As a result, CKs display features of metamorphism such as silicate darkening, recrystallization and shock veins. Calcium Aluminum Inclusions and Fe-Ni metal are rare. CV carbonaceous chondrites are unequilibrated and have two subgroups; oxidized and reduced. The CV and CK carbonaceous chondrite groups have been compared to each other often because of petrographic similarities, such as overlapping oxygen isotopic ratios. Scientists have suggested the two groups of carbonaceous chondrites formed from the same parent body and CKs are equilibrated CV chondrites [1, 2]. The oxidized CV group has been most closely related to CKs. This study examines the petrology and mineralogy of CKs and CVs focusing on opaque minerals found in the meteorites. Using the oxide, metal and sulfide assemblages, constraints can be placed on the temperature and oxygen fugacity at which the meteorites equilibrated. The temperature and oxygen fugacity of the CK and CV chondrites can be compared in order to help define their formation history.

  9. Relative amino acid concentrations as a signature for parent body processes of carbonaceous chondrites.

    PubMed

    Botta, Oliver; Glavin, Daniel P; Kminek, Gerhard; Bada, Jeffrey L

    2002-04-01

    Most meteorites are thought to have originated from objects in the asteroid belt. Carbonaceous chondrites, which contain significant amounts of organic carbon including complex organic compounds, have also been suggested to be derived from comets. The current model for the synthesis of organic compounds found in carbonaceous chondrites includes the survival of interstellar organic compounds and the processing of some of these compounds on the meteoritic parent body. The amino acid composition of five CM carbonaceous chondrites, two CIs, one CR, and one CV3 have been measured using hot water extraction-vapor hydrolysis, OPA/NAC derivatization and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Total amino acid abundances in the bulk meteorites as well as the amino acid concentrations relative to glycine = 1.0 for beta-alanine, alpha-aminoisobutyric acid and D-alanine were determined. Additional data for three Antarctic CM meteorites were obtained from the literature. All CM meteorites analyzed in this study show a complex distribution of amino acids and a high variability in total concentration ranging from approximately 15,300 to approximately 5800 parts per billion (ppb), while the CIs show a total amino acid abundance of approximately 4300 ppb. The relatively (compared to glycine) high AIB content found in all the CMs is a strong indicator that Strecker-cyanohydrin synthesis is the dominant pathway for the formation of amino acids found in these meteorites. The data from the Antarctic CM carbonaceous chondrites are inconsistent with the results from the other CMs, perhaps due to influences from the Antarctic ice that were effective during their residence time. In contrast to CMs, the data from the CI carbonaceous chondrites indicate that the Strecker synthesis was not active on their parent bodies.

  10. Relative Amino Acid Concentrations as a Signature for Parent Body Processes of Carbonaceous Chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Botta, Oliver; Glavin, Daniel P.; Kminek, Gerhard; Bada, Jeffrey L.

    2002-01-01

    Most meteorites are thought to have originated from objects in the asteroid belt. Carbonaceous chondrites, which contain significant amounts of organic carbon including complex organic compounds, have also been suggested to be derived from comets. The current model for the synthesis of organic compounds found in carbonaceous chondrites includes the survival of interstellar organic compounds and the processing of some of these compounds on the meteoritic parent body. The amino acid composition of five CM carbonaceous chondrites, two CIs, one CR, and one CV3 have been measured using hot water extraction-vapor hydrolysis, OPA/NAC derivatization and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Total amino acid abundances in the bulk meteorites as well as the amino acid concentrations relative to glycine = 1.0 for beta-alanine, alpha-aminoisobutyric acid and D-alanine were determined. Additional data for three Antarctic CM meteorites were obtained from the literature. All CM meteorites analyzed in this study show a complex distribution of amino acids and a high variability in total concentration ranging from approx. 15,300 to approx. 5800 parts per billion (ppb), while the CIs show a total amino acid abundance of approx. 4300 ppb. The relatively (compared to glycine) high AIB content found in all the CMs is a strong indicator that Strecker-cyanohydrin synthesis is the dominant pathway for the formation of amino acids found in these meteorites. The data from the Antarctic CM carbonaceous chondrites are inconsistent with the results from the other CMs, perhaps due to influences from the Antarctic ice that were effective during their residence time. In contrast to CMs, the data from the CI carbonaceous chondrites indicate that the Strecker synthesis was not active on their parent bodies.

  11. Extraterrestrial Amino Acids in Orgueil and Ivuna: Tracing the Parent Body of CI Type Carbonaceous Chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Meyer, Michael (Technical Monitor); Ehrenfreund, Pascale; Glavin, Daniel P.; Bota, Oliver; Cooper, George; Bada, Jeffrey

    2001-01-01

    Amino acid analyses using HPLC of pristine interior pieces of the CI carbonaceous chondrites Orgueil and Ivuna have found that beta-alanine, glycine, and gamma-amino-n-butyric acid (ABA) are the most abundant amino acids in these two meteorites, with concentrations ranging from approx. 600 to 2,000 parts per billion (ppb). Other alpha-amino acids such as alanine, alpha-ABA, alpha-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB), and isovaline are present only in trace amounts (less than 200 ppb). Carbon isotopic measurements of beta-alanine and glycine and the presence of racemic (D/L 1) alanine and beta-ABA in Orgueil suggest that these amino acids are extraterrestrial in origin. In comparison to the CM carbonaceous chondrites Murchison and Murray, the amino acid composition of the CIs is strikingly distinct, suggesting that these meteorites came from a different type of parent body, possibly an extinct comet, than did the CM carbonaceous chondrites.

  12. Extraterrestrial amino acids in Orgueil and Ivuna: Tracing the parent body of CI type carbonaceous chondrites

    PubMed Central

    Ehrenfreund, Pascale; Glavin, Daniel P.; Botta, Oliver; Cooper, George; Bada, Jeffrey L.

    2001-01-01

    Amino acid analyses using HPLC of pristine interior pieces of the CI carbonaceous chondrites Orgueil and Ivuna have found that β-alanine, glycine, and γ-amino-n-butyric acid (ABA) are the most abundant amino acids in these two meteorites, with concentrations ranging from ≈600 to 2,000 parts per billion (ppb). Other α-amino acids such as alanine, α-ABA, α-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB), and isovaline are present only in trace amounts (<200 ppb). Carbon isotopic measurements of β-alanine and glycine and the presence of racemic (D/L ≈ 1) alanine and β-ABA in Orgueil suggest that these amino acids are extraterrestrial in origin. In comparison to the CM carbonaceous chondrites Murchison and Murray, the amino acid composition of the CIs is strikingly distinct, suggesting that these meteorites came from a different type of parent body, possibly an extinct comet, than did the CM carbonaceous chondrites. PMID:11226205

  13. Magnetic Evidence for a Partially Differentiated Carbonaceous Chondrite Parent Body and Possible Implications for Asteroid 21 Lutetia

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Weiss, Benjamin; Carporzen, L.; Elkins-Tanton, L.; Shuster, D. L.; Ebel, D. S.; Gattacceca, J.; Binzel, R. P.

    2010-10-01

    The origin of remanent magnetization in the CV carbonaceous chondrite Allende has been a longstanding mystery. The possibility of a core dynamo like that known for achondrite parent bodies has been discounted because chondrite parent bodies are assumed to be undifferentiated. Here we report that Allende's magnetization was acquired over several million years (Ma) during metasomatism on the parent planetesimal in a > 20 microtesla field 8-9 Ma after solar system formation. This field was present too recently and directionally stable for too long to have been the generated by the protoplanetary disk or young Sun. The field intensity is in the range expected for planetesimal core dynamos (Weiss et al. 2010), suggesting that CV chondrites are derived from the outer, unmelted layer of a partially differentiated body with a convecting metallic core (Elkins-Tanton et al. 2010). This suggests that asteroids with differentiated interiors could be present today but masked under chondritic surfaces. In fact, CV chondrites are spectrally similar to many members of the Eos asteroid family whose spectral diversity has been interpreted as evidence for a partially differentiated parent asteroid (Mothe-Diniz et al. 2008). CV chondrite spectral and polarimetric data also resemble those of asteroid 21 Lutetia (e.g., Belskaya et al. 2010), recently encountered by the Rosetta spacecraft. Ground-based measurements of Lutetia indicate a high density of 2.4-5.1 g cm-3 (Drummond et al. 2010), while radar data seem to rule out a metallic surface composition (Shepard et al. 2008). If Rosetta spacecraft measurements confirm a high density and a CV-like surface composition for Lutetia, then we propose Lutetia may be an example of a partially differentiated carbonaceous chondrite parent body. Regardless, the very existence of primitive achondrites, which contain evidence of both relict chondrules and partial melting, are prima facie evidence for the formation of partially differentiated bodies.

  14. Neodymium isotope heterogeneity of ordinary and carbonaceous chondrites and the origin of non-chondritic 142Nd compositions in the Earth

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fukai, Ryota; Yokoyama, Tetsuya

    2017-09-01

    We present high-precision Nd isotope compositions for ordinary and carbonaceous chondrites determined using thermal ionization mass spectrometry with dynamic and multistatic methods. The ordinary chondrites had uniform and non-terrestrial μ142 Nd , μ148 Nd , and μ150 Nd values, with data that plot along the mixing line between s-process and terrestrial components in μ150 Nd versus μ148 Nd and μ142 Nd versus μ148,150Nd diagrams. In contrast, the carbonaceous chondrites were characterized by larger anomalies in their μ142 Nd , μ148 Nd , and μ150 Nd values compared to ordinary chondrites. Importantly, the data for carbonaceous chondrites plot along the s-process and terrestrial mixing line in a μ150 Nd versus μ148 Nd diagram, whereas they have systematically lower μ142 Nd values than the s-process and terrestrial mixing line in μ142 Nd versus μ148,150Nd diagrams. This shift likely results from the incorporation of calcium- and aluminum-rich inclusions (CAIs), indicating that the Nd isotopic variability in the ordinary chondrites and CAI-free carbonaceous chondrites was caused solely by the heterogeneous distribution of s-process nuclides. The isotopic variation most likely results from nebular thermal processing that caused selective destruction of s-process-depleted (or r-process-enriched) dust grains in the inner Solar System where the parent bodies of ordinary chondrites formed, whereas such grains were preserved in the region of carbonaceous chondrite parent body formation. The Nd isotope dichotomy between ordinary and bulk aliquots of carbonaceous chondrites can be related to the presence of Jupiter, which may have separated two isotopically distinct reservoirs that were present in the solar nebula. After correcting for s-process anomalies and CAI contributions to the Nd isotopes observed in the chondrites, we obtained a μ142 Nd value (- 2.4 ± 4.8 ppm) that was indistinguishable from the terrestrial value. Our results corroborate the

  15. Osmium isotopic homogeneity in the CK carbonaceous chondrites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Goderis, Steven; Brandon, Alan D.; Mayer, Bernhard; Humayun, Munir

    2017-11-01

    Variable proportions of isotopically diverse presolar components are known to account for nucleosynthetic isotopic anomalies for a variety of elements (e.g., Ca, Ti, Cr, Ni, Sr, Zr, Mo, Ru, Pd, Ba, Nd, and Sm) in both bulk chondrites and achondrites. However, although large Os isotopic anomalies have been measured in acid leachates and residues of unequilibrated chondrites, bulk chondrites of various groups, iron meteorites, and pallasites exhibit Os isotopic compositions that are indistinguishable from terrestrial or bulk solar isotopic abundances. Since the magnitude of nucleosynthetic anomalies is typically largest in the carbonaceous chondrites, this study reports high-precision Os isotopic compositions and highly siderophile element (HSE) concentrations for ten CK chondrites. The isotope dilution concentration data for HSE and high-precision Os isotope ratios were determined on the same digestion aliquots, to precisely correct for radiogenic contributions to 186Os and 187Os. While acid leached bulk unequilibrated carbonaceous chondrites show deficits of s-process Os components to the same extent as revealed by unequilibrated enstatite, ordinary, and Rumuruti chondrites, equilibrated bulk CK chondrites exhibit no resolvable Os isotopic anomalies. These observations support the idea that acid-resistant, carbon-rich presolar grains, such as silicon carbide (SiC) or graphite, are major carriers for nucleosynthetic isotopic anomalies of Os. The destruction of these presolar grains, which are omnipresent in unequilibrated meteorites, must have occurred during aqueous alteration and thermal metamorphism, early in the CK chondrite parent body history. The dispersal of CK chondrites along the IIIAB iron meteorite isochron on a 187Os/188Os versus 187Re/188Os diagram, with Re/Os ratios from 0.032 to 0.083, in combination with the observed redistribution of other HSE (e.g., Pt, Pd), highlights the influence of parent body processes, overprinted by effects of recent

  16. Workshop on Parent-Body and Nebular Modification of Chondritic Materials

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Zolensky, M. E. (Editor); Krot, A. N. (Editor); Scott, E. R. D. (Editor)

    1997-01-01

    Topics considered include: thermal Metamorphosed Antarctic CM and CI Carbonaceous Chondrites in Japanese Collections, and Transformation Processes of Phyllosilicates; use of Oxygen Isotopes to Constrain the Nebular and Asteroidal Modification of Chondritic Materials; effect of Revised Nebular Water Distribution on Enstatite Chondrite Formation; interstellar Hydroxyls in Meteoritic Chondrules: Implications for the Origin of Water in the Inner Solar System; theoretical Models and Experimental Studies of Gas-Grain Chemistry in the Solar Nebula; chemical Alteration of Chondrules on Parent Bodies; thermal Quenching of Silicate Grains in Protostellar Sources; an Experimental Study of Magnetite Formation in the Solar Nebula; the Kaidun Meteorite: Evidence for Pre- and Postaccretionary Aqueous Alteration; a Transmission Electron Microscope Study of the Matrix Mineralogy of the Leoville CV3 (Reduced-Group) Carbonaceous Chondrite: Nebular and Parent-Body Features; rubidium-Strontium Isotopic Systematic of Chondrules from the Antarctic CV Chondrites Yamato 86751 and Yamato 86009: Additional Evidence for Late Parent-Body Modification; oxygen-Fugacity Indicators in Carbonaceous Chondrites: Parent-Body Alteration or High-Temperature Nebular Oxidation; thermodynamic Modeling of Aqueous Alteration in CV Chondrites; asteroidal Modification of C and O Chondrites: Myths and Models; oxygen Fugacity in the Solar Nebular; and the History of Metal and Sulfides in Chondrites.

  17. Simulation of possible regolith optical alteration effects on carbonaceous chondrite meteorites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Clark, Beth E.; Fanale, Fraser P.; Robinson, Mark S.

    1993-01-01

    As the spectral reflectance search continues for links between meteorites and their parent body asteroids, the effects of optical surface alteration processes need to be considered. We present the results of an experimental simulation of the melting and recrystallization that occurs to a carbonaceous chondrite meteorite regolith powder upon heating. As done for the ordinary chondrite meteorites, we show the effects of possible parent-body regolith alteration processes on reflectance spectra of carbonaceous chondrites (CC's). For this study, six CC's of different mineralogical classes were obtained from the Antarctic Meteorite Collection: two CM meteorites, two CO meteorites, one CK, and one CV. Each sample was ground with a ceramic mortar and pestle to powders with maximum grain sizes of 180 and 90 microns. The reflectance spectra of these powders were measured at RELAB (Brown University) from 0.3 to 2.5 microns. Following comminution, the 90 micron grain size was melted in a nitrogen controlled-atmosphere fusion furnace at an approximate temperature of 1700 C. The fused sample was immediately held above a flow of nitrogen at 0 C for quenching. Following melting and recrystallization, the samples were reground to powders, and the reflectance spectra were remeasured. The effects on spectral reflectance for a sample of the CM carbonaceous chondrite called Murchison are shown.

  18. Oxygen isotopic composition of chondritic interplanetary dust particles: A genetic link between carbonaceous chondrites and comets

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Aléon, J.; Engrand, C.; Leshin, L. A.; McKeegan, K. D.

    2009-08-01

    Oxygen isotopes were measured in four chondritic hydrated interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) and five chondritic anhydrous IDPs including two GEMS-rich particles (Glass embedded with metal and sulfides) by a combination of high precision and high lateral resolution ion microprobe techniques. All IDPs have isotopic compositions tightly clustered around that of solar system planetary materials. Hydrated IDPs have mass-fractionated oxygen isotopic compositions similar to those of CI and CM carbonaceous chondrites, consistent with hydration of initially anhydrous protosolar dust. Anhydrous IDPs have small 16O excesses and depletions similar to those of carbonaceous chondrites, the largest 16O variations being hosted by the two GEMS-rich IDPs. Coarse-grained forsteritic olivine and enstatite in anhydrous IDPs are isotopically similar to their counterparts in comet Wild 2 and in chondrules suggesting a high temperature inner solar system origin. The small variations in the 16O content of GEMS-rich IDPs suggest that most GEMS either do not preserve a record of interstellar processes or the initial interstellar dust is not 16O-rich as expected by self-shielding models, although a larger dataset is required to verify these conclusions. Together with other chemical and mineralogical indicators, O isotopes show that the parent-bodies of carbonaceous chondrites, of chondritic IDPs, of most Antarctic micrometeorites, and comet Wild 2 belong to a single family of objects of carbonaceous chondrite chemical affinity as distinct from ordinary, enstatite, K- and R-chondrites. Comparison with astronomical observations thus suggests a chemical continuum of objects including main belt and outer solar system asteroids such as C-type, P-type and D-type asteroids, Trojans and Centaurs as well as short-period comets and other Kuiper Belt Objects.

  19. Carbonaceous Chondrite-Rich Howardites; The Potential for Hydrous Lithologies on the HED Parent

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Herrin, J. S.; Zolensky, M. E.; Cartwright, J. A.; Mittlefehldt, D. W.; Ross, D. K.

    2011-01-01

    Howardites, eucrites, and diogenites, collectively referred to as the "HED's", are a clan of meteorites thought to represent three different lithologies from a common parent body. Collectively they are the most abundant type of achondrites in terrestrial collections. Eucrites are crustal basalts and gabbros, diogenites are mostly orthopyroxenites and are taken to represent lower crust or upper mantle materials, and howardites are mixed breccias containing both lithologies and are generally regarded as derived from the regolith or near-surface. The presence of exogenous chondritic material in howardite breccias has long been recognized. As a group, howardites exhibit divergence in bulk chemistry from what would be produced by mixing of diogenite and eucrite end-members exclusively, a phenomenon most evident in elevated concentrations of siderophile elements. Despite this chemical evidence for chondritic input in howardite breccias, chondritic clasts have only been identified in a minority of samples, and typically at levels of only a few percent. Three recent Antarctic howardite finds, the paired Mt. Pratt (PRA) 04401 and PRA 04402 and Scott Glacier (SCO) 06040, are notable for their high proportion of carbonaceous chondrite clasts. PRA 04401 is particularly well-endowed, with large chondritic clasts occupying more than half of the modal area of the sections we examined. Previously only a few percent chondritic clasts had been observed to occur in howardites. PRA 04401 is the most chondrite-rich howardite known

  20. Evidence that Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Two Carbonaceous Chondrites Predate Parent-Body Formation

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Plows, F. L.; Elsila, J. E.; Zare, R. N.; Buseck, P. R.

    2003-01-01

    Organic material in meteorites provides insight into the cosmochemistry of the early solar system. The distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Allende and Murchison carbonaceous chondrites was investigated using spatially resolved microprobe laser-desorption laser-ionization mass spectrometry. Sharp chemical gradients of PAHs are associated with specific meteorite features. The ratios of various PAH intensities relative to the smallest PAH, naphthalene, are nearly constant across the sample. These findings suggest a common origin for PAHs dating prior to or contemporary with the formation of the parent body, consistent with proposed interstellar formation mechanisms.

  1. Fluid Inclusions in Carbonaceous Chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Saylor, J.; Zolensky, M. E.; Bodnar, R. J.; Le L.; Schwandt, C.

    2001-01-01

    Fluid inclusions are present in carbonaceous chondrites. Of the chondrites studied (CI1, CM1 and 2, CV3) fluid inclusions were found only in CM2s and CI1s, and by extrapolation are most likely to be found there in the future. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

  2. Mineralogy and composition of matrix and chondrule rims in carbonaceous chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Zolensky, Michael; Barrett, Ruth; Browning, Lauren

    1993-01-01

    The degree of compositional variation of fine-grained minerals displayed by the members within any carbonaceous chondrite group (i.e., CI, CM, CV, CR) is a direct reflection of the range of aqueous alteration assemblages present. Matrix and fine-grained chondrule rims within any particular carbonaceous chondrite are mineralogically nearly identical to one another, but not necessarily similar in bulk elemental composition, even though they have subsequently experienced postaccretional secondary processing (aqueous alteration) under identical conditions. We propose that CO chondrites experienced parent body conditions of low f(O2), low water/rock ratios, and temperatures below 50 C. CR chondrites experienced higher water/rock ratios, potentially higher temperatures (not above 150 C), and a wide range of f(O2). The alteration mineralogy of CV chondrites indicates water/rock ratios at the high end (at least) of the range for CR chondrites, Essebi, and MAC 87300. CM chondrites experienced temperatures below 50 C, low f(O2) and low water/rock ratios, except EET 83334, which probably experienced relatively higher f(O2), and B-7904 and Y-86720, which experienced postalteration temperatures in the range 500-700 C. Most CI chondrites experienced temperatures between 50 and 150 C, relatively high water/rock ratios, and variable f(O2). Y-82162 witnessed postalteration heating, possibly as high as 400 C.

  3. Mineralogical, Spectral, and Compositional Changes During Heating of Hydrous Carbonaceous Chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Nakamura, T.; Matsuoka, M.; Yamashita, S.; Sato, Y.; Mogi, K.; Enokido, Y.; Nakata, A.; Okumura, S.; Furukawa, Y.; Zolensky, M.

    2017-01-01

    Hydrous carbonaceous chondrites experienced hydration and subsequent dehydration by heating, which resulted in a variety of mineralogical and spectral features [e. g., 1-6]. The degree of heating is classified according to heating stage (HS) II to IV based on mineralogy of phyllosilicates [2], because they change, with elevating temperature, to poorly crystal-line phases and subsequently to aggregates of small secondary anhydrous silicates of mainly olivine. Heating of hydrous carbonaceous chondrites also causes spectral changes and volatile loss [3-6]. Experimental heating of Murchison CM chondrite showed flattening of whole visible-near infrared spectra, especially weakening of the 3µm band strength [1, 4, 7]. In order to understand mineralogical, spectral, and compositional changes during heating of hydrous carbonaceous chondrites, we have carried out systematic investigation of mineralogy, reflectance spectra, and volatile composition of hydrated and dehydrated carbonaceous chondrites as well as experimentally-heated hydrous carbonaceous chondrites. In addition, we investigated reflectance spectra of tochilinite that is a major phase of CM chondrites and has a low dehydration temperature (250degC).

  4. Long-lived magnetism on chondrite parent bodies

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shah, Jay; Bates, Helena C.; Muxworthy, Adrian R.; Hezel, Dominik C.; Russell, Sara S.; Genge, Matthew J.

    2017-10-01

    We present evidence for both early- and late-stage magnetic activity on the CV and L/LL parent bodies respectively from chondrules in Vigarano and Bjurböle. Using micro-CT scans to re-orientate chondrules to their in-situ positions, we present a new micron-scale protocol for the paleomagnetic conglomerate test. The paleomagnetic conglomerate test determines at 95% confidence, whether clasts within a conglomerate were magnetized before or after agglomeration, i.e., for a chondritic meteorite whether the chondrules carry a pre- or post-accretionary remanent magnetization. We found both meteorites passed the conglomerate test, i.e., the chondrules had randomly orientated magnetizations. Vigarano's heterogeneous magnetization is likely of shock origin, due to the 10 to 20 GPa impacts that brecciated its precursor material on the parent body and transported it to re-accrete as the Vigarano breccia. The magnetization was likely acquired during the break-up of the original body, indicating a CV parent body dynamo was active ∼9 Ma after Solar System formation. Bjurböle's magnetization is due to tetrataenite, which transformed from taenite as the parent body cooled to below 320 °C, when an ambient magnetic field imparted a remanence. We argue either the high intrinsic anisotropy of tetrataenite or brecciation on the parent body manifests as a randomly orientated distribution, and a L/LL parent body dynamo must have been active at least 80 to 140 Ma after peak metamorphism. Primitive chondrites did not originate from entirely primitive, never molten and/or differentiated parent bodies. Primitive chondrite parent bodies consisted of a differentiated interior sustaining a long-lived magnetic dynamo, encrusted by a layer of incrementally accreted primitive meteoritic material. The different ages of carbonaceous and ordinary chondrite parent bodies might indicate a general difference between carbonaceous and ordinary chondrite parent bodies, and/or formation location in the

  5. Aqueous alteration in the Kaba CV3 carbonaceous chondrite

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Keller, Lindsay P.; Buseck, Peter R.

    1990-01-01

    Results from TEM and SEM examinations of the Kaba CV3 carbonaceous chondrite are presented, showing that the chondrules and the matrix of Kaba have undergone pervasive low-temperature aqueous alteration, resulting in the formation of Fe-bearing saponite from glass and enstatite in chondrules, and from anhydrous silicates in matrix. The alteration products in Kaba were found to resemble those in other aqueously altered carbonaceous chondrites such as the Mokoia CV3 and in Orgueil CI chondrites and Y-82162 chondrites. However, Kaba lacks the abundant high-Al phyllosilicates, reported for CAIs from Mokoia, and the serpentine and ferrihydrite, found in Orgueil.

  6. What Are Space Exposure Histories Telling Us about CM Carbonaceous Chondrites?

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Takenouchi, A.; Zolensky, Michael E.; Nishiizumi, K.; Caffee, M.; Velbel, M. A.; Ross, K.; Zolensky, P.; Le, L.; Imae, N.; Yamaguchi, A.; hide

    2013-01-01

    Chondrites are chemically primitive and carbonaceous (C) chondrites are potentially the most primitive among them because they mostly escaped thermal metamor-phism that affected the other chondrite groups and ratios of their major, non-volatile and most of the volatile elements are similar to those of the Sun. Therefore, C chondrites are ex-pected to retain a good record of the origin and early history of the solar system. Carbonaceous chondrites are chemically differentiated from other chondrites by their high Mg/Si ratios and refractory elements, and have experienced various degrees of aqueous alteration. They are subdivided into eight subgroups (CI, CM, CO, CV, CK, CR, CB and CH) based on major element and oxygen isotopic ratios. Their elemental ratios spread over a wide range though those of ordinary and enstatite chondrites are relatively uniform. It is critical to know how many sepa-rate bodies are represented by the C chondrites. In this study, CM chondrites, the most abundant carbona-ceous chondrites, are examined. They are water-rich, chon-drule- and CAI-bearing meteorites and most of them are brec-cias. High-temperature components such as chondrules, iso-lated olivine and CAIs in CMs are frequently altered and some of them are replaced by clay minerals and surrounded by sul-fides whose Fe was derived from mafic silicates. On the basis of degrees of aqueous alteration, CMs have been classified into subtypes from 1 to 2, although Rubin et al. [1] assigned subtype 1 to subtype 2 and subtype 2 to subtype 2.6 using various petrologic properties. The classification is based on petrographic and mineralogic properties. For example, though tochilinite (2[(Fe, Mg, Cu, Ni[])S] 1.57-1.85 [(Mg, Fe, Ni, Al, Ca)(HH)2]) clumps are produced during aqueous alteration, they disappear and sulfide appears with increasing degrees of aqueous alteration. Cosmic-ray exposure (CRE) age measurements of CM chondrites reveal an unusual feature. Though CRE ages of other chondrite

  7. Petrology of Amoeboid Olivine Aggregates in Antarctic CR Chondrites: Comparison With Other Carbonaceous Chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Komatsu, M.; Fagan, T. J.; Yamaguchi, A.; Mikouchi, T.; Zolensky, M. E.; Yasutake, M.

    2016-01-01

    Amoeboid olivine aggregates (AOAs) are important refractory components of carbonaceous chondrites and have been interpreted to represent solar nebular condensates that experienced high-temperature annealing, but largely escaped melting. In addition, because AOAs in primitive chondrites are composed of fine-grained minerals (forsterite, anorthite, spinel) that are easily modified during post crystallization alteration, the mineralogy of AOAs can be used as a sensitive indicator of metamorphic or alteration processes. AOAs in CR chondrites are particularly important because they show little evidence for secondary alteration. In addition, some CR AOAs contain Mn-enriched forsterite (aka low-iron, Mn-enriched or LIME olivine), which is an indicator of nebular formation conditions. Here we report preliminary results of the mineralogy and petrology of AOAs in Antarctic CR chondrites, and compare them to those in other carbonaceous chondrites.

  8. Matrices of carbonaceous chondrite meteorites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Buseck, Peter R.; Hua, Xin

    1993-01-01

    The morphology, classification, and chemistry of the matrices of carbonaceous chondrite (CC) meteorites is reviewed based on recent research results. The various kinds of CCs are examined in terms of their matrix mineralogy. Alteration processes in CCs are discussed.

  9. Petrology and mineralogy of the Ningqiang carbonaceous chondrite

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Y.; Hsu, W.

    2009-07-01

    We report detailed chemical, petrological, and mineralogical studies on the Ningqiang carbonaceous chondrite. Ningqiang is a unique ungrouped type 3 carbonaceous chondrite. Its bulk composition is similar to that of CV and CK chondrites, but refractory lithophile elements (1.01 × CI) are distinctly depleted relative to CV (1.29 × CI) and CK (1.20 × CI) chondrites. Ningqiang consists of 47.5 vol% chondrules, 2.0 vol% Ca,Al-rich inclusions (CAIs), 4.5 vol% amoeboid olivine aggregates (AOAs), and 46.0 vol% matrix. Most chondrules (95%) in Ningqiang are Mgrich. The abundances of Fe-rich and Al-rich chondrules are very low. Al-rich chondrules (ARCs) in Ningqiang are composed mainly of olivine, plagioclase, spinel, and pyroxenes. In ARCs, spinel and plagioclase are enriched in moderately volatile elements (Cr, Mn, and Na), and low-Ca pyroxenes are enriched in refractory elements (Al and Ti). The petrology and mineralogy of ARCs in Ningqiang indicate that they were formed from hybrid precursors of ferromagnesian chondrules mixed with refractory materials during chondrule formation processes. We found 294 CAIs (55.0% type A, 39.5% spinel-pyroxene-rich, 4.4% hibonite-rich, and several type C and anorthite-spinelrich inclusions) and 73 AOAs in 15 Ningqiang sections (equivalent to 20 cm2 surface area). This is the first report of hibonite-rich inclusions in Ningqiang. They are texturally similar to those in CM, CH, and CB chondrites, and exhibit three textural forms: aggregates of euhedral hibonite single crystals, fine-grained aggregates of subhedral hibonite with minor spinel, and hibonite ± Al,Ti-diopside ± spinel spherules. Evidence of secondary alteration is ubiquitous in Ningqiang. Opaque assemblages, formed by secondary alteration of pre-existing alloys on the parent body, are widespread in chondrules and matrix. On the other hand, nepheline and sodalite, existing in all chondritic components, formed by alkali-halogen metasomatism in the solar nebula.

  10. Lunar and Planetary Science XXXV: Organics and Alteration in Carbonaceous Chondrites: Goop and Crud

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    2004-01-01

    The session "Organics and Alteration in Carbonaceous Chondrites: Goop and Crud" included the following reports:Organics on Fe-Silicate Grains: Potential Mimicry of Meteoritic Processes?; Molecular and Compound-Specific Isotopic Study of Monocarboxylic Acids in Murchison and Antarctic Meteorites; Nanoglobules, Macromolecular Materials, and Carbon Sulfides in Carbonaceous Chondrites; Evidence for Terrestrial Organic Contamination of the Tagish Lake Meteorite; Nitrogen Isotopic Imaging of Tagish Lake Carbon Globules; Microscale Distribution of Hydrogen Isotopes in Two Carbonaceous Chondrites; The Nature and Origin of Aromatic Organic Matter in the Tagish Lake Meteorite; Terrestrial Alteration of CM Chondritic Carbonate; Serpentine Nanotubes in CM Chondrites; Experimental Study of Serpentinization Reactions; Chondrule Glass Alteration in Type IIA Chondrules in the CR2 Chondrites EET 87770 and EET 92105: Insights into Elemental Exchange Between Chondrules and Matrices; Aqueous Alteration of Carbonaceous Chondrites: New Insights from Comparative Studies of Two Unbrecciated CM2 Chondrites, Y 791198 and ALH 81002 ;and A Unique Style of Alteration of Iron-Nickel Metal in WIS91600, an Unusual C2 Carbonaceous Chondrite.

  11. Aqueous Alteration of Carbonaceous Chondrites: New Insights from Comparative Studies of Two Unbrecciated CM2 Chondrites, Y 791198 and ALH 81002

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Chizmadia, L. J.; Brearley, A. J.

    2004-01-01

    Carbonaceous chondrites are an important resource for understanding the physical and chemical conditions in the early solar system. In particular, a long-standing question concerns the role of water in the cosmochemical evolution of carbonaceous chondrites. It is well established that extensive hydration of primary nebular phases occurred in the CM and CI chondrites, but the location where this alteration occurred remains controversial. In the CM2 chondrites, hydration formed secondary phases such as serpentine, tochilinite, pentlandite, carbonate and PCP. There are several textural observations which suggest that alteration occurred before the accretion of the final CM parent asteroid, i.e. preaccretionary alteration. Conversely, there is a significant body of evidence that supports parent-body alteration. In order to test these two competing hypotheses further, we studied two CM chondrites, Y-791198 and ALH81002, two meteorites that exhibit widely differing degrees of aqueous alteration. In addition, both meteorites have primary accretionary textures, i.e. experienced minimal asteroidal brecciation. Brecciation significantly complicates the task of unraveling alteration histories, mixing components that have been altered to different degrees from different locations on the same asteroidal parent body. Alteration in Y-791198 is mostly confined to chondrule mesostases, FeNi metal and fine-grained matrix and rims. In comparison, the primary chondrule silicates in ALH81002 have undergone extensive replacement by secondary hydrous phases. This study focuses on compositional and textural relationships between chondrule mesostasis and the associated rim materials. Our hypothesis is: both these components are highly susceptible to aqueous alteration and should be sensitive recorders of the alteration process. For parent body alteration, we expect systematic coupled mineralogical and compositional changes in rims and altered mesostasis, as elemental exchange between these

  12. A dual origin for water in carbonaceous asteroids revealed by CM chondrites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Piani, Laurette; Yurimoto, Hisayoshi; Remusat, Laurent

    2018-04-01

    Carbonaceous asteroids represent the principal source of water in the inner Solar System and might correspond to the main contributors for the delivery of water to Earth. Hydrogen isotopes in water-bearing primitive meteorites, for example carbonaceous chondrites, constitute a unique tool for deciphering the sources of water reservoirs at the time of asteroid formation. However, fine-scale isotopic measurements are required to unravel the effects of parent-body processes on the pre-accretion isotopic distributions. Here, we report in situ micrometre-scale analyses of hydrogen isotopes in six CM-type carbonaceous chondrites, revealing a dominant deuterium-poor water component (δD = -350 ± 40‰) mixed with deuterium-rich organic matter. We suggest that this deuterium-poor water corresponds to a ubiquitous water reservoir in the inner protoplanetary disk. A deuterium-rich water signature has been preserved in the least altered part of the Paris chondrite (δDParis ≥ -69 ± 163‰) in hydrated phases possibly present in the CM rock before alteration. The presence of the deuterium-enriched water signature in Paris might indicate that transfers of ice from the outer to the inner Solar System were significant within the first million years of the history of the Solar System.

  13. The Spatial Distribution of Organic Matter and Mineralogical Relationships in Carbonaceous Chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Clemett, S. J.; Messenger, S.; Thomas-Keprta, K. L.; Nakamura-Messenger, K.

    2012-01-01

    Organic matter present within primitive carbonaceous meteorites represents the complex conglomeration of species formed in a variety of physically and temporally distinct environments including circumstellar space, the interstellar medium, the Solar Nebula & Jovian sub-nebulae and asteroids. In each case, multiple chemical pathways would have been available for the synthesis of organic molecules. Consequently these meteorites constitute a unique record of organic chemical evolution in the Universe and one of the biggest challenges in organic cosmochemistry has been in deciphering this record. While bulk chemical analysis has provided a detailed description of the range and diversity of organic species present in carbonaceous chondrites, there is virtually no hard experimental data as to how these species are spatially distributed and their relationship to the host mineral matrix, (with one exception). The distribution of organic phases is nevertheless critical to understanding parent body processes. The CM and CI chondrites all display evidence of low temperature (< 350K) interaction with aqueous fluids, which based on O isotope data, flowed along thermal gradients within the respective parent bodies. This pervasive aqueous alteration may have led to aqueous geochromatographic separation of organics and synthesis of new organics coupled to aqueous mineral alteration. To address such issues we have applied the technique of microprobe two-step laser desorption / photoionization mass spectrometry (L2MS) to map in situ the spatial distribution of a broad range of organic species at the micron scale in the freshly exposed matrices of the Bells, Tagish Lake and Murchison (CM2) carbonaceous chondrites.

  14. Young Pb-Isotopic Ages of Chondrules in CB Carbonaceous Chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Amelin, Yuri; Krot, Alexander N.

    2005-01-01

    CB (Bencubbin-type) carbonaceous chondrites differ in many ways from more familiar CV and CO carbonaceous chondrites and from ordinary chondrites. CB chondrites are very rich in Fe-Ni metal (50-70 vol%) and contain magnesian silicates mainly as angular to sub-rounded clasts (or chondrules) with barred olivine (BO) or cryptocrystalline (CC) textures. Both metal and silicates appear to have formed by condensation. The sizes of silicate clasts vary greatly between the two subgroups of CB chondrites: large (up to one cm) in CB(sub a) chondrites, and typically to much much less than 1 mm in CB(sub b) chondrites. The compositional and mineralogical differences between these subgroups and between the CB(sub s) and other types of chondrites suggest different environment and possibly different timing of chondrule formation. In order to constrain the timing of chondrule forming processes in CB(sub s) and understand genetic relationship between their subgroups, we have determined Pb-isotopic ages of silicate material from the CB(sub a) chondrite Gujba and CB(sub b) chondrite Hammadah al Hamra 237 (HH237 hereafter).

  15. Groups of meteorite-producing meteoroids containing carbonaceous chondrite meteorites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Konovalova, N. A.; A.. Ibrohimov, A.; Kalashnikova, T. M.

    2017-09-01

    Proposed probable links of meteorite and meteorite-producing fireballs were been considered. Group associations between meteorite-producing meteoroids and meteorites were been determined for four carbonaceous chondrites Murchison, Maribo, Shutters Mill and Tagish Lake and potentially meteorite-producing bolides on the basis of links of their orbits. In result the several meteorite-producing sporadic slowly fireballs were found as the possible members of groups of four studied carbonaceous chondrite meteorites. One can presume that at present the identified groups may still contain large meteorite-dropping bodies.

  16. Oxygen isotopic relationships between the LEW85332 carbonaceous chondrite and CR chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Prinz, M.; Weisberg, M. K.; Clayton, R. N.; Mayeda, T. K.

    1993-01-01

    LEW85332, originally described as a unique C3 chondrite, was shown to be a C2 chondrite with important linkages to the CR clan. An important petrologic aspect of LEW85332 is that it contains anhydrous chondrules and hydrated matrix, and new oxygen isotopic data on chondrules, matrix and whole rock are consistent with the petrology. Chondrules fall on the equilibrated chondrite line (ECL), with a slope near 1, which goes through ordinary chondrite chondrules. This contrasts with the CR chondrule line which has a lower slope due to hydrated components. LEW85332 chondrules define a new carbonaceous chondrite chondrule line, parallel to the anhydrous CV chondrule line (CCC), consistent with the well-established concept of two oxygen isotopic reservoirs. Matrix and whole rock fall on the CR line. The whole rock composition indicates that the chondrite is dominated by chondrules, and that most of them contain light oxygen similar to that of anhydrous olivine and pyroxene separates in the Renazzo and Al Rais CR chondrites.

  17. Evidence of Microfossils in Carbonaceous Chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hoover, Richard B.; Rozanov, Alexei Y.; Zhmur, S. I.; Gorlenko, V. M.

    1998-01-01

    Investigations have been carried out on freshly broken, internal surfaces of the Murchison, Efremovka and Orgueil carbonaceous chondrites using Scanning Electron Microscopes (SEM) in Russia and the Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope (ESEM) in the United States. These independent studies on different samples of the meteorites have resulted in the detection of numerous spherical and ellipsoidal bodies (some with spikes) similar to the forms of uncertain biogenicity that were designated "organized elements" by prior researchers. We have also encountered numerous complex biomorphic microstructures in these carbonaceous chondrites. Many of these complex bodies exhibit diverse characteristics reminiscent of microfossils of cyanobacteria such as we have investigated in ancient phosphorites and high carbon rocks (e.g. oil shales). Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) analysis and 2D elemental maps shows enhanced carbon content in the bodies superimposed upon the elemental distributions characteristic of the chondritic matrix. The size, distribution, composition, and indications of cell walls, reproductive and life cycle developmental stages of these bodies are strongly suggestive of biology' These bodies appear to be mineralized and embedded within the meteorite matrix, and can not be attributed to recent surface contamination effects. Consequently, we have interpreted these in-situ microstructures to represent the lithified remains of prokaryotes and filamentous cyanobacteria. We also detected in Orgueil microstructures morphologically similar to fibrous kerite crystals. We present images of many biomorphic microstructures and possible microfossils found in the Murchison, Efremovka, and Orgueil chondrites and compare these forms with known microfossils from the Cambrian phosphate-rich rocks (phosphorites) of Khubsugul, Northern Mongolia.

  18. Thermally metamorphosed carbonaceous chondrites from data for thermally mobile trace elements

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Ming-Sheng; Lipschutz, Michael E.

    1998-11-01

    We report RNAA data for U, Co, Au, Sb, Ga, Rb, Cs, Se, Ag, Te, Zn, In, Bi, Tl and Cd (ordered by increasing ease of vaporization and loss from Murchison CM2 chondrite during open-system heating) in 9 Antarctic C2 and C3 chondrites. These meteorites exhibit properties (obtained by reflectance spectroscopy, oxygen isotope mass spectrometry and/or mineralogy-petrology) suggesting thermal metamorphism in their parent bodies. Five of these (Asuka 881655, Yamato (Y) 793495, Y-790992, PCA 91008 and Y-86789, paired with Y-86720) exhibit significant depletion of the most thermally-mobile 1-5 trace elements consistent with open-system loss during extended parent body heating under conditions duplicated by week-long heating of Murchison C2 chondrite heated at 500-700 deg C in a low pressure (initially 10-5 atm) H atmosphere. From earlier data, three other C3 chondrites - Allan Hills (ALH) 81003, ALH 85003 and Lewis Cliffs 85332 - show significant Cd depletion. Nine additional C2 and C3 chondrites show no evidence of mobile trace element depletion - including Y-793321, which by all other criteria was mildly metamorphosed thermally. Either metamorphism of these nine occurred under closed conditions and/or alteration took place under such mild conditions that even Cd could not be lost. The RNAA data suggest that 10 of the 46 Antarctic carbonaceous chondrites (including 4 of 37 from Victoria Land and 6 of 9 from Queen Maud Land) exhibit open-system loss of at least some thermally mobile trace elements by heating in their parent bodies while none of the 25 non-Antarctic falls experienced this. These results are consistent with the idea that the Antarctic sampling of near-Earth material differs from that being sampled today.

  19. Characterization of the organic matter and hydration state of Antarctic micrometeorites: A reservoir distinct from carbonaceous chondrites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Battandier, M.; Bonal, L.; Quirico, E.; Beck, P.; Engrand, C.; Duprat, J.; Dartois, E.

    2018-05-01

    This work presents a multi-analysis on 35 Antarctic micrometeorites (AMMs) (Concordia collection 2006) by coupled Raman and Infrared (IR) spectroscopies, in comparison with samples from type 1 and 2 carbonaceous CM, CR and CI chondrites. We identified the Raman G- and D-bands revealing the presence of polyaromatic carbonaceous material on raw particles in a subset of 16 particles. Thirteen AMMs (10 Fg + 1 Fg-Sc + 1 Sc) were selected from this first subset, and analyzed by infrared microscopy along with 4 AMMs (2 Fg + 1 Fg-Sc + 1 Sc) from a previous study by Dobrica et al. (2011). These analyses showed that scoriaceous, fine-grained scoriaceous and part of the fine-grained AMMs are not hydrated, with a weak abundance of carbonaceous matter. According to the Raman criterion defined by Dobrica et al. (2011), hydrous AMMs do not show structural modifications induced by heating through the atmospheric entry. In several hydrous AMMs, the carbonaceous matter abundance is found larger than in Orgueil (CI), Murchison (CM) and QUE 99177 (CR) chondrites and their mineral content exhibit differences reflected by the structure of the silicate 10 μm band. These observations suggest that part of the AMMs originates from one, or several, distinct parent bodies with respect to primitive carbonaceous chondrites. Each hydrous Fg-AMMS displays higher CH2/CH3 ratio and a smaller carbonyl abundance than chondrites, which point toward a mild processing during atmospheric entry, possibly oxidation, which did not modify the carbon backbone and therefore do not induce differences in Raman spectroscopy.

  20. The Carbonaceous - Non-Carbonaceous Chondrite Reservoir Dichotomy and the Challenge of Ureilites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Goodrich, C. A.

    2017-08-01

    Solar system materials are strongly divided into CC (carbonaceous chondrite) and NCC (non-CC) groups in terms of nucleosynthetic isotope anomalies. Ureilites are in the NCC group but seem to have had volatile-rich precursors. How could this be?

  1. Investigation of Pyridine Carboxylic Acids in CM2 Carbonaceous Chondrites: Potential Precursor Molecules for Ancient Coenzymes

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Smith, Karen E.; Callahan, Michael P.; Gerakines, Perry A.; Dworkin, Jason P.; House, Christopher H.

    2014-01-01

    The distribution and abundances of pyridine carboxylic acids (including nicotinic acid) in eight CM2 carbonaceous chondrites (ALH 85013, DOM 03183, DOM 08003, EET 96016, LAP 02333, LAP 02336, LEW 85311, and WIS 91600) were investigated by liquid chromatography coupled to UV detection and high resolution Orbitrap mass spectrometry. We find that pyridine monocarboxylic acids are prevalent in CM2-type chondrites and their abundance negatively correlates with the degree of pre-terrestrial aqueous alteration that the meteorite parent body experienced. We lso report the first detection of pyridine dicarboxylic acids in carbonaceous chondrites. Additionally, we carried out laboratory studies of proton-irradiated pyridine in carbon dioxide-rich ices (a 1:1 mixture) to serve as a model of the interstellar ice chemistry that may have led to the synthesis of pyridine carboxylic acids. Analysis of the irradiated ice residue shows that a comparable suite of pyridine mono- and dicarboxylic acids was produced, although aqueous alteration may still play a role in the synthesis (and ultimate yield) of these compounds in carbonaceous meteorites. Nicotinic acid is a precursor to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, a likely ancient molecule used in cellular metabolism in all of life, and its common occurrence in CM2 chondrites may indicate that meteorites may have been a source of molecules for the emergence of more complex coenzymes on the early Earth.

  2. Investigation of Pyridine Carboxylic Acids in CM2 Carbonaceous Chondrites: Potential Precursor Molecules for Ancient Coenzymes

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Smith, Karen E.; Callahan, Michael P.; Gerakines, Perry A.; Dworkin, Jason P.; House, Christopher H.

    2014-01-01

    The distribution and abundances of pyridine carboxylic acids (including nicotinic acid) in eight CM2 carbonaceous chondrites (ALH 85013, DOM 03183, DOM 08003, EET 96016, LAP 02333, LAP 02336, LEW 85311, and WIS 91600) were investigated by liquid chromatography coupled to UV detection and high resolution Orbitrap mass spectrometry. We find that pyridine monocarboxylic acids are prevalent in CM2-type chondrites and their abundance negatively correlates with the degree of pre-terrestrial aqueous alteration that the meteorite parent body experienced. We also report the first detection of pyridine dicarboxylic acids in carbonaceous chondrites. Additionally, we carried out laboratory studies of proton-irradiated pyridine in carbon dioxide-rich ices (a 1:1 mixture) to serve as a model of the interstellar ice chemistry that may have led to the synthesis of pyridine carboxylic acids. Analysis of the irradiated ice residue shows that a comparable suite of pyridine mono- and dicarboxylic acids was produced, although aqueous alteration may still play a role in the synthesis (and ultimate yield) of these compounds in carbonaceous meteorites. Nicotinic acid is a precursor to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, a likely ancient molecule used in cellular metabolism in all of life, and its common occurrence in CM2 chondrites may indicate that meteorites may have been a source of molecules for the emergence of more complex coenzymes on the early Earth.

  3. Evidence for Extended Aqueous Alteration in CR Carbonaceous Chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Trigo-Rodriquez, J. M.; Moyano-Cambero, C. E.; Mestres, N.; Fraxedas, J.; Zolensky, M.; Nakamura, T.; Martins, Z.

    2013-01-01

    We are currently studying the chemical interrelationships between the main rockforming components of carbonaceous chondrites (hereafter CC), e.g. silicate chondrules, refractory inclusions and metal grains, and the surrounding meteorite matrices. It is thought that the fine-grained materials that form CC matrices are representing samples of relatively unprocessed protoplanetary disk materials [1-3]. In fact, modern non-destructive analytical techniques have shown that CC matrices host a large diversity of stellar grains from many distinguishable stellar sources [4]. Aqueous alteration has played a role in homogeneizing the isotopic content that allows the identification of presolar grains [5]. On the other hand, detailed analytical techniques have found that the aqueously-altered CR, CM and CI chondrite groups contain matrices in which the organic matter has experienced significant processing concomitant to the formation of clays and other minerals. In this sense, clays have been found to be directly associated with complex organics [6, 7]. CR chondrites are particularly relevant in this context as this chondrite group contains abundant metal grains in the interstitial matrix, and inside glassy silicate chondrules. It is important because CR are known for exhibiting a large complexity of organic compounds [8-10], and only metallic Fe is considered essential in Fischer-Tropsch catalysis of organics [11-13]. Therefore, CR chondrites can be considered primitive materials capable to provide clues on the role played by aqueous alteration in the chemical evolution of their parent asteroids.

  4. Rhenium-osmium isotope systematics of carbonaceous chondrites

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Walker, R.J.; Morgan, J.W.

    1989-01-01

    Rhenium and osmium concentrations and Os isotopic compositions of eight carbonaceous chondrites, one LL3 ordinary chondrite, and two iron meteorites were determined by resonance ionization mass spectrometry. Iron meteorite 187Re/186Os and 187OS/186Os ratios plot on the previously determined iron meteorite isochron, but most chondrite data plot 1 to 2 percent above this meteorite isochron. This suggests either that irons have significantly younger Re-Os closure ages than chondrites or that chondrites were formed from precursor materials with different chemical histories from the precursors of irons. Some samples of Semarkona (LL3) and Murray (C2M) meteorites plot 4 to 6 percent above the iron meteorite isochron, well above the field delineated by other chondrites. Murray may have lost Re by aqueous leaching during its preterrestrial history. Semarkona could have experienced a similar loss of Re, but only slight aqueous alteration is evident in the meteorite. Therefore, the isotopic composition of Semarkona could reflect assembly of isotopically heterogeneous components subsequent to 4.55 billion years ago or Os isotopic heterogeneities in the primordial solar nebula.

  5. Redistribution of Sr and rare earth elements in the matrices of CV3 carbonaceous chondrites during aqueous alteration in their parent body

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jogo, Kaori; Ito, Motoo; Nakamura, Tomoki; Kobayashi, Sachio; Lee, Jong Ik

    2018-03-01

    We measured the abundances of Sr and rare earth elements (REEs) in the matrices of five CV3 carbonaceous chondrites: Meteorite Hills (MET) 00430, MET 01070, La Paz ice field (LAP) 02206, Asuka (A) 881317 and Roberts Massif (RBT) 04143. In the MET 00430 and MET 01074 matrices, the Sr/CI and light REE (LREE, La-Nd)/CI ratios positively correlate with the amounts of Ca-rich secondary minerals, which formed during aqueous alteration in the CV3 chondrite parent body. In contrast, in the LAP 02206 and RBT 04143 matrices, although the Sr/CI ratios correlate with the amounts of Ca-rich secondary minerals, the LREE/CI ratios vary independently from the amounts of any secondary minerals. This suggests that the LREE/CI ratios in these matrices were produced prior to the parent body alteration, probably in the solar nebula. The LREE/CI ratios of the LAP 02206 and RBT 04143 matrices reveal the mixing process of matrix minerals prior to the accretion of the CV3 chondrite parent body. The mixing degrees of matrix minerals might be different between these two matrices. Because solid materials would be mixed over time according to the radial diffusion model of a turbulent disk, the matrix minerals consisting of LAP 02206 and RBT 04143 matrices might be incorporated into their parent body with different timing.

  6. Reduced and unstratified crust in CV chondrite parent body.

    PubMed

    Ganino, Clément; Libourel, Guy

    2017-08-15

    Early Solar System planetesimal thermal models predict the heating of the chondritic protolith and the preservation of a chondritic crust on differentiated parent bodies. Petrological and geochemical analyses of chondrites have suggested that secondary alteration phases formed at low temperatures (<300 °C) by fluid-rock interaction where reduced and oxidized Vigarano type Carbonaceous (CV) chondrites witness different physicochemical conditions. From a thermodynamical survey of Ca-Fe-rich secondary phases in CV3 chondrites including silica activity (aSiO 2 ), here we show that the classical distinction between reduced and oxidized chondrites is no longer valid and that their Ca-Fe-rich secondary phases formed in similar reduced conditions near the iron-magnetite redox buffer at low aSiO 2 (log(aSiO 2 ) <-1) and moderate temperature (210-610 °C). The various lithologies in CV3 chondrites are inferred to be fragments of an asteroid percolated heterogeneously via porous flow of hydrothermal fluid. Putative 'onion shell' structures are not anymore a requirement for the CV parent body crust.Meteorites may unlock the history of the early solar system. Here, the authors find, through Ca-Fe-rich secondary phases, that the distinction between reduced and oxidized CV chondrites is invalid; therefore, CV3 chondrites are asteroid fragments that percolated heterogeneously via porous flow of hydrothermal fluid.

  7. In Situ Mapping of the Organic Matter in Carbonaceous Chondrites and Mineral Relationships

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Clemett, Simon J.; Messenger, S.; Thomas-Keprta, K. L.; Ross, D. K.

    2012-01-01

    Carbonaceous chondrite organic matter represents a fossil record of reactions that occurred in a range of physically, spatially and temporally distinct environments, from the interstellar medium to asteroid parent bodies. While bulk chemical analysis has provided a detailed view of the nature and diversity of this organic matter, almost nothing is known about its spatial distribution and mineralogical relationships. Such information is nevertheless critical to deciphering its formation processes and evolutionary history.

  8. Origin of magnetite and pyrrhotite in carbonaceous chondrites

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Herndon, J.M.; Rowe, M.W.; Larson, E.E.; Watson, D.E.

    1975-01-01

    CARBONACEOUS chondrites, although comprising only about 2% of known meteorites, are extremely interesting for scientific investigation. Their mineral constitution, and the correspondence between their bulk chemical composition and the solar abundance of condensable elements, indicate that minimum chemical fractionation and thermal alteration have occurred. The mineral phases observed in these primitive chondrites are sufficiently unique, with respect to other meteorite classes, to have elicited considerable speculation about the physical environment in which they formed1-7. ?? 1975 Nature Publishing Group.

  9. Amino Acid Chemistry as a Link Between Small Solar System Bodies and Carbonaceous Chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Glavin, Daniel P.; Ehrenfreund, Pascale; Botta, Oliver; Cooper, George; Bada, Jeffrey L.

    2000-01-01

    Establishing chemical links between meteorites and small solar system bodies, such as comets and asteroids, provides a tool for investigating the processes that occurred during the formation of the solar system. Carbonaceous meteorites are of particular interest, since they may have seeded the early Earth with a variety of prebiotic organic compounds including amino acids, purines and pyrimidines, which are thought to be necessary for the origin of life. Here we report the results of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) based amino acid analyses of the acid-hydrolyzed hot water extracts from pristine interior pieces of the CI carbonaceous chondrites Orgueil and Ivuna and the CM meteorites Murchison and Murray. We found that the CI meteorites Orgueil and Ivuna contained high abundances of beta-alanine and glycine, while only traces of other amino acids like alanine, alpha-amino-n-butryic acid (ABA) and alpha-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB) were detected in these meteorites. Carbon isotopic measurements of beta-alanine and glycine in Orgueil by gas chromatography combustion-isotope ratio mass spectrometry clearly indicate an extraterrestrial origin of these amino acids. The amino acid composition of Orgueil and Ivuna was strikingly different from the CM chondrites Murchison and Murray. The most notable difference was the high relative abundance of B-alanine in Orgueil and Ivuna compared to Murchison and Murray. Furthermore, AIB, which is one of the most abundant amino acids found in Murchison and Murray, was present in only trace amounts in Orgueil and Ivuna. Our amino acid data strongly suggest that the CI meteorites Orgueil and Ivuna came from a different type of parent body than the CM meteorites Murchison and Murray, possibly from an extinct comet. It is generally thought that carbonaceous meteorites are fragments of larger asteroidal bodies delivered via near Earth objects (NEO). Orbital and dynamic studies suggest that both fragments of main belt asteroids

  10. Kinetics of volatile extraction from carbonaceous chondrites: Dehydration of talc

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Bose, Kunal; Ganguly, Jibamitra

    1991-01-01

    Carbonaceous chondrites are believed to be the primary constituents of near-Earth asteroids and Phobos and Deimos, and are potential resources of fuels that may be exploited for future planetary missions. Calculations of equilibrium phase relations suggest that talc (Ta) and antigorite (Ant) are likely to be the major hydrous phases in the C1 and C2 meteorites (Ganguly and Saxena, 1989), which constitute the most volatile rich classes of carbonaceous chondrites. The dehydration kinetics of talc are studied as a function of temperature, grain size, composition and fluid fugacity, as part of a systematic study of the reaction kinetics of the volatile bearing phases that are either known or likely to be present in carbonaceous chondrites. The dehydration kinetics were investigated at 1 bar, 775 to 875 C by monitoring the in-situ weight loss as a function of time of a natural talc. The talc platelets had a dimension of 0.8 to 1 micron. The run durations varied from 233.3 hours at 775 C (48 percent dehydration) to 20.8 hours at 875 C (80 pct. dehydration). The results can be adequately represented by a given rate equation. Theoretical analysis suggests that the reduction in the concentration of H2O in the environment of dehydrating talc, as would be encountered in processing chondritic materials, will have negligible effect on the rate of dehydration, unless there is a change of reaction mechanism owing to the presence of other volatile species.

  11. Siderophile-element Anomalies in CK Carbonaceous Chondrites: Implications for Parent-body Aqueous Alteration and Terrestrial Weathering of Sulfides

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Huber, Heinz; Rubin, Alan E.; Kallemeyn, Gregory W.; Wasson, John T.

    2006-01-01

    CK chondrites constitute the most oxidized anhydrous carbonaceous chondrite group; most of the Fe occurs in magnetite and in FeO-rich mafic silicates. The two observed CK falls (Karoonda and Kobe), along with thirteen relatively unweathered CK finds, have unfractionated siderophile-element abundance patterns. In contrast, a sizable fraction of CK finds (9 of 24 investigated) shows fractionated siderophile abundance patterns including low abundances of Ni, Co, Se and Au; the most extreme depletions are in Ni (0.24 of normal CK) and Au (0.14 of normal CK). This depletion pattern has not been found in other chondrite groups. Out of the 74 CK chondrites listed in the Meteoritical Bulletin Database (2006; excluded considerably paired specimens; see http://tin.er.usgs.gov/meteor/ metbull.php) we analyzed 24 and subclassified the CK chondrites in terms of their chemical composition and sulfide mineralogy: sL (siderophiles low; six samples) for large depletions in Ni, Co, Se and Au (>50% of sulfides lost); sM (siderophiles medium; two CKs) for moderately low Ni and Co abundances (sulfides are highly altered or partly lost); sH (siderophiles high; one specimen) for enrichments in Ni, Co, Se and Au; 'normal' for unfractionated samples (13 samples). The sole sH sample may have obtained additional sulfide from impact redistribution in the parent asteroid. We infer that these elements became incorporated into sulfides after asteroidal aqueous processes oxidized nebular metal; thermal metamorphism probably also played a role in their mineral siting. The siderophile losses in the SL and sM samples are mainly the result of oxidation of pentlandite, pyrite and violarite by terrestrial alteration followed by leaching of the resulting phases. Some Antarctic CK chondrites have lost most of their sulfides but retained Ni, Co, Se and Au, presumably as insoluble weathering products.

  12. Thermal history of type 3 chondrites from the Antarctic meteorite collection determined by Raman spectroscopy of their polyaromatic carbonaceous matter

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bonal, Lydie; Quirico, Eric; Flandinet, Laurène; Montagnac, Gilles

    2016-09-01

    This paper is focused on the characterization of the thermal history of 151 CV, CO and unequilibrated ordinary chondrites (UOCs) from the NASA Antarctic meteorite collection, using an approach based on the structure of the included polyaromatic carbonaceous matter determined by Raman spectroscopy. 114 out of these 151 chondrites provided Raman spectra of carbonaceous matter and allowing to assign a petrologic type, which mostly reflects the peak temperature experienced by the rock on the parent body. A thorough review of literature shows however that it is not possible to deduce a peak temperature because accurate calibration is not available. Twenty-three new weakly metamorphosed chondrites have been identified: MIL 07671 (CV3.1); DOM 08006 (CO3.0); DOM 03238, MIL 05024, MIL 05104, MIL 07193 (CO3.1); TIL 82408, LAR 06279 (LL3.05-3.1); EET 90628 (L3.0); GRO 06054, QUE 97008 (L3.05), ALHA 77176, EET 90066, LAR 04380, MET 96515, MIL 05050 (L3.1); ALHA 78133, EET 87735, EET 90909, LEW 87208, PRE 95401 (L3.05-3.1); MCY 05218 (H3.05-3.1) and MET 00506 (H3.1). This study confirms that the width of the D band (FWHMD) and the ratio of the peak intensity of the D and G bands (ID/IG) are the most adapted tracers of the extent of thermal metamorphism in type 3 chondrites. It also unambiguously shows, thanks to the large number of samples, that the width of the G band (FWHMG) does not correlate with the maturity of polyaromatic carbonaceous matter. This parameter is nevertheless very valuable because it shows that Raman spectra of CV chondrites preserve memory of either the metamorphic conditions (possibly oxidation controlled by aqueous alteration) or the nature of the organic precursor. Oxidation memory is our preferred interpretation, however an extensive petrologic characterization of this CV series is required to get firm conclusions. Pre-graphitic carbonaceous matter is reported in seven chondrites and is even the only carbonaceous material detected in the chondrites

  13. Pulsed-Laser Irradiation Space Weathering Of A Carbonaceous Chondrite

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Thompson, M. S.; Keller, L. P.; Christoffersen, R.; Loeffler, M. J.; Morris, R. V.; Graff, T. G.; Rahman, Z.

    2017-01-01

    Grains on the surfaces of airless bodies experience irradiation from solar energetic particles and melting, vaporization and recondensation processes associated with micrometeorite impacts. Collectively, these processes are known as space weathering and they affect the spectral properties, composition, and microstructure of material on the surfaces of airless bodies, e.g. Recent efforts have focused on space weathering of carbonaceous materials which will be critical for interpreting results from the OSIRIS-REx and Hayabusa2 missions targeting primitive, organic-rich asteroids. In addition to returned sample analyses, space weathering processes are quantified through laboratory experiments. For example, the short-duration thermal pulse from hypervelocity micrometeorite impacts have been simulated using pulsed-laser irradiation of target material e.g. Recent work however, has shown that pulsed-laser irradiation has variable effects on the spectral properties and microstructure of carbonaceous chondrite samples. Here we investigate the spectral characteristics of pulsed-laser irradiated CM2 carbonaceous chondrite, Murchison, including the vaporized component. We also report the chemical and structural characteristics of specific mineral phases within the meteorite as a result of pulsed-laser irradiation.

  14. Carbonaceous Chondrite Thin Section Preparation

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Harrington, R.; Righter, K.

    2017-01-01

    Carbonaceous chondrite meteorites have long posed a challenge for thin section makers. The variability in sample hardness among the different types, and sometimes within individual sections, creates the need for an adaptable approach at each step of the thin section making process. This poster will share some of the procedural adjustments that have proven to be successful at the NASA JSC Meteorite Thin Section Laboratory. These adjustments are modifications of preparation methods that have been in use for decades and therefore do not require investment in new technology or materials.

  15. A Cabonaceous Chondrite Dominated Lithology from the HED Parent; PRA 04401

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Herrin, Jason S.; Zolensky, M. E.; Mittlefehldt, David W.

    2010-01-01

    The paired howardite breccias Mt. Pratt (PRA) 04401 and PRA 04402 are notable for their high proportion of carbonaceous chondrite clasts [1]. They consist predominantly of coarse (0.1-7 mm) diogenite (orthopyroxene), eucrite (plagioclase + pyroxene), and carbonaceous chondrite clasts set in a finer grained matrix of these same materials. Coarse C-chondrite clasts up to 7 mm are composed mainly of fine-grained phyllosilicates with lesser sulfides and high-mg# anhydrous magnesian silicates. Most of these clasts appear to be texturally consistent with CM2 classification [1] and some contain relict chondrules. The clasts are angular and reaction or alteration textures are not apparent in the surrounding matrix. PRA 04401 contains about 70 modal% C-chondrite clasts while PRA 04402 contains about 7%. Although many howardites are known to contain abundant C-chondrite clasts [2,3,4], PRA 04401 is, to our knowledge, the most chondrite-rich howardite lithology identified to date. Low EPMA totals from CM2-type clasts in other howardites suggest that they frequently contain 10 wt% or more water [2], a figure consistent with their mineralogy. PRA 04401, therefore, demonstrates the potential for hydrous lithologies with greater than 5 wt% water to occur locally within the nominally anhydrous HED parent body. Since the origin of this water is xenogenic, it might therefore be concentrated in portions of the asteroid surface where it would be more readily observable by remote sensing techniques. We plan to further examine C-chondrite clasts in PRA 04401/2 with the intent of establishing firm chemical classification, estimating water content, and evaluating their relationship with the host breccia. To help place them in context of the HED parent, we will also compare these breccias with other howardites to evaluate which lithologies are likely to be more prevalent on the asteroid surface.

  16. Xenoliths in the CM2 Carbonaceous Chondrite LON 94101: Implications for Complex Mixing on the Asteroidal Parent Body

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Lindgren, P.; Lee, M. R.; Sofe, M.; Zolensky, M. E.

    2011-01-01

    Xenoliths are foreign clasts that oc-cur in various classes of meteorites, e.g. [1,2,3]. A re-cent study reveals the presence of several distinct classes of xenoliths in regolith-bearing meteorites, in-cluding in over 20 different carbonaceous chondrites [4]. The most common types of xenoliths are fine-grained hydrous clasts, often referred to as C1 or CI clasts in the literature, although their mineralogy is actually more similar to hydrous micrometeorites [5,6]. Xenoliths in meteorites present an opportunity to study material not yet classified or available as separate meteorites, and can provide additional information on processes in the dynamic early history of the Solar Sys-tem. Here we have performed chemical and mineralogi-cal analyses of xenoliths in the CM2 carbonaceous chondrite LON 94101, using scanning electron micro-scopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

  17. Search for Nucleosynthetic Cadmium Isotope Variations in Bulk Carbonaceous Chondrites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Toth, E. R.; Schönbächler, M.; Friebel, M.; Fehr, M. A.

    2016-08-01

    New high-precision Cd isotope data will be presented for bulk carbonaceous chondrites, such as Allende and Murchison. Volatile element isotope anomalies and their potential nucleosynthetic sources will be discussed.

  18. Extraterrestrial amino acids identified in metal-rich CH and CB carbonaceous chondrites from Antarctica

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Burton, Aaron S.; Elsila, Jamie E.; Hein, Jason E.; Glavin, Daniel P.; Dworkin, Jason P.

    2013-03-01

    Carbonaceous chondrites contain numerous indigenous organic compounds and could have been an important source of prebiotic compounds required for the origin of life on Earth or elsewhere. Extraterrestrial amino acids have been reported in five of the eight groups of carbonaceous chondrites and are most abundant in CI, CM, and CR chondrites but are also present in the more thermally altered CV and CO chondrites. We report the abundance, distribution, and enantiomeric and isotopic compositions of simple primary amino acids in six metal-rich CH and CB carbonaceous chondrites that have not previously been investigated for amino acids: Allan Hills (ALH) 85085 (CH3), Pecora Escarpment (PCA) 91467 (CH3), Patuxent Range (PAT) 91546 (CH3), MacAlpine Hills (MAC) 02675 (CBb), Miller Range (MIL) 05082 (CB), and Miller Range (MIL) 07411 (CB). Amino acid abundances and carbon isotopic values were obtained by using both liquid chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry and fluorescence, and gas chromatography isotope ratio mass spectrometry. The δ13C/12C ratios of multiple amino acids fall outside of the terrestrial range and support their extraterrestrial origin. Extracts of CH chondrites were found to be particularly rich in amino acids (13-16 parts per million, ppm) while CB chondrite extracts had much lower abundances (0.2-2 ppm). The amino acid distributions of the CH and CB chondrites were distinct from the distributions observed in type 2 and 3 CM and CR chondrites and contained elevated levels of β-, γ-, and δ-amino acids compared to the corresponding α-amino acids, providing evidence that multiple amino acid formation mechanisms were important in CH and CB chondrites.

  19. Theoretical predictions of volatile bearing phases and volatile resources in some carbonaceous chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Ganguly, Jibamitra; Saxena, Surendra K.

    1989-01-01

    Carbonaceous chondrites are usually believed to be the primary constituents of near-Earth asteroids and Phobos and Diemos, and are potential resources of fuels which may be exploited for future planetary missions. The nature and abundances are calculated of the major volatile bearing and other phases, including the vapor phase that should form in C1 and C2 type carbonaceous chondrites as functions of pressure and temperature. The results suggest that talc, antigorite plus or minus magnesite are the major volatile bearing phases and are stable below 400 C at 1 bar in these chondritic compositions. Simulated heating of a kilogram of C2 chondrite at fixed bulk composition between 400 and 800 C at 1 bar yields about 135 gm of volatile, which is made primarily of H2O, H2, CH4, CO2 and CO. The relative abundances of these volatile species change as functions of temperature, and on a molar basis, H2 becomes the most dominant species above 500 C. In contrast, Cl chondrites yield about 306 gm of volatile under the same condition, which consist almost completely of 60 wt percent H2O and 40 wt percent CO2. Preliminary kinetic considerations suggest that equilibrium dehydration of hydrous phyllosilicates should be attainable within a few hours at 600 C. These results provide the framework for further analyses of the volatile and economic resource potentials of carbonaceous chondrites.

  20. Metamorphosed CM and CI Carbonaceous Chondrites Could Be from the Breakup of the Same Earth-crossing Asteroid

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Zolensky, Michael; Abell, Paul; Tonui, Eric

    2005-01-01

    Far from being the relatively unprocessed materials they were once believed to be, we now know that a significant number of carbonaceous chondrites were thermally metamorphosed on their parent asteroid(s). Numerous studies indicate that 7 "CM" and 2 "CI" chondrites have been naturally heated, variously, at from 400 to over 700 C on their parent asteroid(s). Petrographic textures reveal that this thermal metamorphism occurred after the dominant aqueous alteration phase, although some meteorites show evidence of a heating event between two aqueous alteration episodes, i.e. pro- and retrograde aqueous alteration. Aside from the issues of the identification of the transient heat source, timing of metamorphism, and the relation of these materials (if any) to conventional CM and CI chondrites, there is also a mystery related to their recovery. All of these meteorites have been recovered from the Antarctic; none are falls or finds from anyplace else. Indeed, the majority have been collected by the Japanese NIPR field parties in the Yamato Mountains. In fact, one estimate is that these meteorites account for approx. 64 wt% of the CM carbonaceous chondrites at the NIPR. The reasons for this are unclear and might be due in part to simple sampling bias. However we suggest that this recovery difference is related to the particular age of the Yamato Mountains meteorite recovery surfaces, and differences in meteoroid fluxes between the Yamato meteorites and recent falls and substantially older Antarctic meteorites. Additional information is included in the original extended abstract.

  1. Comparison of visible and near-infrared reflectance spectra of CM2 carbonaceous chondrites and primitive asteroids

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Vilas, F.; Hiroi, T.; Zolensky, M. E.

    1993-01-01

    Spectra of primitive asteroids (defined as C, P, and D classes and associated subclasses) were compared to the limited number of spectra of CM2 carbonaceous chondrites. An absorption feature located at 0.7 microns attributed to an Fe(+2) - Fe(+3) charge transfer absorption in iron oxides in phyllosilicates is apparent in some of the CM2 carbonaceous chondrite spectra and many of the asteroid spectra. Sawyer found a correlation between the area of the 0.7 micron feature and the mean semimajor axis of the asteroids. Spectra of a larger sample of carbonaceous chondrites, including 7 CM2 chondrites, covering a spectral interval of 0.30-2.5 microns were recently obtained using the Relab instrument at Brown University. These spectra were compared with spectrophotometric asteroid observations in a separate abstract. Those spectra of CM2 chondrites were isolated into the UV, visible and near-infrared spectral regions in order to compare them with high-quality narrowband reflectance spectra.

  2. Extraterrestrial Amino Acids Identified in Metal-Rich CH and CB Carbonaceous Chondrites from Antarctica

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Burton, Aaron S.; Elsila, Jamie E.; Hein, Jason E.; Glavin, Daniel P.; Dworkin, Jason P.

    2013-01-01

    Carbonaceous chondrites contain numerous indigenous organic compounds and could have been an important source of prebiotic compounds required for the origin of life on Earth or elsewhere. Extraterrestrial amino acids have been reported in five of the eight groups of carbonaceous chondrites and are most abundant in CI, CM, and CR chondritesbut are also present in the more thermally altered CV and CO chondrites. We report the abundance, distribution, and enantiomeric and isotopic compositions of simple primary amino acids in six metal-rich CH and CB carbonaceous chondrites that have not previously been investigated for amino acids: Allan Hills (ALH) 85085 (CH3), Pecora Escarpment(PCA) 91467 (CH3), Patuxent Range (PAT) 91546 (CH3), MacAlpine Hills (MAC) 02675(CBb), Miller Range (MIL) 05082 (CB), and Miller Range (MIL) 07411 (CB). Amino acid abundances and carbon isotopic values were obtained by using both liquid chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry and fluorescence, and gas chromatography isotope ratiomass spectrometry. The (delta D, delta C-13, delta N-15) ratios of multiple amino acids fall outside of the terrestrial range and support their extraterrestrial origin. Extracts of CH chondrites were found to be particularly rich in amino acids (1316 parts per million, ppm) while CB chondrite extracts had much lower abundances (0.22 ppm). The amino acid distributions of the CH and CB chondrites were distinct from the distributions observed in type 2 and 3 CM and CR chondrites and contained elevated levels of beta-, gamma-, and delta-amino acids compared to the corresponding alpha-amino acids, providing evidence that multiple amino acid formation mechanisms were important in CH and CB chondrites.

  3. Comment on Mars as the Parent Body of the CI Carbonaceous Chondrites by J. E. Brandenburg

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Treiman, Allan H.

    1996-01-01

    Geological and chemical data refute a martian origin for the CI carbonaceous chondrites. Here, I will first consider Brandenburg's [1996] proposal that the CI's formed as water-deposited sediments on Mars, and that these sediments had limited chemical interactions with their martian environment. Finally, I will address oxygen isotope ratios, the strongest link between the CIs and the martian meteorites.

  4. CM and CO chondrites: A common parent body or asteroidal neighbors? Insights from chondrule silicates

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Schrader, Devin L.; Davidson, Jemma

    2017-10-01

    By investigating the petrology and chemical composition of type II (FeO-rich) chondrules in the Mighei-like carbonaceous (CM) chondrites we constrain their thermal histories and relationship to the Ornans-like carbonaceous (CO) chondrites. We identified FeO-rich relict grains in type II chondrules by their Fe/Mn ratios; their presence indicates chondrule recycling among type II chondrules. The majority of relict grains in type II chondrules are FeO-poor olivine grains. Consistent with previous studies, chemical similarities between CM and CO chondrite chondrules indicate that they had similar formation conditions and that their parent bodies probably formed in a common region within the protoplanetary disk. However, important differences such as mean chondrule size and the lower abundance of FeO-poor relicts in CM chondrite type II chondrules than in CO chondrites suggest CM and CO chondrules did not form together and they likely originate from distinct parent asteroids. Despite being aqueously altered, many CM chondrites contain pre-accretionary anhydrous minerals (i.e., olivine) that are among the least thermally metamorphosed materials in chondrites according to the Cr2O3 content of their ferroan olivine. The presence of these minimally altered pre-accretionary chondrule silicates suggests that samples to be returned from aqueously altered asteroids by the Hayabusa2 and OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample return missions, even highly hydrated, may contain silicates that can provide information about the pre-accretionary histories and conditions of asteroids Ryugu and Bennu, respectively.

  5. New Evidence for the Presence of Indigenous Microfossils in Carbonaceous Chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hoover, Richard B.; Rozanov, Alexei Yu.

    2004-01-01

    We present additional evidence for the presence of indigenous microfossils in carbonaceous meteorites scanning electron micrograph studies of freshly fractured interior surfaces of pristine samples of the Murchison CM2 carbonaceous meteorite have revealed forms in-situ that are recognizable as biofilms as well as complex and highly structured forms similar to calcareous and siliceous microfossils. Some of the forms encountered are very well-preserved and exhibit complex associated microstructures similar to bacterial flagella. New images will be presented of forms recently encountered in carbonaceous meteorites and they will be compared with those of known microbial extremophiles. KEYWORDS: carbonaceous chondrites, Murchison, microfossils, extremophiles

  6. R Raman Spectroscopy and Petrology of Antarctic CR Chondrites: Comparison with Other Carbonaceous Chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Komatsu, M.; Fagan, T. J.; Yamaguchi, A.; Mikouchi, T.; Zolensky, M. E.; Yasutake, M.

    2015-01-01

    In Renazzo-like carbonaceous (CR) chondrites, abundant original Fe,Ni-metal is preserved in chrondules, but the matrix is characterized by fine-grained magnetite with phyllosilicate. This combination of reduced Fe in chrodrules with oxidized Fe and phyllosilicate in the matrix has been attributed to aqueous alteration of matrix at relatively low temperatures.

  7. The Oxygen Isotope Composition of Dark Inclusions in HEDs, Ordinary and Carbonaceous Chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Greenwood, R. C.; Zolensky, M. E.; Buchanan, P. C.; Franchi, I. A.

    2015-01-01

    Dark inclusions (DIs) are lithic fragments that form a volumetrically small, but important, component in carbonaceous chondrites. Carbonaceous clasts similar to DIs are also found in some ordinary chondrites and HEDs. DIs are of particular interest because they provide a record of nebular and planetary processes distinct from that of their host meteorite. DIs may be representative of the material that delivered water and other volatiles to early Earth as a late veneer. Here we focus on the oxygen isotopic composition of DIs in a variety of settings with the aim of understanding their formational history and relationship to the enclosing host meteorite.

  8. In situ analysis of Refractory Metal Nuggets in carbonaceous chondrites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Daly, Luke; Bland, Phil A.; Dyl, Kathryn A.; Forman, Lucy V.; Evans, Katy A.; Trimby, Patrick W.; Moody, Steve; Yang, Limei; Liu, Hongwei; Ringer, Simon P.; Ryan, Christopher G.; Saunders, Martin

    2017-11-01

    Micrometre to sub-micrometre-scale alloys of platinum group elements (PGEs) known as Refractory Metal Nuggets (RMNs) have been observed in primitive meteorites. The Australian Synchrotron X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) beamline, in tandem with the Maia detector, allows rapid detection of PGEs in concentrations as low as 50-100 ppm at 2 μm resolution. Corroborating these analyses with traditional electron microscopy techniques, RMNs can be rapidly identified in situ within carbonaceous chondrites. These results dispute the assumption of most previous studies: that RMNs are unique to Ca-Al-rich inclusions (CAIs). We find that RMNs are, in fact, observed within all components of carbonaceous chondrites, such as the matrix, chondrules (consistent with observations from Schwander et al. (2015b) and Wang et al. (2007)), and sulphides; though the majority of RMNs are still found in CAIs. The chemistry of RMNs reveals a complex diversity of compositions, which nevertheless averages to CI chondrite abundance ratios. This implies that RMNs are the dominant, if not sole host phase for PGEs. One hundred and thirteen RMNs from this study are combined with reported compositions in the literature, and compared to condensation model compositions similar to Berg et al. (2009), RMNs derived experimentally by precipitation (Schwander et al., 2015a), host phase and host meteorite. Comparisons reveal only weak correlations between parent body processes (sulphidation) and nebular processes (condensation and precipitation) with RMN compositions. It appears that none of these processes acting in isolation or in tandem can explain the diversity observed in the RMN population. Our interpretation is that the Solar Nebula inherited an initially compositionally diverse population of RMNs from the Giant Molecular Cloud; that a variety of Solar System processes have acted on that population; but none have completely homogenised it. Most RMNs have experienced disk and asteroidal processing, but some

  9. Distinct Distribution of Purines in CM and CR Carbonaceous Chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Callahan, Michael P.; Stern, Jennifer C.; Glavin, Daniel P.; Smith, Karen E.; Martin, Mildred G.; Dworkin, Jason P.

    2010-01-01

    Carbonaceous meteorites contain a diverse suite of organic molecules and delivered pre biotic organic compounds, including purines and pyrimidines, to the early Earth (and other planetary bodies), seeding it with the ingredients likely required for the first genetic material. We have investigated the distribution of nucleobases in six different CM and CR type carbonaceous chondrites, including fivc Antarctic meteorites never before analyzed for nucleobases. We employed a traditional formic acid extraction protocol and a recently developed solid phase extraction method to isolate nucleobases. We analyzed these extracts by high performance liquid chromatography with UV absorbance detection and tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-UV -MS/MS) targeting the five canonical RNAIDNA bases and hypoxanthine and xanthine. We detected parts-per-billion levels of nucleobases in both CM and CR meteorites. The relative abundances of the purines found in Antarctic CM and CR meteorites were clearly distinct from each other suggesting that these compounds are not terrestrial contaminants. One likely source of these purines is formation by HCN oligomerization (with other small molecules) during aqueous alteration inside the meteorite parent body. The detection of the purines adenine (A), guanine (0), hypoxanthine (HX), and xanthine (X) in carbonaceous meteorites indicates that these compounds should have been available on the early Earth prior to the origin of the first genetic material.

  10. Spectral parameters for Dawn FC color data: Carbonaceous chondrites and aqueous alteration products as potential cerean analog materials

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Schäfer, Tanja; Nathues, Andreas; Mengel, Kurt; Izawa, Matthew R. M.; Cloutis, Edward A.; Schäfer, Michael; Hoffmann, Martin

    2016-02-01

    We identified a set of spectral parameters based on Dawn Framing Camera (FC) bandpasses, covering the wavelength range 0.4-1.0 μm, for mineralogical mapping of potential chondritic material and aqueous alteration products on dwarf planet Ceres. Our parameters are inferred from laboratory spectra of well-described and clearly classified carbonaceous chondrites representative for a dark component. We additionally investigated the FC signatures of candidate bright materials including carbonates, sulfates and hydroxide (brucite), which can possibly be exposed on the cerean surface by impact craters or plume activity. Several materials mineralogically related to carbonaceous chondrites, including pure ferromagnesian phyllosilicates, and serpentinites were also investigated. We tested the potential of the derived FC parameters for distinguishing between different carbonaceous chondritic materials, and between other plausible cerean surface materials. We found that the major carbonaceous chondrite groups (CM, CO, CV, CK, and CR) are distinguishable using the FC filter ratios 0.56/0.44 μm and 0.83/0.97 μm. The absorption bands of Fe-bearing phyllosilicates at 0.7 and 0.9 μm in terrestrial samples and CM carbonaceous chondrites can be detected by a combination of FC band parameters using the filters at 0.65, 0.75, 0.83, 0.92 and 0.97 μm. This set of parameters serves as a basis to identify and distinguish different lithologies on the cerean surface by FC multispectral data.

  11. Textural evidence bearing on the origin of isolated olivine crystals in C2 carbonaceous chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Richardson, S. M.; Mcsween, H. Y., Jr.

    1978-01-01

    In some cases the mechanical competence of chondrules in carbonaceous chondrites has been reduced by alteration of their mesostasis glass to friable phyllosilicate, providing a mechanism by which euhedral olivines can be separated from chondrules. Morphological features of isolate olivine grains found in carbonaceous chondrites are similar to those of olivine phenocrysts in chondrules. These observations suggest that the isolated olivine grains formed in chondrules, by crystallization from a liquid, rather than by condensation from a vapor.

  12. Chemical compositions and classifica tion of five thermally altered carbonaceous chondrites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Noronha, Bianca A.; Friedrich, Jon M.

    2014-08-01

    To establish the chemical group provenance of the five thermally altered carbonaceous chondrites Asuka (A-) 881551, Asuka-882113, Elephant Moraine (EET) 96026, Mulga (west), and Northwest Africa (NWA) 3133, we quantified 44 trace elements in each of them. We also analyzed Larkman Nunatak (LAR) 04318 (CK4), Miller Range (MIL) 090001 (CR2), Roberts Massif (RBT) 03522 (CK5) as reference samples as their chemical group affinity is already recognized. We conclude that Asuka-881551, Asuka-882113, and Mulga (west) are thermally metamorphosed CK chondrites. Compositionally, Elephant Moraine 96026 most resembles the CV chondrites. NWA 3133 is the most significantly thermally altered carbonaceous chondrite in our suite of samples. It is completely recrystallized (no chondrules or matrix remain), but its bulk composition is consistent with a CV-CK clan provenance. The thermally labile element (e.g., Se, Te, Zn, and Bi) depletion in NWA 3133 indicates a chemically open system during the heating episode. It remains unclear if the heat necessary for its thermal alteration of NWA 3133 was due to the decay of 26Al or was impact related. Finally, we infer that MIL 090001, Mulga (west), and NWA 3133 show occasional compositional signatures indicative of terrestrial alteration. The alteration is especially evident within the elements Sr, Ba, La, Ce, Th, U, and possibly Sb. Despite the alteration, we can still confidently place each of the altered chondrites within an established chemical group or clan.

  13. Comets, carbonaceous chondrites, and interstellar clouds: Condensation of carbon

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Field, G. B.

    1979-01-01

    Comets, carbonaceous chondrites, and interstellar clouds are discussed in relation to information on interstellar dust. The formation and presence of carbon in stars, comets, and meteorites is investigated. The existence of graphite in the interstellar medium, though it is predicted from thermodynamic calculations, is questioned and the form of carbon contained in comets is considered.

  14. Amino acid compositions in heated carbonaceous chondrites and their compound-specific nitrogen isotopic ratios

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chan, Queenie Hoi Shan; Chikaraishi, Yoshito; Takano, Yoshinori; Ogawa, Nanako O.; Ohkouchi, Naohiko

    2016-01-01

    A novel method has been developed for compound-specific nitrogen isotope compositions with an achiral column which was previously shown to offer high precision for nitrogen isotopic analysis. We applied the method to determine the amino acid contents and stable nitrogen isotopic compositions of individual amino acids from the thermally metamorphosed (above 500 °C) Antarctic carbonaceous chondrites Ivuna-like (CI)1 (or CI-like) Yamato (Y) 980115 and Ornans-like (CO)3.5 Allan Hills (ALH) A77003 with the use of gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry. ALHA77003 was deprived of amino acids due to its extended thermal alteration history. Amino acids were unambiguously identified in Y-980115, and the δ15N values of selected amino acids (glycine +144.8 ‰; α-alanine +121.2 ‰) are clearly extraterrestrial. Y-980115 has experienced an extended period of aqueous alteration as indicated by the presence of hydrous mineral phases. It has also been exposed to at least one post-hydration short-lived thermal metamorphism. Glycine and alanine were possibly produced shortly after the accretion event of the asteroid parent body during the course of an extensive aqueous alteration event and have abstained from the short-term post-aqueous alteration heating due to the heterogeneity of the parent body composition and porosity. These carbonaceous chondrite samples are good analogs that offer important insights into the target asteroid Ryugu of the Hayabusa-2 mission, which is a C-type asteroid likely composed of heterogeneous materials including hydrated and dehydrated minerals.

  15. Mineralogy of Tagish Lake, a Unique Type 2 Carbonaceous Chondrite

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Gounelle, M.; Zolensky, M. E.; Tonui, E.; Mikouchi, T.

    2001-01-01

    We have identified in Tagish Lake an abondant carbonate-poor lithology and a less common carbonate-rich lithology. Tagish Lake shows similarities and differences with CMs and CI1s. It is a unique carbonaceous chondrite recording specific aqueous alteration conditions. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

  16. Lunar and Planetary Science XXXV: Concerning Chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    2004-01-01

    The Lunar and Planetary Science XXXV session entitled "Concerning Chondrites" includes the following topics: 1) Petrology and Raman Spectroscopy of Shocked Phases in the Gujba CB Chondrite and the Shock History of the CB Parent Body; 2) The Relationship Between CK and CV Chondrites: A Single Parent Body Source? 3) Samples of Asteroid Surface Ponded Deposits in Chondritic Meteorites; 4) Composition and Origin of SiO2-rich Objects in Carbonaceous and Ordinary Chondrites; 5) Re-Os Systematics and HSE distribution in Tieschitz (H3.6); Two Isochrons for One Meteorite; 6) Loss of Chromium from Olivine During the Metamorphism of Chondrites; 7) Very Short Delivery Times of Meteorites After the L-Chondrite Parent Body Break-Up 480 Myr Ago; and 8) The Complex Exposure History of a Very Large L/LL5 Chondrite Shower: Queen Alexandra Range 90201.

  17. Elephant Moraine 96029, a very mildly aqueously altered and heated CM carbonaceous chondrite: Implications for the drivers of parent body processing

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lee, Martin R.; Lindgren, Paula; King, Ashley J.; Greenwood, Richard C.; Franchi, Ian A.; Sparkes, Robert

    2016-08-01

    Elephant Moraine (EET) 96029 is a CM carbonaceous chondrite regolith breccia with evidence for unusually mild aqueous alteration, a later phase of heating and terrestrial weathering. The presence of phyllosilicates and carbonates within chondrules and the fine-grained matrix indicates that this meteorite was aqueously altered in its parent body. Features showing that water-mediated processing was arrested at a very early stage include a matrix with a low magnesium/iron ratio, chondrules whose mesostasis contains glass and/or quench crystallites, and a gehlenite-bearing calcium- and aluminium-rich inclusion. EET 96029 is also rich in Fe,Ni metal relative to other CM chondrites, and more was present prior to its partial replacement by goethite during Antarctic weathering. In combination, these properties indicate that EET 96029 is one of the least aqueously altered CMs yet described (CM2.7) and so provides new insights into the original composition of its parent body. Following aqueous alteration, and whilst still in the parent body regolith, the meteorite was heated to ∼400-600 °C by impacts or solar radiation. Heating led to the amorphisation and dehydroxylation of serpentine, replacement of tochilinite by magnetite, loss of sulphur from the matrix, and modification to the structure of organic matter that includes organic nanoglobules. Significant differences between samples in oxygen isotope compositions, and water/hydroxyl contents, suggests that the meteorite contains lithologies that have undergone different intensities of heating. EET 96029 may be more representative of the true nature of parent body regoliths than many other CM meteorites, and as such can help interpret results from the forthcoming missions to study and return samples from C-complex asteroids.

  18. In Situ Observation of Carbonaceous Material in the Matrices of CV and CM Carbonaceous Chondrites: Preliminary Results from Energy Filtered Transmission Electron Microscopy

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Brearley, A. J.; Abreu, N. M.

    2001-01-01

    Energy filtered transmission electron microscopy shows that organic matter can be detected in situ in the matrices of carbonaceous chondrites at a spatial resolution of at least 1 nm. In CM chondrites, carbon is often associated with sulfide particles. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

  19. Multicolor observations of phobos with the viking lander cameras: evidence for a carbonaceous chondritic composition.

    PubMed

    Pollack, J B; Veverka, J; Pang, K; Colburn, D; Lane, A L; Ajello, J M

    1978-01-06

    The reflectivity of Phobos has been determined in the spectral region from 0.4 to 1.1 micrometers from images taken with a Viking lander camera. The reflectivity curve is flat in this spectral interval and the geometric albedo equals 0.05 +/- 0.01. These results, together with Phobos's reflectivity spectrum in the ultraviolet, are compared with laboratory spectra of carbonaceous chondrites and basalts. The spectra of carbonaceous chondrites are consistent with the observations, whereas the basalt spectra are not. These findings raise the possibility that Phobos may be a captured object rather than a natural satellite of Mars.

  20. The Effect of Aqueous Alteration in Antarctic Carbonaceous Chondrites from Comparative ICP-MS Bulk Chemistry

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Alonso-Azcarate, J.; Trigo-Rodriguez, J. M.; Moyano-Cambero, C. E.; Zolensky, M.

    2014-01-01

    Terrestrial ages of Antarctic carbonaceous chondrites (CC) indicate that these meteorites have been preserved in or on ice for, at least, tens of thousands of years. Due to the porous structure of these chondrites formed by the aggregation of silicate-rich chondrules, refractory inclusions, metal grains, and fine-grained matrix materials, the effect of pervasive terrestrial water is relevant. Our community defends that pristine CC matrices are representing samples of scarcely processed protoplanetary disk materials as they contain stellar grains, but they might also trace parent body processes. It is important to study the effects of terrestrial aqueous alteration in promoting bulk chemistry changes, and creating distinctive alteration minerals. Particularly because it is thought that aqueous alteration has particularly played a key role in some CC groups in modifying primordial bulk chemistry, and homogenizing the isotopic content of fine-grained matrix materials. Fortunately, the mineralogy produced by parent-body and terrestrial aqueous alteration processes is distinctive. With the goal to learn more about terrestrial alteration in Antarctica we are obtaining reflectance spectra of CCs, but also performing ICP-MS bulk chemistry of the different CC groups. A direct comparison with the mean bulk elemental composition of recovered falls might inform us on the effects of terrestrial alteration in finds. With such a goal, in the current work we have analyzed some members representative of CO and CM chondrite groups.

  1. A hydrogen isotope study of CO3 type carbonaceous chondrites; comparison with type 3 ordinary chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Morse, A. D.; Newton, J.; Pillinger, C. T.

    1993-01-01

    Meteorites of the Ornans type 3 carbonaceous chondrites exhibit a range in degree of equilibration, attributed to differing amounts of thermal metamorphism. These differences have been used to split the CO3 chondrites into petrologic sub-types from 3.0, least equilibrated, to 3.7, being most equilibrated. This is similar to the system of assigning the type 3 ordinary chondrites into petrologic sub-types 3.0 to 3.9 based upon thermoluminescence (TL) and other properties; however, the actual range of thermal metamorphism experienced by CO3 chondrites is much less than that of the type 3 ordinary chondrites. The least equilibrated ordinary chondrites show evidence of aqueous alteration and have high D/H ratios possibly due to a deuterium-rich organic carrier. The aim of this study was to determine whether the CO3 chondrites, which have experienced similar secondary conditions to the type 3 ordinary chondrites, also contain a similar deuterium-rich carrier. To date a total of 5 CO3 meteorites, out of a set of 11 for which carbon and nitrogen isotopic data are available, have been analyzed. Ornans has not been analyzed yet, because it does not appear to fit in with the metamorphic sequence exhibited by the other CO3 chondrites; it also has an extremely high delta-D value of +2150 percent, unusual for such a comparatively equilibrated meteorite (type 3.4). Initial results indicate that the more equilibrated CO3's tend to have lower delta-D values, analogous to the higher petrologic type ordinary chondrites. However this is complicated by the effects of terrestrial weathering and the small data-set.

  2. The onset of metamorphism in ordinary and carbonaceous chondrites

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Grossman, J.N.; Brearley, A.J.

    2005-01-01

    Ordinary and carbonaceous chondrites of the lowest petrologic types were surveyed by X-ray mapping techniques. A variety of metamorphic effects were noted and subjected to detailed analysis using electron microprobe, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and cathodoluminescence (CL) methods. The distribution of Cr in FeO-rich olivine systematically changes as metamorphism increases between type 3.0 and type 3.2. Igneous zoning patterns are replaced by complex ones and Cr-rich coatings develop on all grains. Cr distributions in olivine are controlled by the exsolution of a Cr-rich phase, probably chromite. Cr in olivine may have been partly present as tetrahedrally coordinated Cr3+. Separation of chromite is nearly complete by petrologic type 3.2. The abundance of chondrules showing an inhomogeneous distribution of alkalis in mesostasis also increases with petrologic type. TEM shows this to be the result of crystallization of albite. Residual glass compositions systematically change during metamorphism, becoming increasingly rich in K. Glass in type I chondrules also gains alkalis during metamorphism. Both types of chondrules were open to an exchange of alkalis with opaque matrix and other chondrules. The matrix in the least metamorphosed chondrites is rich in S and Na. The S is lost from the matrix at the earliest stages of metamorphism due to coalescence of minute grains. Progressive heating also results in the loss of sulfides from chondrule rims and increases sulfide abundances in coarse matrix assemblages as well as inside chondrules. Alkalis initially leave the matrix and enter chondrules during early metamorphism. Feldspar subsequently nucleates in the matrix and Na re-enters from chondrules. These metamorphic trends can be used to refine classification schemes for chondrites. Cr distributions in olivine are a highly effective tool for assigning petrologic types to the most primitive meteorites and can be used to

  3. Oxygen isotope characteristics of chondrules from the Yamato-82094 ungrouped carbonaceous chondrite: Further evidence for common O-isotope environments sampled among carbonaceous chondrites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tenner, T. J.; Kimura, M.; Kita, N. T.

    2017-02-01

    High-precision secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) was employed to investigate oxygen three isotopes of phenocrysts in 35 chondrules from the Yamato (Y) 82094 ungrouped 3.2 carbonaceous chondrite. Twenty-one of 21 chondrules have multiple homogeneous pyroxene data (∆17O 3SD analytical uncertainty: 0.7‰); 17 of 17 chondrules have multiple homogeneous pyroxene and plagioclase data. Twenty-one of 25 chondrules have one or more olivine data matching coexisting pyroxene data. Such homogeneous phenocrysts (1) are interpreted to have crystallized from the final chondrule melt, defining host O-isotope ratios; and (2) suggest efficient O-isotope exchange between ambient gas and chondrule melt during formation. Host values plot within 0.7‰ of the primitive chondrule mineral (PCM) line. Seventeen chondrules have relict olivine and/or spinel, with some δ17O and δ18O values approaching -40‰, similar to CAI or AOA-like precursors. Regarding host chondrule data, 22 of 34 have Mg#s of 98.8-99.5 and ∆17O of -3.9‰ to -6.1‰, consistent with most Acfer 094, CO, CR, and CV chondrite chondrules, and suggesting a common reduced O-isotope reservoir devoid of 16O-poor H2O. Six Y-82094 chondrules have ∆17O near -2.5‰, with Mg#s of 64-97, consistent with lower Mg# chondrules from Acfer 094, CO, CR, and CV chondrites; their signatures suggest precursors consisting of those forming Mg# 99, ∆17O: -5‰ ± 1‰ chondrules plus 16O-poor H2O, at high dust enrichments. Three type II chondrules plot slightly above the PCM line, near the terrestrial fractionation line (∆17O: +0.1‰). Their O-isotopes and olivine chemistry are like LL3 type II chondrules, suggesting they sampled ordinary chondrite-like chondrule precursors. Finally, three Mg# >99 chondrules have ∆17O of -6.7‰ to -8.1‰, potentially due to 16O-rich refractory precursor components. The predominance of Mg# 99, ∆17O: -5‰ ± 1‰ chondrules and a high chondrule-to-matrix ratio suggests bulk Y-82094

  4. Accretion and Preservation of Organic Matter in Carbonaceous Chondrites as Revealed by NanoSIMS Imaging.

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Remusat, L.; Guan, Y.; Eiler, J.

    2008-12-01

    Carbonaceous chondrites are the most primitive known meteorites. Their parent bodies accreted several discrete components of the early solar system: CAIs, other silicates, oxides, sulfides, ice, organics, and noble gases. Radioactive decay of short live radionucleides quickly heated these parent bodies and drove thermal metamorphism and aqueous alteration of their constituents. Despite this post-acretionary modification, at least some components of the organic matter in the carbaceous chondrites retained distinctive isotopic and molecular properties that may relate to their pre-acretionary origins in the protosolar nebula or in the molecular cloud that gave birth to it [1]. These processes that gave rise to early solar-system organic matter and the extent to which it was modified by parent body processes are still a matter of debate [2]. We have acquired NanoSIMS images of matrices of several CI, CM, CR and CV chondrites to document, in- situ, the distribution of organics and their textural and chemical relationships to co-existing inorganic components. Importantly, we performed these analyses on essentially unmodified fragments of matrix material pressed into indium, rather than on extracts, which have been the focus of most previous work on meteoritic organic matter. Specifically, we simultaneously collected H, D, 12C, 18O, 26CN, 28Si and 32S with a spatial resolution of 200 nm. Inorganic constituents of the imaged domains were determined by SEM imaging and EDS analysis. We identify two textural classes of organic constituents: diffuse organic matter and organic particles ~ 1 micron in diameter. The particles are common and do not exhibit any textural association with any inorganic matrix constituent. This distribution is consistent with previous observations by fluorescence optical microscopy [3]. These organic particles are likely primarily composed of insoluble organic matter (IOM) that grew prior to accretion as pure organic particules and was preserved in

  5. New SSMS Techniques for the Determination of Rhodium and Other Platinum- Group Elements in Carbonaceous Chondrites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jochum, K. P.; Seufert, H. M.

    1995-09-01

    We have developed new spark source mass spectrometric (SSMS) techniques for simultaneous analysis of platinum-group elements (PGE) together with other trace elements in stony meteorites. We have measured elemental abundances of Rh, Ru, Os, Ir, Pt, Au in carbonaceous chondrites of different types including the two CI chondrites Orgueil and Ivuna. These data are relevant for the determination of solar-system abundances. Whereas the solar-system abundances of most PGE are well known, this is not the case for Rh, and no literature data exist for carbonaceous chondrites, mainly because of analytical difficulties. The SSMS techniques include new calibration procedures and the use of a recently developed multi-ion counting (MIC) system [1]. The mono-isotopic element Rh and the other PGE were determined by using internal standard elements (e.g., Nd, U) that were measured by isotope dilution in the same sample electrode material. The data were calibrated with certified standard solutions of PGE which were doped on trace-element poor rock samples. Ion abundances were measured using both the conventional photoplate detection and the ion-counting techniques. The new MIC technique that uses up to 20 small channeltrons for ion counting measurements has the advantage of improved precision, detection limits and analysis time compared to photoplate detection. Tab. 1 shows the Rh analyses for the meteorites Orgueil, Ivuna, Murchison, Allende and Karoonda obtained by conventional photoplate detection. These are the first Rh results for carbonaceous chondrites. The data for the two CI chondrites Orgueil and Ivuna are identical and agree within 4 % with the CI estimate of Anders and Grevesse [2] which was derived indirectly from analyses for H-chondrites. The PGE Os, Ir, Pt, Au and W, Re, Th, U concentrations were determined by both detection systems. Data obtained with the MIC system are more precise (about 4% for concentrations in the ppb range) compared to the photoplate detection

  6. Distribution of Aliphatic Amines in CO, CV, and CK Carbonaceous Chondrites and Relation to Mineralogy and Processing History

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Aponte, Jose C.; Abreu, Neyda M.; Glavin, Daniel P.; Dworkin, Jason P.; Elsila, Jamie E.

    2017-01-01

    The analysis of water-soluble organic compounds in meteorites provides valuable insights into the prebiotic synthesis of organic matter and the processes that occurred during the formation of the solar system. We investigated the concentration of aliphatic monoamines present in hot acid water extracts of the unaltered Antarctic carbonaceous chondrites, Dominion Range (DOM) 08006 (CO3) and Miller Range (MIL) 05013 (CO3), and the thermally altered meteorites, Allende (CV3), LAP 02206 (CV3), GRA 06101 (CV3), Allan Hills (ALH) 85002 (CK4), and EET 92002 (CK5). We have also reviewed and assessed the petrologic characteristics of the meteorites studied here to evaluate the effects of asteroidal processing on the abundance and molecular distributions of monoamines. The CO3, CV3, CK4, and CK5 meteorites studied here contain total concentrations of amines ranging from 1.2 to 4.0 nmol/g of meteorite; these amounts are 1-3 orders of magnitude below those observed in carbonaceous chondrites from the CI, CM, and CR groups. The low-amine abundances for CV and CK chondrites may be related to their extensive degree of thermal metamorphism and/or to their low original amine content. Although the CO3 meteorites, DOM 08006 and MIL 05013, do not show signs of thermal and aqueous alteration, their monoamine contents are comparable to those observed in moderately/extensively thermally altered CV3, CK4, and CK5 carbonaceous chondrites. The low content of monoamines in pristine CO carbonaceous chondrites suggests that the initial amounts, and not asteroidal processes, play a dominant role in the content of monoamines in carbonaceous chondrites. The primary monoamines, methylamine, ethylamine, and n-propylamine constitute the most abundant amines in the CO3, CV3, CK4, and CK5 meteorites studied here. Contrary to the predominance of n-x-amino acid isomers in CO3 and thermally altered meteorites, there appears to be no preference for the larger n-amines.

  7. Tellurium stable isotope fractionation in chondritic meteorites and some terrestrial samples

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fehr, Manuela A.; Hammond, Samantha J.; Parkinson, Ian J.

    2018-02-01

    New methodologies employing a 125Te-128Te double-spike were developed and applied to obtain high precision mass-dependent tellurium stable isotope data for chondritic meteorites and some terrestrial samples by multiple-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Analyses of standard solutions produce Te stable isotope data with a long-term reproducibility (2SD) of 0.064‰ for δ130/125Te. Carbonaceous and enstatite chondrites display a range in δ130/125Te of 0.9‰ (0.2‰ amu-1) in their Te stable isotope signature, whereas ordinary chondrites present larger Te stable isotope fractionation, in particular for unequilibrated ordinary chondrites, with an overall variation of 6.3‰ for δ130/125Te (1.3‰ amu-1). Tellurium stable isotope variations in ordinary chondrites display no correlation with Te contents or metamorphic grade. The large Te stable isotope fractionation in ordinary chondrites is likely caused by evaporation and condensation processes during metamorphism in the meteorite parent bodies, as has been suggested for other moderately and highly volatile elements displaying similar isotope fractionation. Alternatively, they might represent a nebular signature or could have been produced during chondrule formation. Enstatite chondrites display slightly more negative δ130/125Te compared to carbonaceous chondrites and equilibrated ordinary chondrites. Small differences in the Te stable isotope composition are also present within carbonaceous chondrites and increase in the order CV-CO-CM-CI. These Te isotope variations within carbonaceous chondrites may be due to mixing of components that have distinct Te isotope signatures reflecting Te stable isotope fractionation in the early solar system or on the parent bodies and potentially small so-far unresolvable nucleosynthetic isotope anomalies of up to 0.27‰. The Te stable isotope data of carbonaceous and enstatite chondrites displays a general correlation with the oxidation state and hence might

  8. Extraterrestrial Nucleobases in Carbonaceous Chondrites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Martins, Z.; Botta, O.; Fogel, M.; Sephton, M.; Glavin, D.; Watson, J.; Dworkin, J.; Schwartz, A.; Ehrenfreund, P.

    Nucleobases in Carbonaceous Chondrites Z. Martins (1), O. Botta (2), M. L. Fogel (3), M. A. Sephton (4), D. P. Glavin (2), J. S. Watson (5), J. P. Dworkin (2), A. W. Schwartz (6) and P. Ehrenfreund (1,6). (1) Astrobiology Laboratory, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden, The Netherlands, (2) NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Goddard Center for Astrobiology, Greenbelt, MD, USA, (3) GL, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington DC, USA, (4) Impacts and Astromaterials Research Centre, Department of Earth Science and Engineering, South Kensington Campus, Imperial College, London, UK, (5) Planetary and Space Sciences Research Institute, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, UK, (6) Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. E-mail: z.martins@chem.leidenuniv.nl/Phone:+31715274440 Nucleobases are crucial compounds in terrestrial biochemistry, because they are key components of DNA and RNA. Carbonaceous meteorites have been analyzed for nucleobases by different research groups [1-5]. However, significant quantitative and qualitative differences were observed, leading to the controversial about the origin of these nucleobases. In order to establish the origin of these compounds in carbonaceous chondrites and to assess the plausibility of their exogenous delivery to the early Earth, we have performed formic acid extraction of samples of the Murchison meteorite [6], followed by an extensive purification procedure, analysis and quantification by high-performance liquid chromatography with UV absorption detection and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Our results were qualitatively consistent with previous results [3, 4], but showed significant quantitative differences. Compound specific carbon isotope values were obtained, using gas chromatography-combustion- isotope ratio mass spectrometry. A soil sample collected in the proximity of the Murchison meteorite fall site was subjected to the same extraction, purification and analysis procedure

  9. Structure and Bonding of Carbon in Clays from CI Carbonaceous Chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Garview, Laurence a. J.; Buseck, Peter R.

    2005-01-01

    Carbonaceous chondrites (CC) contain a diverse suite of C-rich materials. Acid dissolution of these meteorites leaves a C-rich residue with chemical and structural affinities to kerogen. This material has primarily been analyzed in bulk, and much information has been provided regarding functional groups and elemental and isotopic compositions. However, comparatively little work has been done on C in unprocessed meteorites. Studies of CCs suggest a spatial relationship of some C-rich materials with products of aqueous alteration. Recent studies revealed discrete submicronsized, C-rich particles in Tagish Lake and a range of CM2 meteorites. A challenge is to correlate the findings from the bulk acid-residue studies with those of high-spatial resolution-mineralogical and spectroscopic observations of unprocessed meteorites. Hence, the relationship between the C-rich materials in the acid residues and its form and locations in the unprocessed meteorite remains unclear. Here we provide information on the structure and bonding of C associated with clays in CI carbonaceous chondrites. Additional information is included in the original extended abstract.

  10. Crystallinity of Fe-Ni Sulfides in Carbonaceous Chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Zolensky, Michael E.; Ohsumi, Kazumasa; Mikouchi, Takashi; Hagiya, Kenji; Le, Loan

    2008-01-01

    The main long-term goal of this research is to understand the physical conditions in the early solar nebula through the detailed characterization of a key class of mineral present in all primitive materials: Fe-Ni sulfides [1&2]. Fe-Ni sulfides can take dozens of structures, depending on the temperature of formation, as well as other physico-chemical factors which are imperfectly understood. Add to this the additional varying factor of Ni content, and we have a potentially sensitive cosmothermometer [3]. Unfortunately, this tool requires exact knowledge of the crystal structure of each grain being considered, and there have been few (none?) studies of the detailed structures of sulfides in chondritic materials. We report here on coordinated compositional and crystallographic investigation of Fe-Ni sulfides in diverse carbonaceous chondrites, initially Acfer 094 (the most primitive CM2 [4]) Tagish Lake (a unique type C2 [5]), a C1 lithology in Kaidun [6], Bali (oxidized CV3 [7]), and Efremovka (reduced CV3 [7]).

  11. CM Carbonaceous Chondrite Lithologies and Their Space Exposure Ages

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Zolensky, Michael; Gregory, Timothy; Takenouchi, Atsushi; Nishiizumi, Kunihiko; Trieman, Alan; Berger, Eve; Le, Loan; Fagan, Amy; Velbel, Michael; Imae, Naoya; hide

    2015-01-01

    The CMs are the most commonly falling C chondrites, and therefore may be a major component of C-class asteroids, the targets of several current and future space missions. Previous work [1] has concluded that CM chondrites fall into at least four distinct cosmic ray space exposure (CRE) age groups (0.1 million years, 0.2 million years, 0.6 million years and greater than 2.0 million years), an unusually large number, but the meaning of these groupings is unclear. It is possible that these meteorites came from different parent bodies which broke up at different times, or instead came from the same parent body which underwent multiple break-up events, or a combination of these scenarios, or something else entirely. The objective of this study is to investigate the diversity of lithologies which make up CM chondrites, in order to determine whether the different exposure ages correspond to specific, different CM lithologies, which permit us to constrain the history of the CM parent body(ies). We have already reported significant petrographic differences among CM chondrites [2-4]. We report here our new results.

  12. Fe-Ni metal in primitive chondrites: Indicators of classification and metamorphic conditions for ordinary and CO chondrites

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Kimura, M.; Grossman, J.N.; Weisberg, M.K.

    2008-01-01

    We report the results of our petrological and mineralogical study of Fe-Ni metal in type 3 ordinary and CO chondrites, and the ungrouped carbonaceous chondrite Acfer 094. Fe-Ni metal in ordinary and CO chondrites occurs in chondrule interiors, on chondrule surfaces, and as isolated grains in the matrix. Isolated Ni-rich metal in chondrites of petrologic type lower than type 3.10 is enriched in Co relative to the kamacite in chondrules. However, Ni-rich metal in type 3.15-3.9 chondrites always contains less Co than does kamacite. Fe-Ni metal grains in chondrules in Semarkona typically show plessitic intergrowths consisting of submicrometer kamacite and Ni-rich regions. Metal in other type 3 chondrites is composed of fine- to coarse-grained aggregates of kamacite and Ni-rich metal, resulting from metamorphism in the parent body. We found that the number density of Ni-rich grains in metal (number of Ni-rich grains per unit area of metal) in chondrules systematically decreases with increasing petrologic type. Thus, Fe-Ni metal is a highly sensitive recorder of metamorphism in ordinary and carbonaceous chondrites, and can be used to distinguish petrologic type and identify the least thermally metamorphosed chondrites. Among the known ordinary and CO chondrites, Semarkona is the most primitive. The range of metamorphic temperatures were similar for type 3 ordinary and CO chondrites, despite them having different parent bodies. Most Fe-Ni metal in Acfer 094 is martensite, and it preserves primary features. The degree of metamorphism is lower in Acfer 094, a true type 3.00 chondrite, than in Semarkona, which should be reclassified as type 3.01. ?? The Meteoritical Society, 2008.

  13. Comparing Amino Acid Abundances and Distributions Across Carbonaceous Chondrite Groups

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Burton, Aaron S.; Callahan, Michael P.; Glavin, Daniel P.; Elsila, Jamie E.; Dworkin, Jason P.

    2012-01-01

    Meteorites are grouped according to bulk properties such as chemical composition and mineralogy. These parameters can vary significantly among the different carbonaceous chondrite groups (CI, CM, CO, CR, CH, CB, CV and CK). We have determined the amino acid abundances of more than 30 primary amino acids in meteorites from each of the eight groups, revealing several interesting trends. There are noticeable differences in the structural diversity and overall abundances of amino acids between meteorites from the different chondrite groups. Because meteorites may have been an important source of amino acids to the prebiotic Earth and these organic compounds are essential for life as we know it, the observed variations of these molecules may have been important for the origins of life.

  14. Distinct Purine Distribution in Carbonaceous Chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Callahan, Michael P.; Smith, Karen E.; Cleaves, Henderson J.; Ruzicka, Josef; Stern, Jennifer C.; Glavin, Daniel P.; House, Christopher H.; Dworkin, Jason P.

    2011-01-01

    Carbonaceous chondrite meteorites are known to contain a diverse suite of organic compounds, many of which are essential components of biochemistry. Amino acids, which are the monomers of proteins, have been extensively studied in such meteorites (e.g. Botta and Bada 2002; Pizzarello et aI., 2006). The origin of amino acids in meteorites has been firmly established as extraterrestrial based on their detection typically as racemic mixtures of amino acids, the presence of many non-protein amino acids, and non-terrestrial values for compound-specific deuterium, carbon, and nitrogen isotopic measurements. In contrast to amino acids, nucleobases in meteorites have been far less studied. Nucleobases are substituted one-ring (pyrimidine) or two-ring (purine) nitrogen heterocyclic compounds and serve as the information carriers of nucleic acids and in numerous coenzymes. All of the purines (adenine, guanine, hypoxanthine, and xanthine) and pyrimidines (uracil) previously reported in meteorites are biologically common and could be interpreted as the result of terrestrial contamination (e.g. van del' Velden and Schwartz, 1974.) Unlike other meteoritic organics, there have been no observations of stochastic molecular diversity of purines and pyrimidines in meteorites, which has been a criterion for establishing extraterrestrial origin. Maltins et al. (2008) performed compound-specific stable carbon isotope measurements for uracil and xanthine in the Murchison meteorite. They assigned a non-terrestrial origin for these nucleobases; however, the possibility that interfering indigenous molecules (e.g. carboxylic acids) contributed to the 13C-enriched isotope values for these nucleobases cannot be completely ruled out. Thus, the origin of these meteoritic nucleobases has never been established unequivocally. Here we report on our investigation of extracts of II different carbonaceous chondrites covering various petrographic types (Cl, CM, and CR) and degrees of aqueous alteration

  15. Origin and abundance of water in carbonaceous asteroids

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Marrocchi, Yves; Bekaert, David V.; Piani, Laurette

    2018-01-01

    The origin and abundance of water accreted by carbonaceous asteroids remains underconstrained, but would provide important information on the dynamic of the protoplanetary disk. Here we report the in situ oxygen isotopic compositions of aqueously formed fayalite grains in the Kaba and Mokoia CV chondrites. CV chondrite bulk, matrix and fayalite O-isotopic compositions define the mass-independent continuous trend (δ17O = 0.84 ± 0.03 × δ18O - 4.25 ± 0.1), which shows that the main process controlling the O-isotopic composition of the CV chondrite parent body is related to isotopic exchange between 16O-rich anhydrous silicates and 17O- and 18O-rich fluid. Similar isotopic behaviors observed in CM, CR and CO chondrites demonstrate the ubiquitous nature of O-isotopic exchange as the main physical process in establishing the O-isotopic features of carbonaceous chondrites, regardless of their alteration degree. Based on these results, we developed a new approach to estimate the abundance of water accreted by carbonaceous chondrites (quantified by the water/rock ratio) with CM (0.3-0.4) ≥ CR (0.1-0.4) ≥ CV (0.1-0.2) > CO (0.01-0.10). The low water/rock ratios and the O-isotopic characteristics of secondary minerals in carbonaceous chondrites indicate they (i) formed in the main asteroid belt and (ii) accreted a locally derived (inner Solar System) water formed near the snowline by condensation from the gas phase. Such results imply low influx of D- and 17O- and 18O-rich water ice grains from the outer part of the Solar System. The latter is likely due to the presence of a Jupiter-induced gap in the protoplanetary disk that limited the inward drift of outer Solar System material at the exception of particles with size lower than 150 μm such as presolar grains. Among carbonaceous chondrites, CV chondrites show O-isotopic features suggesting potential contribution of 17-18O-rich water that may be related to their older accretion relative to other hydrated

  16. Reconstructing the thermal evolution of the CK chondrite parent body using Northwest Africa 5343, the least metamorphosed CK chondrite

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dunn, T. L.; Gross, J.; O'Hara, E. J.

    2017-12-01

    Carbonaceous chondrites (CCs) represent some of the most pristine solar system material, providing constraints on the early formation of planetesimals. The CK chondrites are the only group of CCs to exhibit the full range of thermal metamorphism (petrologic type 3 to 6). Most unequilibrated CK chondrites (CK3s) have been metamorphosed to petrologic subtype 3.8 or higher. However, homogeneity of olivine suggests that CK3 chondrite Northwest Africa (NWA) 5343 is less metamorphosed than the other CK3s. The presence of unrecrystallized matrix indicates that it is less than petrologic type 3.7. To better assess the lower limits of metamorphism on the CK chondrite parent body, we performed a detailed analysis of matrix material in NWA 5343. Ascertaining the lower limit of metamorphism in the CK chondrites is critical when addressing the CK-CV parent body debate (e.g., one vs. two parent bodies), and will shed light onto the evolution of metamorphosed CC parent bodies. We recognize two texturally distinct regions in the matrix of NWA 5343. Both have similar mineralogies (mostly olivine with lesser pyroxene and plagioclase), but differ in grain size, shape, and porosity. The porous region of the sample is characterized by subhedral-rounded olivine grains, typically < 40 µms, surrounded by empty pore space ( 10-14% porosity). Some small patches of matrix within the porous region contain angular olivine grains that are < 10 µms, similar to "clastic matrix" typically observed in some low petrologic type CCs and ordinary chondrites (OCs). In the glassy matrix region of NWA 5343 (3-7% porosity), olivine grains are larger (20-40 µms) and more anhedral. Skeletal pyroxene is also common. Original pore space is filled with a Ca-rich glass that appears to originate from an unusual vein in this region. Most interestingly, the extent of metamorphism varies within NWA 5343. Larger, anhedral olivine in the glassy region suggest that this region is more metamorphosed than the porous

  17. Occurrence and possible significance of rare Ti oxides (Magneli phases) in carbonaceous chondrite matrices

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Brearley, Adrian J.

    1993-01-01

    Rare, ultrafine-grained Ti oxides (Ti3O5 and the Magneli phases, Ti5O9 and Ti8O15) have been identified by TEM in the CM2 carbonaceous chondrite, Bells, and a carbonaceous chondrite matrix clast from the Nilpena polymict ureilite. In both meteorites the Ti oxides occur in the matrix as isolated grains and clusters of two or more grains. They are euhedral in shape and have grain sizes of 0.05-0.3 micron. Magneli phases have been recently shown to be a common component in some interplanetary dust particles, but this is the first reported occurrence in a meteorite. The morphological properties and grain size of the Ti oxides are consistent with formation by vapor phase condensation either within the solar nebula or possibly in a presolar environment.

  18. Organic matter in primitive meteorites: a study of the hydrogen isotopic distribution in CM-type carbonaceous chondrites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Piani, L.; Yurimoto, H.; Remusat, L.; Gonzales, A.; Marty, B.

    2017-12-01

    Chondrite meteorites are fragments of rocks coming from small bodies of the asteroid belt and constitute witnesses of the volatile-rich reservoirs present in the inner protoplanetary disk. Among these meteorites, carbonaceous chondrites contain the largest quantity of water and organic matter and are one of the most probable candidates for the delivery of water and molecular origin of life to Earth. Organic matter in carbonaceous chondrites is intimately mixed with hydrated minerals challenging its in situ characterization and the determination of its H-isotope composition (Le Guillou et al., GCA 131, 2014). Organic matter occurs as soluble components (in water or organic solvents) and an insoluble macromolecule. The insoluble organic matter (IOM) is efficiently isolated after acid leaching of the chondrite minerals. IOM has thus been investigated by a large set of analytical techniques allowing its structural organization, chemical composition and isotopic composition to be determined at several scales (e.g. Derenne and Robert, MAPS 45, 2010). In the soluble counterpart (SOM), targeted studies have shown large ranges of D/H ratios in the different classes of soluble organic compounds (i.e. carboxylic acids, ketones and aldehydes, amino-acids etc.) (Remusat, Planetary Mineralogy 15, 2015 and references therein). This D/H distribution indicates a complex and probably multiple-stage synthesis of this organic compounds occurring at different stages of the disk evolution. Nevertheless, inventories of the known C-bearing species in carbonaceous chondrites (carbonates, SOM and IOM) show that about 40-50 % of the carbon is hidden within the matrix (Alexander et al., MAPS 50, 2015). In this study, we perform in situ hydrogen isotope analyses at the micrometer scale by secondary ion mass spectrometry to investigate the distribution of organic matter in primitive chondrites without the use of any chemical treatment. Correlated analyses of the D/H and C/H ratios allow us to

  19. What is controlling the reflectance spectra (0.35-150 μm) of hydrated (and dehydrated) carbonaceous chondrites?

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Beck, Pierre; Maturilli, A.; Garenne, A.; Vernazza, P.; Helbert, J.; Quirico, E.; Schmitt, B.

    2018-10-01

    In order to determine the controls on the reflectance spectra of hydrated carbonaceous chondrites, reflectance spectra were measured for a series of samples with well-determined mineralogy, water-content, and thermal history. This includes 5 CR chondrites, 11 CM chondrites, and 7 thermally metamorphosed CM chondrites. These samples were characterized over the 0.35-150 μm range by reflectance spectroscopy in order to cover the full spectral range accessible from ground based observation, and that will be determined in the near-future by the Hayabusa-2 and Osiris-REx missions. While spectra show absorption features shortward of 35 μm, no strong absorption bands were identified in this suite of samples longward of 35 μm. This work shows that the 0.7-μm band observed in hydrated carbonaceous chondrites is correlated with the total water content as well as with the band depth at 2.7 μm, confirming the suggestion that they are related to Mg-rich, Fe-bearing phyllosilicates. A feature at 2.3 μm, diagnostic of such phyllosilicates was found for all samples with a detectable 0.7-μm band, also indicative of Mg-rich phyllosilicates. A strong variability is found in the shape of the 3-μm band among CM chondrites, and between CM, CR and thermally metamorphosed CM chondrites. Heavily altered CM chondrites show a single strong band around 2.72 μm while more thermally metamorphosed CM samples show an absorption band at higher wavelength. The CR chondrite GRO 95577 has a 3-μm feature very similar to those of extensively altered CM chondrites while other CR chondrite rather shows goethite-like signatures (possibly due to terrestrial weathering of metals). Thermally metamorphosed CM chondrites all have 3-μm features, which are not purely due to terrestrial adsorbed water. The band shape ranges from heavily altered CM-like to goethite-like. The overall reflectance was found to be significantly higher for CR chondrites than for CM chondrites. This is also true for the

  20. Application of Scanning-Imaging X-Ray Microscopy to Fluid Inclusion Candidates in Carbonates of Carbonaceous Chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Tsuchiyama, Akira; Nakano, Tsukasa; Miyake, Akira; Akihisa, Takeuchi; Uesugi, Kentaro; Suzuki, Yoshio; Kitayama, Akira; Matsuno, Junya; Zolensky, Michael E.

    2016-01-01

    In order to search for such fluid inclusions in carbonaceous chondrites, a nondestructive technique using x-ray micro-absorption tomography combined with FIB sampling was developed and applied to a carbonaceous chondrite. They found fluid inclusion candidates in calcite grains, which were formed by aqueous alteration. However, they could not determine whether they are really aqueous fluids or merely voids. Phase and absorption contrast images can be simultaneously obtained in 3D by using scanning-imaging x-ray microscopy (SIXM). In refractive index, n=1-sigma+i(beta), in the real part, 1-sigma is the refractive index with decrement, sigma, which is nearly proportional to the density, and the imaginary part, beta, is the extinction coefficient, which is related to the liner attenuation coefficient, mu. Many phases, including water and organic materials as well as minerals, can be identified by SIXM, and this technique has potential availability for Hayabusa-2 sample analysis too. In this study, we examined quantitative performance of d and m values and the spatial resolution in SIXM by using standard materials, and applied this technique to carbonaceous chondrite samples. We used POM ([CH2O]n), silicon, quartz, forsterite, corundum, magnetite and nickel as standard materials for examining the sigma and mu values. A fluid inclusion in terrestrial quartz and bi-valve shell (Atrina vexillum), which are composed of calcite and organic layers with different thickness, were also used for examining the spatial resolution. The Ivuna (CI) and Sutter's Mill (CM) meteorites were used as carbonaceous chondrite samples. Rod- or cube-shaped samples 20-30 micron in size were extracted by using FIB from cross-sectional surfaces of the standard materials or polished thin sections of the chondrites, which was previously observed with SEM. Then, the sample was attached to a thin W-needle and imaged by SIXM system at beamline BL47XU, SPring-8, Japan. The slice thickness was 109.3 nm

  1. Understanding the Organo-Carbonate Associations in Carbonaceous Chondrites with the Use of Micro-Raman Analysis

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Chan, Q. H. S.; Zolensky, M. E.

    2015-01-01

    Carbonates can potentially provide sites for organic materials to accrue and develop into complex macromolecules. This study examines the organics associated with carbonates in carbonaceous chondrites using micron-Raman imaging.

  2. Understanding the Organo-Carbonate Associations in Carbonaceous Chondrites with the Use of Micro-Raman Analysis

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Chan, Q. H. S.; Zolensky, M. E.

    2015-01-01

    Carbonates can potentially provide sites for organic materials to accrue and develop into complex macromolecules. This study examines the organics associated with carbonates in carbonaceous chondrites using µ-Raman imaging.

  3. Correlated Amino Acid and Mineralogical Analyses of Milligram and Submilligram Samples of Carbonaceous Chondrite Lonewolf Nunataks 94101

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Burton, S.; Berger, E. L.; Locke, D. R.; Lewis, E. K.

    2018-01-01

    Amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, have been found to be indigenous in the eight carbonaceous chondrite groups. The abundances, structural, enantiomeric and isotopic compositions of amino acids differ significantly among meteorites of different groups and petrologic types. These results suggest parent-body conditions (thermal or aqueous alteration), mineralogy, and the preservation of amino acids are linked. Previously, elucidating specific relationships between amino acids and mineralogy was not possible because the samples analyzed for amino acids were much larger than the scale at which petrologic heterogeneity is observed (sub mm-scale differences corresponding to sub-mg samples); for example, Pizzarello and coworkers measured amino acid abundances and performed X-ray diffraction (XRD) on several samples of the Murchison meteorite, but these analyses were performed on bulk samples that were 500 mg or larger. Advances in the sensitivity of amino acid measurements by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-FD/TOF-MS), and application of techniques such as high resolution X-ray diffraction (HR-XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) for mineralogical characterizations have now enabled coordinated analyses on the scale at which mineral heterogeneity is observed. In this work, we have analyzed samples of the Lonewolf Nunataks (LON) 94101 CM2 carbonaceous chondrite. We are investigating the link(s) between parent body processes, mineralogical context, and amino acid compositions in meteorites on bulk samples (approx. 20mg) and mineral separates (< or = 3mg) from several of spatial locations within our allocated samples. Preliminary results of these analyses are presented here.

  4. Multiple parent bodies of ordinary chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Yomogida, K.; Matsui, T.

    1984-01-01

    Thermal histories of chondrite parent bodies are calculated from an initial state with material in a powder-like form, taking into account the effect of consolidation state on thermal conductivity. The very low thermal conductivity of the starting materials makes it possible for a small body with a radius of less than 100 km to be heated by several hundred degrees even if long-lived radioactive elements in chondritic abundances are the only source of heat. The maximum temperature is determined primarily by the temperature at which sintering of the constituent materials occurs. The thermal state of the interior of a chondrite parent body after sintering has begun is nearly isothermal. Near the surface, however, where the material is unconsolidated and the thermal conductivity is much lower, the thermal gradient is quite large. This result contradicts the conventional 'onion-shell' model of chondrite parent bodies. But because the internal temperature is almost constant through the whole body, it supports a 'multiple-parent bodies' model, according to which each petrologic type of chondrite comes from a different parent body.

  5. The Chelyabinsk Fall Highly Siderophile Element Abundance and 187Os/188Os Composition and Comparison with Ordinary and Carbonaceous Chondrites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Day, J. M. D.; Corder, C. A.; Dhaliwal, J. K.; Liu, Y.; Taylor, L. A.

    2014-09-01

    New osmium isotope and highly siderophile element abundance data are presented for the Chelyabinsk ordinary chondrite fall (February 2013) and placed into context with new data for ordinary and carbonaceous chondrites.

  6. Radar-Enabled Recovery of the Sutters Mill Meteorite, a Carbonaceous Chondrite Regolith Breccia

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Jenniskens, Petrus M.; Fries, Marc D.; Yin, Qing-Zhu; Zolensky, Michael E.; Krot, Alexander N.; Sandford, Scott A.; Sears, Derek; Beauford, Robert; Ebel, Denton S.; Friedrich, Jon M.; hide

    2012-01-01

    Doppler weather radar imaging enabled the rapid recovery of the Sutter's Mill meteorite after a rare 4-kiloton of TNT-equivalent asteroid impact over the foothills of the Sierra Nevada in northern California. The recovered meteorites survived a record high-speed entry of 28.6 kilometers per second from an orbit close to that of Jupiter-family comets (Tisserand's parameter = 2.8 +/- 0.3). Sutter's Mill is a regolith breccia composed of CM (Mighei)-type carbonaceous chondrite and highly reduced xenolithic materials. It exhibits considerable diversity of mineralogy, petrography, and isotope and organic chemistry, resulting from a complex formation history of the parent body surface. That diversity is quickly masked by alteration once in the terrestrial environment but will need to be considered when samples returned by missions to C-class asteroids are interpreted.

  7. A New Method of Absorption-Phase Nanotomography for 3D Observation of Mineral-Organic-Water Textiles and its Application to Pristine Carbonaceous Chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Tsuchiyama, A.; Nakato, A.; Matsuno, J.; Sugimoto, M.; Uesugi, K.; Takeuchi, A.; Nakano, T.; Vaccaro, E.; Russel, S.; Nakamura-Messenger, K.; hide

    2017-01-01

    Pristine carbonaceous chondrites contain fine-grained matrix, which is composed largely of amorphous silicates, sub-micron silicate and sulfide crystals, and organic materials. They are regarded as primitive dust in the early Solar System that have suffered minimal alteration in their parent bodies. The matrix generally has different lithologies; some of them are unaltered but some are more or less aqueously altered. Their textures have been examined in 2D usually by FE-SEM/EDS, TEM/EDS, nano-SIMS and micro-XRD. Observation of their complex fine textures, such as spatial relation between different lithologies in 3D, is important for understanding aggregation and alteration processes. Synchrotron radiation (SR)-based X-ray tomography reveals 3D structures nondestructively with high spatial resolution of approximately greater than 100 nm. We have developed a new technique using absorption contrasts called "dual-energy tomography" (DET) to obtain 3D distribution of minerals at SPring-8, SR facility in Japan, and applied successfully to Itokawa particles. Phase and absorption contrast images can be simultaneously obtained in 3D by using "scanning-imaging x-ray microscopy" (SIXM) at SPring-8, which can discriminate between void, water and organic materials. We applied this technique combined with FIB micro-sampling to carbonaceous chondrites to search for primitive liquid water. In this study, we combined the DET and SIXM to obtain three dimensional submicron-scale association between minerals, organic materials and water and applied this to pristine carbonaceous chondrites.

  8. Analyzing the Chemical and Spectral Effects of Pulsed Laser Irradiation to Simulate Space Weathering of a Carbonaceous Chondrite

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Thompson, M. S.; Keller, L. P.; Christoffersen, R.; Loeffler, M. J.; Morris, R. V.; Graff, T. G.; Rahman, Z.

    2017-01-01

    Space weathering processes alter the chemical composition, microstructure, and spectral characteristics of material on the surfaces of airless bodies. The mechanisms driving space weathering include solar wind irradiation and the melting, vaporization and recondensation effects associated with micrometeorite impacts e.g., [1]. While much work has been done to understand space weathering of lunar and ordinary chondritic materials, the effects of these processes on hydrated carbonaceous chondrites is poorly understood. Analysis of space weathering of carbonaceous materials will be critical for understanding the nature of samples returned by upcoming missions targeting primitive, organic-rich bodies (e.g., OSIRIS-REx and Hayabusa 2). Recent experiments have shown the spectral properties of carbonaceous materials and associated minerals are altered by simulated weathering events e.g., [2-5]. However, the resulting type of alteration i.e., reddening vs. bluing of the reflectance spectrum, is not consistent across all experiments [2-5]. In addition, the microstructural and crystal chemical effects of many of these experiments have not been well characterized, making it difficult to attribute spectral changes to specific mineralogical or chemical changes in the samples. Here we report results of a pulsed laser irradiation experiment on a chip of the Murchison CM2 carbonaceous chondrite to simulate micrometeorite impact processing.

  9. Non-destructive elemental analysis of a carbonaceous chondrite with direct current Muon beam at MuSIC.

    PubMed

    Terada, K; Sato, A; Ninomiya, K; Kawashima, Y; Shimomura, K; Yoshida, G; Kawai, Y; Osawa, T; Tachibana, S

    2017-11-13

    Electron- or X-ray-induced characteristic X-ray analysis has been widely used to determine chemical compositions of materials in vast research fields. In recent years, analysis of characteristic X-rays from muonic atoms, in which a muon is captured, has attracted attention because both a muon beam and a muon-induced characteristic X-ray have high transmission abilities. Here we report the first non-destructive elemental analysis of a carbonaceous chondrite using one of the world-leading intense direct current muon beam source (MuSIC; MUon Science Innovative Channel). We successfully detected characteristic muonic X-rays of Mg, Si, Fe, O, S and C from Jbilet Winselwan CM chondrite, of which carbon content is about 2 wt%, and the obtained elemental abundance pattern was consistent with that of CM chondrites. Because of its high sensitivity to carbon, non-destructive elemental analysis with a muon beam can be a novel powerful tool to characterize future retuned samples from carbonaceous asteroids.

  10. Isotopic evidence for primordial molecular cloud material in metal-rich carbonaceous chondrites.

    PubMed

    Van Kooten, Elishevah M M E; Wielandt, Daniel; Schiller, Martin; Nagashima, Kazuhide; Thomen, Aurélien; Larsen, Kirsten K; Olsen, Mia B; Nordlund, Åke; Krot, Alexander N; Bizzarro, Martin

    2016-02-23

    The short-lived (26)Al radionuclide is thought to have been admixed into the initially (26)Al-poor protosolar molecular cloud before or contemporaneously with its collapse. Bulk inner Solar System reservoirs record positively correlated variability in mass-independent (54)Cr and (26)Mg*, the decay product of (26)Al. This correlation is interpreted as reflecting progressive thermal processing of in-falling (26)Al-rich molecular cloud material in the inner Solar System. The thermally unprocessed molecular cloud matter reflecting the nucleosynthetic makeup of the molecular cloud before the last addition of stellar-derived (26)Al has not been identified yet but may be preserved in planetesimals that accreted in the outer Solar System. We show that metal-rich carbonaceous chondrites and their components have a unique isotopic signature extending from an inner Solar System composition toward a (26)Mg*-depleted and (54)Cr-enriched component. This composition is consistent with that expected for thermally unprocessed primordial molecular cloud material before its pollution by stellar-derived (26)Al. The (26)Mg* and (54)Cr compositions of bulk metal-rich chondrites require significant amounts (25-50%) of primordial molecular cloud matter in their precursor material. Given that such high fractions of primordial molecular cloud material are expected to survive only in the outer Solar System, we infer that, similarly to cometary bodies, metal-rich carbonaceous chondrites are samples of planetesimals that accreted beyond the orbits of the gas giants. The lack of evidence for this material in other chondrite groups requires isolation from the outer Solar System, possibly by the opening of disk gaps from the early formation of gas giants.

  11. Isotopic evidence for primordial molecular cloud material in metal-rich carbonaceous chondrites

    PubMed Central

    Van Kooten, Elishevah M. M. E.; Wielandt, Daniel; Schiller, Martin; Nagashima, Kazuhide; Thomen, Aurélien; Olsen, Mia B.; Nordlund, Åke; Krot, Alexander N.; Bizzarro, Martin

    2016-01-01

    The short-lived 26Al radionuclide is thought to have been admixed into the initially 26Al-poor protosolar molecular cloud before or contemporaneously with its collapse. Bulk inner Solar System reservoirs record positively correlated variability in mass-independent 54Cr and 26Mg*, the decay product of 26Al. This correlation is interpreted as reflecting progressive thermal processing of in-falling 26Al-rich molecular cloud material in the inner Solar System. The thermally unprocessed molecular cloud matter reflecting the nucleosynthetic makeup of the molecular cloud before the last addition of stellar-derived 26Al has not been identified yet but may be preserved in planetesimals that accreted in the outer Solar System. We show that metal-rich carbonaceous chondrites and their components have a unique isotopic signature extending from an inner Solar System composition toward a 26Mg*-depleted and 54Cr-enriched component. This composition is consistent with that expected for thermally unprocessed primordial molecular cloud material before its pollution by stellar-derived 26Al. The 26Mg* and 54Cr compositions of bulk metal-rich chondrites require significant amounts (25–50%) of primordial molecular cloud matter in their precursor material. Given that such high fractions of primordial molecular cloud material are expected to survive only in the outer Solar System, we infer that, similarly to cometary bodies, metal-rich carbonaceous chondrites are samples of planetesimals that accreted beyond the orbits of the gas giants. The lack of evidence for this material in other chondrite groups requires isolation from the outer Solar System, possibly by the opening of disk gaps from the early formation of gas giants. PMID:26858438

  12. The composition of phobos: evidence for carbonaceous chondrite surface from spectral analysis.

    PubMed

    Pang, K D; Pollack, J B; Veverka, J; Lane, A L; Ajello, J M

    1978-01-06

    A reflectance spectrum of Phobos (from 200 to 1100 nanometers) has been compiled from the Mariner 9 ultraviolet spectrometer, Viking lander imaging, and ground-based photometric data. The reflectance of the martian satellite is approximately constant at 5 percent from 1100 to 400 nanometers but drops sharply below 400 nanometers, reaching a value of 1 percent at 200 nanometers. The spectral albedo of Phobos bears a striking resemblance to that of asteroids (1) Ceres and (2) Pallas. Comparison of the reflectance spectra of asteroids with those of meteorites has shown that the spectral signature of Ceres is indicative of a carbonaceous chondritic composition. A physical explanation of how the compositional information is imposed on the reflectance spectrum is given. On the basis of a good match between the reflectance spectra of Phobos and Ceres and the extensive research that has been done to infer the composition of Ceres, it seems reasonable to believe that the surface composition of Phobos is similar to that of carbonaceous chondrites. This suggestion is consistent with the recently determined low density of Mars's inner satellite. Our result and recent Viking noble gas measurements suggest different modes of origin for Mars and Phobos.

  13. Intrinsic W nucleosynthetic isotope variations in carbonaceous chondrites: Implications for W nucleosynthesis and nebular vs. parent body processing of presolar materials

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Burkhardt, Christoph; Schönbächler, Maria

    2015-09-01

    The progressive dissolution of the carbonaceous chondrites Orgueil (CI1), Murchison (CM2) and Allende (CV3) with acids of increasing strength reveals correlated W isotope variations ranging from 3.5 ε182W and 6.5 ε183W in the initial leachate (acetic acid) to -60 ε182W and -40 ε183W in the leachate residue. The observed variations are readily explained by variable mixing of s-process depleted and s-process enriched components. One W s-process carrier is SiC, however, the observed anomaly patterns and mass-balance considerations require at least on additional s-process carrier, possibly a silicate or sulfide. The data reveal well-defined correlations, which provide a test for s-process nucleosynthesis models. The correlations demonstrate that current models need to be revised and highlight the need for more precise W isotope data of SiC grains. Furthermore the correlations provide a mean to disentangle nucleosynthetic and radiogenic contributions to 182W (ε182Wcorrected = ε182Wmeasured - (1.41 ± 0.05) × ε183Wmeasured; ε182Wcorrected = ε182Wmeasured - (-0.12 ± 0.06) × ε184Wmeasured), a prerequisite for the successful application of the Hf-W chronometer to samples with nucleosynthetic anomalies. The overall magnitude of the W isotope variations decreases in the order CI1 > CM2 > CV3. This can be interpreted as the progressive thermal destruction of an initially homogeneous mixture of presolar grains by parent-body processing. However, not only the magnitude but also the W anomaly patterns of the three chondrites are different. In particular leach step 2, that employs nitric acid, reveals a s-deficit signature for Murchison, but a s-excess for Orgueil and Allende. This could be the result of redistribution of anomalous W into a new phase by parent-body alteration, or, the fingerprint of dust processing in the solar nebula. Given that the thermal and aqueous alteration of Murchison is between the CI and CV3 chondrites, parent-body processing is probably

  14. Orbitrap-MS and FT-ICR-MS of Free and Labile Organic Matter from Carbonaceous Chondrites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Orthous-Daunay, F.-R.; Thissen, R.; Vuitton, V.; Somogyi, A.; Mespoulede, M.; Beck, P.; Bonnet, J.-Y.; Dutuit, O.; Schmitt, B.; Quirico, E.

    2011-03-01

    We used two types of high-resolution FT-MS to analyze the free and labile organic matter in carbonaceous chondrites of type 1 and 2. The methanol extraction and laser desorption gave access to highly and poorly functionalized molecules respectively.

  15. Rhenium-osmium systematics of calcium-aluminium-rich inclusions in carbonaceous chondrites

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Becker, H.; Morgan, J.W.; Walker, R.J.; MacPherson, G.J.; Grossman, J.N.

    2001-01-01

    The Re-Os isotopic systematics of calcium-aluminium-rich inclusions (CAIs) in chondrites were investigated in order to shed light on the behavior of the Re-Os system in bulk chondrites, and to constrain the timing of chemical fractionation in primitive chondrites. CAIs with relatively unfractionated rare earth element (REE) patterns (groups I, III, V, VI) define a narrow range of 187Re/188Os (0.3764-0.4443) and 187Os/188Os (0.12599-0.12717), and high but variable Re and Os abundances (3209-41,820 ppb Os). In contrast, CAIs that show depletions in highly refractory elements and strongly fractionated REE patterns (group II) also show a much larger range in 187Re/188Os (0.409-0.535) and 187Os/188Os (0.12695-0.13770), and greater than an order of magnitude lower Re and Os abundances than other groups (e.g., 75.7-680.2 ppb Os). Sixteen bulk CAIs and CAI splits plot within analytical uncertainty of a 4558 Ga reference isochron, as is expected for materials of this antiquity. Eight samples, however, plot off the isochron. Several possible reasons for these deviations are discussed. Data for multiple splits of one CAI indicate that the nonisochronous behavior for at least this CAI is the result of Re-Os reequilibration at approximately 1.6 Ga. Thus, the most likely explanation for the deviations of most of the nonisochronous CAIs is late-stage open-system behavior of Re and Os in the asteroidal environment. The 187Os/188Os-Os systematics of CAIs are consistent with previous models that indicate group II CAIs are mixtures of components that lost the bulk of their highly refractory elements in a previous condensation event and a minor second component that provided refractory elements at chondritic relative proportions. The high Re/Os of group II CAIs relative to other CAIs and chondrite bulk rocks may have been caused by variable mobilization of Re and Os during medium- to low-temperature parent body alteration ??4.5 Ga ago. This model is favored over nebular models, which

  16. Nebula Scale Mixing Between Non-Carbonaceous and Carbonaceous Chondrite Reservoirs: Testing the Grand Tack Model with Almahata Sitta Stones

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Yin, Q.-Z.; Sanborn, M. E.; Goodrich, C. A.; Zolensky, M.; Fioretti, A. M.; Shaddad, M.; Kohl, I. E.; Young, E. D.

    2018-01-01

    There is an increasing number of Cr-O-Ti isotope studies that show that solar system materials are divided into two main populations, one carbonaceous chondrite (CC)-like and the other is non-carbonaceous (NCC)-like, with minimal mixing between them attributed to a gap opened in the propoplanetary disk due to Jupiter's formation. The Grand Tack model suggests that there should be a particular time in the disk history when this gap is breached and ensuring a subsequent large-scale mixing between S- and C-type asteroids (inner solar system and outer solar system materials), an idea supported by our recent work on chondrule (Delta)17O-(epsilon)54Cr isotope systematics.

  17. Thermal alteration in carbonaceous chondrites and implications for sublimation in rock comets

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Springmann, Alessondra; Lauretta, Dante S.; Steckloff, Jordan K.

    2015-11-01

    Rock comets are small solar system bodies in Sun-skirting orbits (perihelion q < ~0.15 AU) that form comae rich in mineral sublimation products, but lack typical cometary ice sublimation products (H2O, CO2, etc.). B-class asteroid (3200) Phaethon, considered to be the parent body of the Geminid meteor shower, is the only rock comet currently known to periodically eject dust and form a coma. Thermal fracturing or thermal decomposition of surface materials may be driving Phaethon’s cometary activity (Li & Jewitt, 2013). Phaethon-like asteroids have dynamically unstable orbits, and their perihelia can change rapidly over their ~10 Myr lifetimes (de León et al., 2010), raising the possibility that other asteroids may have been rock comets in the past. Here, we propose using spectroscopic observations of mercury (Hg) as a tracer of an asteroid’s thermal metamorphic history, and therefore as a constraint on its minimum achieved perihelion distance.B-class asteroids such as Phaethon have an initial composition similar to aqueously altered primitive meteorites such as CI- or CM-type meteorites (Clark et al., 2010). Laboratory heating experiments of ~mm sized samples of carbonaceous chondrite meteorites from 300K to 1200K at a rate of 15K/minute show mobilization and volatilization of various labile elements at temperatures that could be reached by Mercury-crossing asteroids. Samples became rapidly depleted in labile elements and, in particular, lost ~75% of their Hg content when heated from ~500-700 K, which corresponds to heliocentric distances of ~0.15-0.3 au, consistent with our thermal models. Mercury has strong emission lines in the UV (~ 185 nm) and thus its presence (or absence) relative to carbonaceous chondrite abundances would indicate if these bodies had perihelia in their dynamical histories inside of 0.15 AU, and therefore may have previously been Phaethon-like rock comets. Future space telescopes or balloon-borne observing platforms equipped with a UV

  18. Organic matter in carbonaceous chondrites, planetary satellites, asteroids and comets

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Cronin, John R.; Pizzarello, Sandra; Cruikshank, Dale P.

    1988-01-01

    A detailed review is given of the organic compounds found in carbonaceous chondrite meteorites, especially the Murchison meteorite, and detected spectroscopically in other solar-system objects. The chemical processes by which the organic compounds could have formed in the early solar system and the conditions required for these processes are discussed, taking into account the possible alteration of the compounds during the lifetime of the meteoroid. Also considered are the implications for prebiotic evolution and the origin of life. Diagrams, graphs, and tables of numerical data are provided.

  19. Radar-Enabled Recovery of the Sutter’s Mill Meteorite, a Carbonaceous Chondrite Regolith Breccia

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jenniskens, Peter; Fries, Marc D.; Yin, Qing-Zhu; Zolensky, Michael; Krot, Alexander N.; Sandford, Scott A.; Sears, Derek; Beauford, Robert; Ebel, Denton S.; Friedrich, Jon M.; Nagashima, Kazuhide; Wimpenny, Josh; Yamakawa, Akane; Nishiizumi, Kunihiko; Hamajima, Yasunori; Caffee, Marc W.; Welten, Kees C.; Laubenstein, Matthias; Davis, Andrew M.; Simon, Steven B.; Heck, Philipp R.; Young, Edward D.; Kohl, Issaku E.; Thiemens, Mark H.; Nunn, Morgan H.; Mikouchi, Takashi; Hagiya, Kenji; Ohsumi, Kazumasa; Cahill, Thomas A.; Lawton, Jonathan A.; Barnes, David; Steele, Andrew; Rochette, Pierre; Verosub, Kenneth L.; Gattacceca, Jérôme; Cooper, George; Glavin, Daniel P.; Burton, Aaron S.; Dworkin, Jason P.; Elsila, Jamie E.; Pizzarello, Sandra; Ogliore, Ryan; Schmitt-Kopplin, Phillipe; Harir, Mourad; Hertkorn, Norbert; Verchovsky, Alexander; Grady, Monica; Nagao, Keisuke; Okazaki, Ryuji; Takechi, Hiroyuki; Hiroi, Takahiro; Smith, Ken; Silber, Elizabeth A.; Brown, Peter G.; Albers, Jim; Klotz, Doug; Hankey, Mike; Matson, Robert; Fries, Jeffrey A.; Walker, Richard J.; Puchtel, Igor; Lee, Cin-Ty A.; Erdman, Monica E.; Eppich, Gary R.; Roeske, Sarah; Gabelica, Zelimir; Lerche, Michael; Nuevo, Michel; Girten, Beverly; Worden, Simon P.

    2012-12-01

    Doppler weather radar imaging enabled the rapid recovery of the Sutter’s Mill meteorite after a rare 4-kiloton of TNT-equivalent asteroid impact over the foothills of the Sierra Nevada in northern California. The recovered meteorites survived a record high-speed entry of 28.6 kilometers per second from an orbit close to that of Jupiter-family comets (Tisserand’s parameter = 2.8 ± 0.3). Sutter’s Mill is a regolith breccia composed of CM (Mighei)-type carbonaceous chondrite and highly reduced xenolithic materials. It exhibits considerable diversity of mineralogy, petrography, and isotope and organic chemistry, resulting from a complex formation history of the parent body surface. That diversity is quickly masked by alteration once in the terrestrial environment but will need to be considered when samples returned by missions to C-class asteroids are interpreted.

  20. Mineralogy, petrology and geochemistry of carbonaceous chondritic clasts in the LEW 85300 polymict eucrite

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Zolensky, M. E.; Hewins, R. H.; Mittlefehldt, D. W.; Lindstrom, M. M.; Xiao, X.; Lipschutz, M. E.

    1992-01-01

    We have performed a detailed petrologic and mineralogic study of two chondritic clasts from the polymict eucrite Lewis Cliff (LEW) 85300, and performed chemical analyses by INAA and RNAA on one of these. Petrologically, the clasts are identified and are composed of dispersed aggregates, chondrules, and chondrule fragments supported by matrix. The aggregates and chondrules are composed of olivine, orthopyroxene, plus some diopside. The matrix consists of fine-grained olivine, and lesser orthopyroxene and augite. Fine-grained saponite is common in the matrix. The bulk major composition of the clast studied by INAA and RNAA shows unusual abundance patterns for lithophile, siderophile and chalcophile elements but is basically chondritic. The INAA/RNAA data preclude assignment of the LEW 85300,15 clast to any commonly accepted group of carbonaceous chondrite.

  1. Magnesium and 54Cr isotope compositions of carbonaceous chondrite chondrules - Insights into early disk processes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Olsen, Mia B.; Wielandt, Daniel; Schiller, Martin; Van Kooten, Elishevah M. M. E.; Bizzarro, Martin

    2016-10-01

    We report on the petrology, magnesium isotopes and mass-independent 54Cr/52Cr compositions (μ54Cr) of 42 chondrules from CV (Vigarano and NWA 3118) and CR (NWA 6043, NWA 801 and LAP 02342) chondrites. All sampled chondrules are classified as type IA or type IAB, have low 27Al/24Mg ratios (0.04-0.27) and display little or no evidence for secondary alteration processes. The CV and CR chondrules show variable 25Mg/24Mg and 26Mg/24Mg values corresponding to a range of mass-dependent fractionation of ∼500 ppm (parts per million) per atomic mass unit. This mass-dependent Mg isotope fractionation is interpreted as reflecting Mg isotope heterogeneity of the chondrule precursors and not the result of secondary alteration or volatility-controlled processes during chondrule formation. The CV and CR chondrule populations studied here are characterized by systematic deficits in the mass-independent component of 26Mg (μ26Mg∗) relative to the solar value defined by CI chondrites, which we interpret as reflecting formation from precursor material with a reduced initial abundance of 26Al compared to the canonical 26Al/27Al of ∼5 × 10-5. Model initial 26Al/27Al values of CV and CR chondrules vary from (1.5 ± 4.0) × 10-6 to (2.2 ± 0.4) × 10-5. The CV chondrules display significant μ54Cr variability, defining a range of compositions that is comparable to that observed for inner Solar System primitive and differentiated meteorites. In contrast, CR chondrites are characterized by a narrower range of μ54Cr values restricted to compositions typically observed for bulk carbonaceous chondrites. Collectively, these observations suggest that the CV chondrules formed from precursors that originated in various regions of the protoplanetary disk and were then transported to the accretion region of the CV parent asteroid whereas CR chondrule predominantly formed from precursor with carbonaceous chondrite-like μ54Cr signatures. The observed μ54Cr variability in chondrules from CV

  2. Thermal history of type-3 chondrites in the NASA antarctic collection

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bonal, L.; Quirico, E.; Montagnac, G.

    2014-07-01

    Chondrites are the most primitive meteorites. However, they were all modified in some ways by post-accretion geological processes operating on their asteroidal parent bodies. Hence, to decipher the formation(s) and origin(s) of their components, we must first understand how chondritic materials were modified in their asteroidal parent bodies. The modifications induced by secondary processes should not be underestimated and have to be precisely estimated before any interpretation of chondrite properties in terms of cosmochemistry. In particular, all chondrites contain some organic components that were potentially chemically and physically modified through post-accretion processes. A thin understanding of the induced evolution is required to allow for pertinent comparisons with other primitive extraterrestrial materials, such as cometary grains, to finally address questions such as the origin of organics in the Solar System. Type 3 chondrites experienced thermal metamorphism on their asteroidal parent body due to the radioactive decay of elements such as ^{26}Al. Temperatures higher than 300 °C were experienced on timescales of several thousands of years. Still, type 3 chondrites remain as unequilibrated rocks and common mineralogical thermometers cannot be applied. The polyaromatic carbonaceous matter is sensitive to thermal episodes (of long and short duration) experienced by the host meteorite. In particular, its structural order directly reflects the thermal history experienced on their parent bodies. The structural modification of the aromatic carbonaceous matter towards a higher order is irreversible, and independent of the mineralogy and degree of aqueous alteration. It is mainly controlled by the peak metamorphic temperature. Moreover, under the assumption of fairly similar organic precursors among chondrites of distinct groups, the structural order of polyaromatic organic matter allows for a direct comparison of their metamorphic grades. It is then possible

  3. A Mudball Model for the Evolution of Carbonaceous Asteroids

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Travis, B. J.; Bland, P. A.

    2018-05-01

    We simulation the evolution of carbonaceous chondrite parent bodies from initially unconsolidated aggregations of rock grains and ice crystals. Application of the numerical model MAGHNUM to evolution of CM type planetesimals and Ceres is described.

  4. The formation and alteration of the Renazzo-like carbonaceous chondrites I: Implications of bulk-oxygen isotopic composition

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Schrader, Devin L.; Franchi, Ian A.; Connolly, Harold C., Jr.; Greenwood, Richard C.; Lauretta, Dante S.; Gibson, Jenny M.

    2011-01-01

    To better understand the role of aqueous alteration on the CR chondrite parent asteroid, a whole-rock oxygen isotopic study of 20 meteorites classified as Renazzo-like carbonaceous chondrites (CR) was conducted. The CR chondrites analyzed for their oxygen isotopes were Dhofar 1432, Elephant Moraine (EET) 87770, EET 92042, EET 96259, Gao-Guenie (b), Graves Nunataks (GRA) 95229, GRA 06100, Grosvenor Mountains (GRO) 95577, GRO 03116, LaPaz Ice Field (LAP) 02342, LAP 04720, Meteorite Hills (MET) 00426, North West Africa (NWA) 801, Pecora Escarpment (PCA) 91082, Queen Alexandra Range (QUE) 94603, QUE 99177, and Yamato-793495 (Y-793495). Three of the meteorites, Asuka-881595 (A-881595), GRA 98025, and MET 01017, were found not to be CR chondrites. The remaining samples concur petrographically and with the well-established oxygen-isotope mixing line for the CR chondrites. Their position along this mixing line is controlled both by the primary oxygen-isotopic composition of their individual components and their relative degree of aqueous alteration. Combined with literature data and that of this study, we recommend the slope for the CR-mixing line to be 0.70 ± 0.04 (2σ), with a δ 17O-intercept of -2.23 ± 0.14 (2σ). Thin sections of Al Rais, Shişr 033, Renazzo, and all but 3 samples analyzed for oxygen isotopes were studied petrographically. The abundance of individual components is heterogeneous among the CR chondrites, but FeO-poor chondrules and matrix are the most abundant constituents and therefore, dominate the whole-rock isotopic composition. The potential accreted ice abundance, physico-chemical conditions of aqueous alteration (e.g. temperature and composition of the fluid) and its duration control the degree of alteration of individual CR chondrites. Combined with literature data, we suggest that LAP 02342 was exposed to lower temperature fluid during alteration than GRA 95229. With only two falls, terrestrial alteration of the CR chondrites complicates the

  5. Ion Irradiation Experiments on the Murchison CM2 Carbonaceous Chondrite: Simulating Space Weathering of Primitive Asteroids

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Keller, L. P.; Christoffersen, R.; Dukes, C. A.; Baragiola, R. A.; Rahman, Z.

    2015-01-01

    Remote sensing observations show that space weathering processes affect all airless bodies in the Solar System to some degree. Sample analyses and lab experiments provide insights into the chemical, spectroscopic and mineralogic effects of space weathering and aid in the interpretation of remote- sensing data. For example, analyses of particles returned from the S-type asteroid Itokawa by the Hayabusa mission revealed that space-weathering on that body was dominated by interactions with the solar wind acting on LL ordinary chondrite-like materials [1, 2]. Understanding and predicting how the surface regoliths of primitive carbonaceous asteroids respond to space weathering processes is important for future sample return missions (Hayabusa 2 and OSIRIS-REx) that are targeting objects of this type. Here, we report the results of our preliminary ion irradiation experiments on a hydrated carbonaceous chondrite with emphasis on microstructural and infrared spectral changes.

  6. Noble Gas Isotopic Signatures and X-Ray and Electron Diffraction Characteristics of Tagish Lake Carbonaceous Chondrite

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Nakamura, T.; Noguchi, T.; Zolensky, M. E.; Takaoka, N.

    2001-01-01

    Noble gas isotopic signatures and X-ray and electron diffraction characteristics of Tagish Lake indicate that it is a unique carbonaceous chondrite rich in saponite, Fe-Mg-Ca carbonate, primordial noble gases, and presolar grains. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

  7. Comparative 187Re-187Os systematics of chondrites: Implications regarding early solar system processes

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Walker, R.J.; Horan, M.F.; Morgan, J.W.; Becker, H.; Grossman, J.N.; Rubin, A.E.

    2002-01-01

    A suite of 47 carbonaceous, enstatite, and ordinary chondrites are examined for Re-Os isotopic systematics. There are significant differences in the 187Re/188Os and 187Os/188Os ratios of carbonaceous chondrites compared with ordinary and enstatite chondrites. The average 187Re/188Os for carbonaceous chondrites is 0.392 ?? 0.015 (excluding the CK chondrite, Karoonda), compared with 0.422 ?? 0.025 and 0.421 ?? 0.013 for ordinary and enstatite chondrites (1?? standard deviations). These ratios, recast into elemental Re/Os ratios, are as follows: 0.0814 ?? 0.0031, 0.0876 ?? 0.0052 and 0.0874 ?? 0.0027 respectively. Correspondingly, the 187Os/188Os ratios of carbonaceous chondrites average 0.1262 ?? 0.0006 (excluding Karoonda), and ordinary and enstatite chondrites average 0.1283 ?? 0.0017 and 0.1281 ?? 0.0004, respectively (1?? standard deviations). The new results indicate that the Re/Os ratios of meteorites within each group are, in general, quite uniform. The minimal overlap between the isotopic compositions of ordinary and enstatite chondrites vs. carbonaceous chondrites indicates long-term differences in Re/Os for these materials, most likely reflecting chemical fractionation early in solar system history. A majority of the chondrites do not plot within analytical uncertainties of a 4.56-Ga reference isochron. Most of the deviations from the isochron are consistent with minor, relatively recent redistribution of Re and/or Os on a scale of millimeters to centimeters. Some instances of the redistribution may be attributed to terrestrial weathering; others are most likely the result of aqueous alteration or shock events on the parent body within the past 2 Ga. The 187Os/188Os ratio of Earth's primitive upper mantle has been estimated to be 0.1296 ?? 8. If this composition was set via addition of a late veneer of planetesimals after core formation, the composition suggests the veneer was dominated by materials that had Re/Os ratios most similar to ordinary and

  8. Magnesium and 54Cr isotope compositions of carbonaceous chondrite chondrules – Insights into early disk processes

    PubMed Central

    Olsen, Mia B.; Wielandt, Daniel; Schiller, Martin; Van Kooten, Elishevah M.M.E.; Bizzarro, Martin

    2016-01-01

    We report on the petrology, magnesium isotopes and mass-independent 54Cr/52Cr compositions (μ54Cr) of 42 chondrules from CV (Vigarano and NWA 3118) and CR (NWA 6043, NWA 801 and LAP 02342) chondrites. All sampled chondrules are classified as type IA or type IAB, have low 27Al/24Mg ratios (0.04–0.27) and display little or no evidence for secondary alteration processes. The CV and CR chondrules show variable 25Mg/24Mg and 26Mg/24Mg values corresponding to a range of mass-dependent fractionation of ~500 ppm (parts per million) per atomic mass unit. This mass-dependent Mg isotope fractionation is interpreted as reflecting Mg isotope heterogeneity of the chondrule precursors and not the result of secondary alteration or volatility-controlled processes during chondrule formation. The CV and CR chondrule populations studied here are characterized by systematic deficits in the mass-independent component of 26Mg (μ26Mg*) relative to the solar value defined by CI chondrites, which we interpret as reflecting formation from precursor material with a reduced initial abundance of 26Al compared to the canonical 26Al/27Al of ~5 × 10−5. Model initial 26Al/27Al values of CV and CR chondrules vary from (1.5 ± 4.0) × 10−6 to (2.2 ± 0.4) × 10−5. The CV chondrules display significant μ54Cr variability, defining a range of compositions that is comparable to that observed for inner Solar System primitive and differentiated meteorites. In contrast, CR chondrites are characterized by a narrower range of μ54Cr values restricted to compositions typically observed for bulk carbonaceous chondrites. Collectively, these observations suggest that the CV chondrules formed from precursors that originated in various regions of the protoplanetary disk and were then transported to the accretion region of the CV parent asteroid whereas CR chondrule predominantly formed from precursor with carbonaceous chondrite-like μ54Cr signatures. The observed μ54Cr variability in chondrules from

  9. HRTEM and EFTEM Studies of Phyllosilicate-Organic Matter Associations in Matrix and Dark Inclusions in the EET92042 CR2 Carbonaceous Chondrite

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Abreu, Neyda M.; Brearley, Adrian J.

    2005-01-01

    Based on petrologic and isotopic observations, the CR chondrites represent one of the most primitive carbonaceous chondrite groups. The organic matter in CR chondrite matrices is considered to be among the most ancient carbonaceous matter known, potentially providing a link between organic matter in the interstellar medium and our solar system [1]. However, the organic chemistry of CR chondrites may be complicated by the fact that these meteorites have undergone moderate secondary alteration, which potentially overprints primordial features [2]. Although the general effects of this alteration have been documented [2], the details of the fine-grained mineralogy and alteration styles of CR matrices are not fully understood. Here we present TEM observations of matrix in EET 92042, a CR chondrite that contains particularly primitive insoluble organic matter [1]. Preliminary studies [3] determined that EET 92042 matrix is heterogeneous in terms of mineralogy, texture, and petrographic fabric on the micron scale. EET 92042 contains magnetite-rich regions, foliated matrix and dark inclusions (DIs). Some chondrules show fine-grained rims, similar to those described by [4].

  10. Volatile-bearing phases in carbonaceous chondrites: Compositions, modal abundance, and reaction kinetics

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Ganguly, Jibamitra

    1990-01-01

    The spectral and density characteristics of Phobos and Deimos (the two small natural satellites of Mars) strongly suggest that a significant fraction of the near-earth asteroids are made of carbonaceous chondrites, which are rich in volatile components and, thus, could serve as potential resources for propellants and life supporting systems in future planetary missions. However, in order to develop energy efficient engineering designs for the extraction of volatiles, knowledge of the nature and modal abundance of the minerals in which the volatiles are structurally bound and appropriate kinetic data on the rates of the devolatilization reactions is required. Theoretical calculations to predict the modal abundances and compositions of the major volatile-bearing and other mineral phases that could develop in the bulk compositions of C1 and C2 classes (the most volatile rich classes among the carbonaceous chondrites) were performed as functions of pressure and temperature. The rates of dehydration of talc at 585, 600, 637, and 670 C at P(total) = 1 bar were determine for the reaction: Talc = 3 enstatite + quartz + water. A scanning electron microscopic study was conducted to see if the relative abundance of phases can be determined on the basis of the spectral identification and x ray mapping. The results of this study and the other studies within the project are discussed.

  11. Parent-Body Modification of Chondritic Meteorites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Rubin, Alan

    2003-01-01

    This proposal focused on the parent-body modification of chondritic materials and substantial progress was made in the last year. A summary of the work accomplished during this period is discussed. The topics include: 1) Chromite-Plagioclase Assemblages in Ordinary Chondrites; 2) The Gujba Bencubbin-like meteorite fall; 3) NWA428: A rock that Experienced Impact-induced Annealing; 4) Spade: An Annealed H-chondrite Impact-melt Breccia; and 5) Post-shock Annealing in Ordinary Chondrites. A list of the papers submitted or published during the period is also presented.

  12. Wet, Carbonaceous Asteroids: Altering Minerals, Changing Amino Acids

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Taylor, G. J.

    2011-04-01

    Many carbonaceous chondrites contain alteration products from water-rock interactions at low temperature and organic compounds. A fascinating fact known for decades is the presence in some of them of an assortment of organic compounds, including amino acids, sometimes called the building blocks of life. Murchison and other CM carbonaceous chondrites contain hundreds of amino acids. Early measurements indicated that the amino acids in carbonaceous chondrites had equal proportions of L- and D-structures, a situation called racemic. This was in sharp contrast to life on Earth, which heavily favors L- forms. However, beginning in 1997, John Cronin and Sandra Pizzarello (Arizona State University) found L- excesses in isovaline and several other amino acids in the Murchison carbonaceous chondrite. In 2009, Daniel Glavin and Jason Dworkin (Astrobiology Analytical Lab, Goddard Space Flight Center) reported the first independent confirmation of L-isovaline excesses in Murchison using a different analytical technique than employed by Cronin and Pizzarello. Inspired by this work, Daniel Glavin, Michael Callahan, Jason Dworkin, and Jamie Elsila (Astrobiology Analytical Lab, Goddard Space Flight Center), have done an extensive study of the abundance and symmetry of amino acids in carbonaceous chondrites that experienced a range of alteration by water in their parent asteroids. The results show that amino acids are more abundant in the less altered meteorites, implying that aqueous processing changes the mix of amino acids. They also confirmed the enrichment in L-structures of some amino acids, especially isovaline, confirming earlier work. The authors suggest that aqueously-altered planetesimals might have seeded the early Earth with nonracemic amino acids, perhaps explaining why life from microorganisms to people use only L- forms to make proteins. The initial imbalance caused by non-biologic processes in wet asteroids might have been amplified by life on Earth. Alternatively

  13. Abundances of volatile-bearing phases in carbonaceous chondrites and cooling rates of meteorites based on cation ordering of orthopyroxenes

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Ganguly, Jibamitra

    1989-01-01

    Results of preliminary calculations of volatile abundances in carbonaceous chondrites are discussed. The method (Ganguly 1982) was refined for the calculation of cooling rate on the basis of cation ordering in orthopyroxenes, and it was applied to the derivation of cooling rates of some stony meteorites. Evaluation of cooling rate is important to the analysis of condensation, accretion, and post-accretionary metamorphic histories of meteorites. The method of orthopyroxene speedometry is widely applicable to meteorites and would be very useful in the understanding of the evolutionary histories of carbonaceous chondrites, especially since the conventional metallographic and fission track methods yield widely different results in many cases. Abstracts are given which summarize the major conclusions of the volatile abundance and cooling rate calculations.

  14. Evaluation of the Strecker synthesis as a source of amino acids on carbonaceous chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Lerner, N. R.; Peterson, Etta; Chang, S.

    1991-01-01

    The Strecker synthesis (SS) has been proposed as the source of amino acids (AA) formed during aqueous alteration of carbonaceous chondrites. It is postulated that the aldehyde and ketone precursors of the meteoritic AA originated in interstellar syntheses and accreted on the meteorite parent body along with other reactant species in cometesimal ices. The SS has been run with formaldehyde, acetyldehyde, propionaldehyde, acetone, and methyl ketone as starting materials. To study the effect of minerals on the reaction, the SS was run in the presence and absence of dust from the Allende meteorite using deuterated aldehydes and ketones as starting materials. The products were studied by GC/MS. With the exception of glycine, the retention of deuterium in the AA was greater than 90 pct. Some D exchange with water does occur, however, and determination of the rate of exchange as a function of pH and temperature may allow some bounds to be placed on the duration of parent body aqueous alteration. The retention of D by the AA under conditions studied thus far is consistent with the model that a SS starting from interstellar aldehydes and ketones led to the production of meteoritic AA.

  15. On the chemical composition of L-chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Neal, C. W.; Dodd, R. T.; Jarosewich, E.; Lipschutz, M. E.

    1980-01-01

    Radiochemical neutron activation analysis of Ag, As, Au, Bi, Co, Cs, Ga, In, Rb, Sb, Te, Tl, and Zn and major element data in 14 L4-6 and 3 LL5 chondrites indicates that the L group is unusually variable and may represent at least 2 subgroups differing in formation history. Chemical trends in the S/Fe rich subgroup support textural evidence indicating late loss of a shock formed Fe-Ni-S melt; the S/Fe poor subgroup seemingly reflects nebular fractionation only. Highly mobile In and Zn apparently reflect shock induced loss from L chondrites. However, contrasting chemical trends in several L chondrite sample sets indicate that these meteorites constitute a more irregular sampling of, or more heterogeneous parent material than do carbonaceous or enstatite chondrites. Data for 15 chondrites suggest higher formation temperatures and/or degrees of shock than for LL5 chondrites.

  16. Correlating Mineralogy and Amino Acid Contents of Milligram-Scale Murchison Carbonaceous Chondrite Samples

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Burton, Aaron, S.; Berger, Eve L.; Locke, Darren R.; Elsila, Jamie E.; Glavin, Daniel P.; Dworkin, Jason P.

    2015-01-01

    Amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, have been found to be indigenous in most of the carbonaceous chondrite groups. The abundances of amino acids, as well as their structural, enantiomeric and isotopic compositions differ significantly among meteorites of different groups and petrologic types. This suggests that there is a link between parent-body conditions, mineralogy and the synthesis and preservation of amino acids (and likely other organic molecules). However, elucidating specific causes for the observed differences in amino acid composition has proven extremely challenging because samples analyzed for amino acids are typically much larger ((is) approximately 100 mg powders) than the scale at which meteorite heterogeneity is observed (sub mm-scale differences, (is) approximately 1-mg or smaller samples). Thus, the effects of differences in mineralogy on amino acid abundances could not be easily discerned. Recent advances in the sensitivity of instrumentation have made possible the analysis of smaller samples for amino acids, enabling a new approach to investigate the link between mineralogical con-text and amino acid compositions/abundances in meteorites. Through coordinated mineral separation, mineral characterization and highly sensitive amino acid analyses, we have performed preliminary investigations into the relationship between meteorite mineralogy and amino acid composition. By linking amino acid data to mineralogy, we have started to identify amino acid-bearing mineral phases in different carbonaceous meteorites. The methodology and results of analyses performed on the Murchison meteorite are presented here.

  17. Highly siderophile elements in chondrites

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Horan, M.F.; Walker, R.J.; Morgan, J.W.; Grossman, J.N.; Rubin, A.E.

    2003-01-01

    The abundances of the highly siderophile elements (HSE), Re, Os, Ir, Ru, Pt and Pd, were determined by isotope dilution mass spectrometry for bulk samples of 13 carbonaceous chondrites, 13 ordinary chondrites and 9 enstatite chondrites. These data are coupled with corresponding 187Re-187Os isotopic data reported by Walker et al. [Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 2002] in order to constrain the nature and timing of chemical fractionation relating to these elements in the early solar system. The suite of chondrites examined displays considerable variations in absolute abundances of the HSE, and in the ratios of certain HSE. Absolute abundances of the HSE vary by nearly a factor of 80 among the chondrite groups, although most vary within a factor of only 2. Variations in concentration largely reflect heterogeneities in the sample aliquants. Different aliquants of the same chondrite may contain variable proportions of metal and/or refractory inclusions that are HSE-rich, and sulfides that are HSE-poor. The relatively low concentrations of the HSE in CI1 chondrites likely reflect dilution by the presence of volatile components. Carbonaceous chondrites have Re/Os ratios that are, on average, approximately 8% lower than ratios for ordinary and enstatite chondrites. This is also reflected in 187Os/188Os ratios that are approximately 3% lower for carbonaceous chondrites than for ordinary and enstatite chondrites. Given the similarly refractory natures of Re and Os, this fractionation may have occurred within a narrow range of high temperatures, during condensation of these elements from the solar nebula. Superimposed on this major fractionation are more modest movements of Re or Os that occurred within the last 0-2 Ga, as indicated by minor open-system behavior of the Re-Os isotope systematics of some chondrites. The relative abundances of other HSE can also be used to discriminate among the major classes of chondrites. For example, in comparison to the enstatite chondrites

  18. Aqueous Alteration and Shock Metamorphism of Antarctic CR Chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Komatsu, M.; Fagan, T. J.; Yamaguchi, A.; Mikouchi, T.; Yasutake, M.; Zolensky, M. E.

    2018-01-01

    CR chondrites are the group of carbonaceous chondrites that best preserve records of formation of their components in the solar nebula. Although they are affected by aqueous alteration, many chondrules and CAIs are well-preserved, suggesting they have experienced little thermal metamorphism. We have been investigating the petrologic variations among the CR chondrites in the NIPR Antarctic meteorite collection. We focused particular attention on the petrology of amoeboid olivine aggregates (AOAs) in order to understand secondary alteration on the CR chondrite parent body. AOAs are composed of fine-grained forsteritic olivine and refractory minerals formed by condensation in the solar nebula, and can be used as sensitive indicators of secondary alteration processes.

  19. ALH85085: a unique volatile-poor carbonaceous chondrite with possible implications for nebular fractionation processes

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Grossman, J.N.; Rubin, A.E.; MacPherson, G.J.

    1988-01-01

    Allan Hills 85085 is a unique chondrite with affinities to the Al Rais-Renazzo clan of carbonaceous chondrites. Its constituents are less than 50 ??m in mean size. Chondrules and microchondrules of all textures are present; nonporphyritic chondrules are unusually abundant. The mean compositions of porphyritic, nonporphyritic and barred olivine chondrules resemble those in ordinary chondrites except that they are depleted in volatile elements. Ca-, Al-rich inclusions are abundant and largely free of nebular alteration; they comprise types similar to those in CM and CO chondrites, as well as unique types. Calcium dialuminate occurs in several inclusions. Metal, silicate and sulfide compositions are close to those in CM-CO chondrites and Al Rais and Renazzo. C1-chondrite clasts and metal-rich "reduced" clasts are present, but opaque matrix is absent. Siderophile abundances in ALH85085 are extremely high (e.g., Fe Si = 1.7 ?? solar), and volatiles are depleted (e.g., Na Si = 0.25 ?? solar, S Si = 0.03 ?? solar). Nonvolatile lithophile abundances are similar to those in Al Rais, Renazzo, and CM and CO chondrites. ALH85085 agglomerated when temperatures in the nebula were near 1000 K, in the same region where Renazzo, Al Rais and the CI chondrites formed. Agglomeration of high-temperature material may thus be a mechanism by which the fractionation of refractory lithophiles occurred in the nebula. Chondrule formation must have occurred at high temperatures when clumps of precursors were small. After agglomeration, ALH85085 was annealed and lightly shocked. C1 and other clasts were subsequently incorporated during late-stage brecciation. ?? 1988.

  20. 26Al-26Mg systematics in chondrules from Kaba and Yamato 980145 CV3 carbonaceous chondrites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nagashima, Kazuhide; Krot, Alexander N.; Komatsu, Mutsumi

    2017-03-01

    We report the mineralogy, petrography, and in situ measured 26Al-26Mg systematics in chondrules from the least metamorphosed CV3 (Vigarano-type) chondrites, Kaba and Yamato (Y) 980145. Two Y 980145 chondrules measured show no resolvable excesses in 26Mg (26Mg∗), a decay product of a short-lived (t1/2 ∼0.7 Ma) radionuclide 26Al. Plagioclase in one of the chondrules is replaced by nepheline, indicative of thermal metamorphism. The lack of 26Mg∗ in the Y 980145 chondrules is most likely due to disturbance of their 26Al-26Mg systematics during the metamorphism. Although Kaba experienced extensive metasomatic alteration (<300 °C), it largely avoided subsequent thermal metamorphism, and the 26Al-26Mg systematics of its chondrules appear to be undisturbed. All eight Kaba chondrules measured show 26Mg∗, corresponding to the initial 26Al/27Al ratios [(26Al/27Al)0] ranging from (2.9 ± 1.7) × 10-6 to (6.3 ± 2.7) × 10-6. If CV parent asteroid accreted rapidly after chondrule formation, the inferred (26Al/27Al)0 ratios in Kaba chondrules provide an upper limit on 26Al available in this asteroid at the time of its accretion. The estimated initial abundance of 26Al in the CV asteroid is too low to melt it and contradicts the existence of a molten core in this body suggested from the paleomagnetic records of Allende [Carporzen et al. (2011) Magnetic evidence for a partially differentiated carbonaceous chondrite parent body. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA108, 6386-6389] and Kaba [Gattacceca et al. (2013) More evidence for a partially differentiated CV parent body from the meteorite Kaba. Lunar Planet. Sci.44, abstract#1721].

  1. Do We Already have Samples of CERES H Chondrite Haliites and the CERES-HEBE Link

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Fries, Marc D.; Messenger, S.; Steele, A.; Zolensky, M.

    2013-01-01

    We investigate the hypothesis that halite grains in the brecciated H chondrites Zag and Monahans originate from Ceres. Evidence includes mineralogy of the halites consistent with formation on a large, carbonaceous, aqueously active body close to the H chondrite parent body >4 Ga ago. Evidence also includes orbital simularities between 1 Ceres and the purported H chondrite parent body (HPB) 6 Hebe, possibly facilitating a gentle transfer between the bodies. Halite grains in the Monahans and Zag Hchondrites are exogenous to the H chondrite parent body and were transported to the HPB >4 Ga ago. Examination of minerals and carboanceous materials entrained within the halites shows that the halite parent body (HaPB) is consistent with a carbonaceous body [1]. It is probably a large body due to the variety of entrained carbonaceous materials which probably accreted from multiple sources. The halite grains contain intact, HaPB-origin, ancient fluid inclusions indicating that transfer between the HaPB and the HPB was a gentle process resulting in a ?T of <25 degC. Ejection from the HaPB may have been via cryovolcanic processes similar to those on modern-day Enceladus, which have been interpreted to include halite from spectroscopic observations. The ?Tmax to preserve the brinebearing halite restricts the impact velocity to the HPB at less than ˜350-700 m/s, depending upon the fraction of kinetic energy used heat the sample. [2-6]. Therefore the HaPB and HPB must have shared nearby orbits at the time of the HaPB-HPB transfer. Evidence presented elsewhere indicates asteroid 6 Hebe is a favored candidate for the HPB based on reflectance spectrum similarity with H chondrites and dynamical arguments [7,8]. The modern orbits of Ceres and Hebe are reasonably similar, with aphelion/perihelion of Ceres and Hebe of 2.99/2.55 and 2.91/1.94 AU, respectively. Initial calculations indicate an approximate mean infall velocity of 1.20 to 1.38 km/s. While higher than 350- 700 m/s, the

  2. Thermal evolution of a partially differentiated H chondrite parent body

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Abrahams, J. N. H.; Bryson, J. F. J.; Weiss, B. P.; Nimmo, F.

    2016-12-01

    It has traditionally been assumed that planetesimals either melted entirely or remained completely undifferentiated as they accreted. The unmelted textures and cooling histories of chondrites have been used to argue that these meteorites originated from bodies that never differentiated. However, paleomagnetic measurements indicate that some chondrites (e.g., the H chondrite Portales Valley and several CV chondrites) were magnetized by a core dynamo magnetic field, implying that their parent bodies were partially differentiated. It has been unclear, however, whether planetesimal histories consistent with dynamo production can also be consistent with the diversity of chondrite cooling rates and ages. To address this, we modeled the thermal evolution of the H chondrite parent body, considering a variety of accretion histories and parent body radii. We considered partial differentiation using two-stage accretion involving the initial formation and differentiation of a small body, followed by the later addition of low thermal conductivity chondritic material that remains mostly unmelted. We were able to reproduce the measured thermal evolution of multiple H chondrites for a range of parent body parameters, including initial radii from 70-150 km, chondritic layer thicknesses from 50 km to over 100 km, and second stage accretion times of 2.5-3 Myr after solar system formation. Our predicted rates of core cooling and crystallization are consistent with dynamo generation by compositional convection beginning 60-200 Myr after solar system formation and lasting for at least tens of millions of years. This is consistent with magnetic studies of Portales Valley [Bryson et al., this meeting]. In summary, we find that thermal models of partial differentiation are consistent the radiometric ages, magnetization, and cooling rates of a diversity H chondrites.

  3. Ion microprobe magnesium isotope analysis of plagioclase and hibonite from ordinary chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hinton, R. W.; Bischoff, A.

    1984-01-01

    Ion and electron microprobes were used to examine Mg-26 excesses from Al-26 decay in four Al-rich objects from the type 3 ordinary hibonite clast in the Dhajala chondrite. The initial Al-26/Al-27 ratio was actually significantly lower than Al-rich inclusions in carbonaceous chondrites. Also, no Mg-26 excesses were found in three plagioclase-bearing chondrules that were also examined. The Mg-26 excesses in the hibonite chondrites indicated a common origin for chondrites with the excesses. The implied Al-26 content in a proposed parent body could not, however, be confirmed as a widespread heat source in the early solar system.

  4. Sulfidization Contemporaneous with Oxidation and Metamorphism in CK6 Chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    McCoy, T. J.; Corrigan, C. M.; Davidson, J.; Schrader, D. L.; Righter, K.

    2018-01-01

    As the most oxidized chondrites and a group of carbonaceous chondrites spanning the range of petrologic types, CK chondrites occupy an extreme in our understanding of the origin and evolution of chondritic parent bodies. With the proposed linkage of CV and CK chondrites and the suggestion that differentiation of a postulated CV-CK asteroid could have differentiated to form a core and established a magnetic dynamo, CK chondrites are receiving considerable attention. Most of this attention has focused on the similarities between CK3 and CV3 chondrites and the origin of each. We have previously argued that melting of an oxidized core could produce a magnetite-sulfide core, rather than the more conventional metal-sulfide core. In this work, we focus on CK6 chondrites to understand the origin of the most highly metamorphosed members of the group as representative of the material that might differentiate to form such an oxidized core.

  5. Molybdenum isotopic evidence for the origin of chondrules and a distinct genetic heritage of carbonaceous and non-carbonaceous meteorites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Budde, Gerrit; Burkhardt, Christoph; Brennecka, Gregory A.; Fischer-Gödde, Mario; Kruijer, Thomas S.; Kleine, Thorsten

    2016-11-01

    Nucleosynthetic isotope anomalies are powerful tracers to determine the provenance of meteorites and their components, and to identify genetic links between these materials. Here we show that chondrules and matrix separated from the Allende CV3 chondrite have complementary nucleosynthetic Mo isotope anomalies. These anomalies result from the enrichment of a presolar carrier enriched in s-process Mo into the matrix, and the corresponding depletion of this carrier in the chondrules. This carrier most likely is a metal and so the uneven distribution of presolar material probably results from metal-silicate fractionation during chondrule formation. The Mo isotope anomalies correlate with those reported for W isotopes on the same samples in an earlier study, suggesting that the isotope variations for both Mo and W are caused by the heterogeneous distribution of the same carrier. The isotopic complementary of chondrules and matrix indicates that both components are genetically linked and formed together from one common reservoir of solar nebula dust. As such, the isotopic data require that most chondrules formed in the solar nebula and are not a product of protoplanetary impacts. Allende chondrules and matrix together with bulk carbonaceous chondrites and some iron meteorites (groups IID, IIIF, and IVB) show uniform excesses in 92Mo, 95Mo, and 97Mo that result from the addition of supernova material to the solar nebula region in which these carbonaceous meteorites formed. Non-carbonaceous meteorites (enstatite and ordinary chondrites as well as most iron meteorites) do not contain this material, demonstrating that two distinct Mo isotope reservoirs co-existed in the early solar nebula that remained spatially separated for several million years. This separation was most likely achieved through the formation of the gas giants, which cleared the disk between the inner and outer solar system regions parental to the non-carbonaceous and carbonaceous meteorites. The Mo isotope

  6. A Case for Nebula Scale Mixing Between Non-Carbonaceous and Carbonaceous Chondrite Reservoirs: Testing the Grand Tack Model with Chromium Isotopic Composition of Almahata Sitta Stone 91A

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Sanborn, M. E.; Yin, Q.-Z.; Goodrich, C. A.; Zolensky, M.; Fioretti, A. M.

    2017-01-01

    There is an increasing number of Cr-O-Ti isotope studies that show solar system materials are divided into two main populations, one carbonaceous chondrite (CC)-like and the other is non-carbonaceous (NC)-like, with minimal mixing attributed to a gap opened in the protoplanetary disk due to Jupiter's formation. The Grand Tack model suggests there should be large-scale mixing between S- and C-type asteroids, an idea supported by our recent work on chondrule (Delta)17O-e54Cr isotope systematics. The Almahata Sitta (AhS) meteorite provides a unique opportunity to test the Grand Tack model. The meteorite fell to Earth in October 2008 and has been linked to the asteroid 2008 TC3 which was discovered just prior to the fall of the AhS stones. The AhS meteorite is composed of up to 700 individual pieces with approx.140 of those pieces having some geochemical and/or petrologic studies. Almahata Sitta is an anomalous polymict ureilite with other meteorite components, including enstatite, ordinary, and carbonaceous chondrites with an approximate abundance of 70% ureilites and 30% chondrites. This observation has lead to the suggestion that TC3 2008 was a loosely aggregated rubble pile-like asteroid with the non-ureilite sample clasts within the rubble-pile. Due to the loosely-aggregated nature of AhS, the object disintegrated during atmospheric entry resulting in the weakly held clasts falling predominantly as individual stones in the AhS collection area. However, recent work has identified one sample of AhS, sample 91A, which may represent two different lithologies coexisting within a single stone. The predominate lithology type in 91A appears to be that of a C2 chondrite based on mineralogy but also contains olivine, pyroxene, and albite that have ureilite-like compositions. Previous Cr isotope investigations into AhS stones are sparse and what data is available show nearly uniform isotopic composition similar to that of typical ureilites with negative e54Cr values.

  7. Molecular Identification of the Deuterium-Rich Carrier in Insoluble Organic Matter in Carbonaceous Chondrites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Remusat, L.; Robert, F.; Meibom, A.; Mostefaoui, S.; Delpoux, O.; Binet, L.; Gourier, D.; Derenne, S.

    2007-12-01

    Insoluble organic matter (IOM) in primitive carbonaceous chondrites is known to be enriched in deuterium, with D/H ratios > 300×10 -6. It is also characterized by a high degree of isotopic heterogeneity, as demonstrated by the observation of D-rich "hot spots" in NanoSIMS ion microprobe images [1] and by GC-irMS studies [2]. Understanding the origin of this heterogeneity represents a fundamental challenge with implications for the origin and distribution of organics in the interstellar medium and in the protoplanetary disk from which our planetary system formed. We have determined the carrier of the isotopically anomalous hydrogen in IOM isolated from the carbonaceous chondrite Orgueil. Electron Paramagnetic Resonance spectroscopy has shown that hydrogen in the benzylic bond of organic radicals has a deuterium to hydrogen (D/H) ratio of 1.5±0.5×10-2 in Orgueil IOM, which is the highest solar system D/H ratio ever reported [3]. By combining these data with quantitative image analysis recorded at a high spatial resolution with the NanoSIMS, we are able to prove that the organic radicals can account for the deuterium excess in the IOM D-rich "hot spots". Furthermore, the radicals fall on a well-defined trend between D/H ratio and C-H bond energy [2], consistent with a new interpretation of the hydrogen isotopic variations in solar system organics according to which pre-existing organics exchange their D with highly deuterated gaseous molecules, such as H2D+ or HD2+. The distributions of these deuterated species has been theoritically mapped in protostellar disks [4]. This conclusion runs contrary to previous interpretations, according to which the IOM is an interstellar product reprocessed in the protosolar gas and deuterium-rich "hot spot" relics of pristine interstellar organic matter, which escaped solar nebula or parent body processes. [1] Busemann et al (2006) Science 312, 727-730; [2] Remusat L. et al. (2006) Earth Planet. Sci. Let. 243, 15-25 ; [3] Delpoux O

  8. Spectral evidence for a carbonaceous chondrite surface composition on Deimos

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Pang, K. D.; Rhoads, J. W.; Lane, A. L.; Ajello, J. M.

    1980-01-01

    The surface compositions of Phobos and Deimos as determined by their UV-visible reflectance are compared in order to evaluate the hypothesis that the different surface morphologies of the two satellites are due to different mechanical properties. The UV-visible reflectance spectrum of Deimos is compiled from Mariner 9 UV spectrometry and Canopus star tracker photometry and ground-based colorimetry and polarimetry; the geometric albedo of Deimos is determined from Mariner 9 Canopus star tracker data. The reflectance spectra of Deimos and Phobos are found to be similar in a first approximation, exhibiting low, flat reflectivities in the visible and dropping off sharply in the UV, compatible with a probable carbonaceous chondrite nature for Deimos as well as Phobos and suggesting that their different surface morphologies are most likely due to different orbital histories.

  9. Ordered mixed-layer structures in the Mighei carbonaceous chondrite matrix

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Mackinnon, I. D. R.

    1982-01-01

    High resolution transmission electron microscopy of the Mighei carbonaceous chondrite matrix has revealed the presence of a new mixed layer structure material. This mixed-layer material consists of an ordered arrangement of serpentine-type (S) and brucite-type (B) layers in the sequence SBBSBB. Electron diffraction and imaging techniques show that the basal periodicity is approximately 17 A. Discrete crystals of SBB-type material are typically curved, of small size (less than 1 micron) and show structural variations similar to the serpentine group minerals. Mixed-layer material also occurs in association with planar serpentine. Characteristics of SBB-type material are not consistent with known terrestrial mixed-layer clay minerals. Evidence for formation by a condensation event or by subsequent alteration of pre-existing material is not yet apparent.

  10. Analytical electron microscopy of fine-grained phases in primitive interplanetary dust particles and carbonaceous chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Mackinnon, Ian D. R.; Rietmeijer, Frans J. M.; Mckay, David S.

    1987-01-01

    In order to describe the total mineralogical diversity within primitive extraterrestrial materials, individual interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) collected from the stratosphere as part of the JSC Cosmic Dust Curatorial Program were analyzed using a variety of AEM techniques. Identification of over 250 individual grains within one chondritic porous (CP) IDP shows that most phases could be formed by low temperature processes and that heating of the IDP during atmospheric entry is minimal and less than 600 C. In a review of the mineralogy of IDPs, it was suggested that the occurrence of other silicates such as enstatite whiskers is consistent with the formation in an early turbulent period of the solar nebula. Experimental confirmation of fundamental chemical and physical processes in a stellar environment, such as vapor phase condensation, nucleation, and growth by annealing, is an important aspect of astrophysical models for the evolution of the Solar System. A detailed comparison of chondritic IDP and carbonaceous chondrite mineralogies shows significant differences between the types of silicate minerals as well as the predominant oxides.

  11. Lithologies Making Up CM Carbonaceous Chondrites and Their Link to Space Exposure Ages

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Gregory, Timothy; Zolensky, Michael E.; Trieman, Alan; Berger, Eve; Le, Loan; Fagan, Amy; Takenouchi, Atsushi; Velbel, Michael A.; Nishiizumi, Kunihiko

    2015-01-01

    Chondrite parent bodies are among the first large bodies to have formed in the early Solar System, and have since remained almost chemically unchanged having not grown large enough or quickly enough to undergo differentiation. Their major nonvolatile elements bear a close resemblance to the solar photosphere. Previous work has concluded that CM chondrites fall into at least four distinct space exposure age groups (0.1 Ma, 0.2 Ma, 0.6 Ma and >2.0 Ma), but the meaning of these groupings is unclear. It is possible that these meteorites came from different parent bodies which broke up at different times, or instead came from the same parent body which underwent multiple break-up events, or a combination of these scenarios.

  12. Lithologies Making Up CM Carbonaceous Chondrites and Their Link to Space Exposure Ages

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Gregory, Timothy; Zolensky, Michael E.; Trieman, Alan; Berger, Eve; Le, Loan; Fagan, Amy; Takenouchi, Atsushi; Velbel, Michael A.; Nishiizumi, Kuni

    2015-01-01

    Chondrite parent bodies are among the first large bodies to have formed in the early Solar System, and have since remained almost chemically unchanged having not grown large enough or quickly enough to undergo differentiation. Their major nonvolatile elements bear a close resemblance to the solar photosphere. Previous work has concluded that CM chondrites fall into at least four distinct space exposure age groups (0.1 megaannus, 0.2 megaannus, 0.6 megaannus and 2.0 megaannus), but the meaning of these groupings is unclear. It is possible that these meteorites came from different parent bodies which broke up at different times, or instead came from the same parent body which underwent multiple break-up events, or a combination of these scenarios.

  13. The Aqueous Alteration of CR Chondrites: Experiments and Geochemical Modeling

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Perronnet, M.; Berger, G.; Zolensky, M. E.; Toplis, M. J.; Kolb, V. M.; Bajagic, M.

    2007-01-01

    CR carbonaceous chondrites are of major interest since they contain some of the most primitive organic matter known. However, aqueous alteration has more or less overprinted their original features in a way that needs to be assessed. This study was initiated by comparing the mineralogy and modal abundances of the most altered CR1 chondrite, GRO 95577, to a less altered CR2. Calculated element distributions imply that GRO 95577 may result from aqueous alteration of Renazzo by an isochemical process on their parent asteroid, whose mineralogical composition was estimated ( Unaltered CR shown included table).

  14. Murchison CM2 chondrite at nanoscale: evidence for hydrated minerals in the protoplanetary disk

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Trigo-Rodriguez, J. M.; Vila-Ruaix, A.; Alonso-Azcárate, J.; Abad, M. M.

    2017-03-01

    The most pristine chondrites are undifferentiated meteorites with highly unequilibrated mineral grains that accreted from the protoplanetary disk about 4.6 Gyrs ago. Here we focus our attention in the study of Murchison, one of the most primitive carbonaceous chondrites belonging to the CM2 group. Despite of being aqueously altered, Murchison matrix is extraordinarily complex at nanoscale, and its study can hold clues to understand the origin of the water incorporated in the parent bodies of carbonaceous chondrites. Murchison comes from an undifferentiated carbon-rich asteroid which formed from the accretion of solid particles formed in the outer protoplanetary disk. Their rock-forming materials felt into the plane of the system where they mixed with organics, and probably with hydrated minerals. Our UHRTEM (ultra-high resolution transmission electron microscopy) data demonstrate that Murchison fine-grained matrix consists of a complex mixture of many ingredients, including chondrule and CAI fragments, stellar grains, phyllosilicates and organic compounds. We describe here some mineral and textural features that exemplify how pristine, and diverse is Murchison matrix. Our results indicate that the study of carbonaceous chondrites at nanoscale can provide a significant progress in our understanding of the accretion of materials and the preservation of presolar grains in the outer regions of the protoplanetary disk.

  15. Manganese-Chromium Isotope Systematics of Ivuna, Kainsaz and Other Carbonaceous Chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Shukolyukov, A.; Lugmair, G. W.; Bogdanovski, O.

    2003-01-01

    We have shown earlier that the bulk samples of carbonaceous chondrites [CC] reveal excesses in both Cr-53 (Cr-53*) and Cr-54 (Cr-54*) as compared to the terrestrial standard value. The Cr-53/52 ratios in bulk samples of Orgueil (CI), Murray (CM), Allende (CV), and the Bencubbin/CH-like meteorite Hammadah Al Hambra 237 (HH237) are correlated with the respective Mn/Cr ratios. In contrast to CC, HH237 is characterized by a deficit of Cr-53 (-0.15 +/- 0.10(epsilon)) at a low Mn/Cr ratio of 0.07. The HH237 data point, however, falls on the CC line. Here we report new Mn-53 - Cr-53 results for the CC Kainsaz (CO) and Ivuna (CI).

  16. Oxygen-isotopic Compositions of Low-FeO relicts in High-FeO Host Chondrules in Acfer 094, a Type 3.0 Carbonaceous Chondrite Closely Related to CM

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Rubin, Alan E.; Kunihiro, Tak; Wasson, John T.

    2006-01-01

    With one exception, the low-FeO relict olivine grains within high-FeO porphyritic chondrules in the type 3.0 Acfer 094 carbonaceous chondrite have DELTA O-17 ( = delta O-17 - 0.52 X delta O-18) values that are substantially more negative than those of the high-FeO olivine host materials. These results are similar to observations made earlier on chondrules in C03.0 chondrites and are consistent with two independent models: (1) Nebular solids evolved from low-FeO, low-DELTA O-17 compositions towards high-FeO, more positive DELTA O-17 compositions; and (2) the range of compositions resulted from the mixing of two independently formed components. The two models predict different trajectories on a DELTA O-17 vs. log Fe/Mg (olivine) diagram, but our sample set has too few values at intermediate Fe/Mg ratios to yield a definitive answer. Published data showing that Acfer 094 has higher volatile contents than CO chondrites suggest a closer link to CM chondrites. This is consistent with the high modal matrix abundance in Acfer 094 (49 vol.%). Acfer 094 may be an unaltered CM chondrite or an exceptionally matrix-rich CO chondrite. Chondrules in Acfer 094 and in CO and CM carbonaceous chondrites appear to sample the same population. Textural differences between Acfer 094 and CM chondrites are largely attributable to the high degree of hydrothermal alteration that the CM chondrites experienced in an asteroidal setting.

  17. On the Behavior of Phosphorus During the Aqueous Alteration of CM2 Carbonaceous Chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Brearley, Adrian J.; Chizmadia, Lysa J.

    2005-01-01

    During the earliest period of solar system formation, water played an important role in the evolution of primitive dust, both after accretion of planetesimals and possible before accretion within the protoplanetary disk. Many chondrites show evidence of variable degrees of aqueous alteration, the CM2 chondrites being among the most studied [1]. This group of chondrites is characterized by mineral assemblages of both primary and secondary alteration phases. Hence, these meteorites retain a particularly important record of the reactions that occurred between primary high temperature nebular phases and water. Studies of these chondrites can provide information on the conditions and environments of aqueous alteration and the mobility of elements during alteration. This latter question is at the core of a debate concerning the location of aqueous alteration, i.e. whether alteration occurred predominantly within a closed system after accretion (parent body alteration) or whether some degree of alteration occurred within the solar nebula or on ephemeral protoplanetary bodies prior to accretion. At the core of the parent body alteration model is the hypothesis that elemental exchange between different components, principally chondrules and matrix, must have occurred. chondrules and matrix, must have occurred. In this study, we focus on the behavior of the minor element, phosphorus. This study was stimulated by observations of the behavior of P during the earliest stages of alteration in glassy mesostasis in type II chondrules in CR chondrites and extends the preliminary observations of on Y791198 to other CM chondrites.

  18. In situ observation of D-rich carbonaceous globules embedded in NWA 801 CR2 chondrite

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hashiguchi, Minako; Kobayashi, Sachio; Yurimoto, Hisayoshi

    2013-12-01

    Eighty-five D-rich carbonaceous particles were identified in the matrix of the NWA 801 CR2 chondrite using isotope microscopy. The occurrence of 67 D-rich carbonaceous particles was characterized using secondary electron microscopy combined with X-ray elemental mapping. The close association of H and C, and D-enrichment suggests that the D-rich carbonaceous particles correspond to organic matter. The D-rich organic particles were scattered ubiquitously throughout the matrix at a concentration of approximately 660 ppm. The morphology of the D-rich carbonaceous particles is globular up to about 1 μm in diameter and is classified into four types: ring globules, round globules, irregular-shaped globules, and globule aggregates. The ring globules are ring-shaped organic matter containing silicate and/or oxide, with or without a void in the center. This is the first report of silicate and oxide grains surrounded by D-rich organic matter. The globule aggregates are composed of several D-rich organic globules mixed with silicates. Morphology of ring globules is very similar to core-mantle grain produced in the molecular cloud or in the outer solar nebula inferring by astronomy, suggesting that the organic globules have formed by UV photolysis in the ice mantle. Silicates or oxides attached to D-rich organic globules are the first observation among chondrites so far and may be unique nature of CR2 chondrites. The hydrogen isotopic compositions of the ring globules, round globules, irregular-shaped globules, and globule aggregates are δD = 3000-4800, 2900-8100, 2700-11,000, and 2500-11,000‰, respectively. Variations of D/H ratio of these organic globules seemed to be attributed to variations of D/H ratio of the organic radicals or differences of content of the D-rich organic radicals. There are no significant differences in the hydrogen isotopic compositions among the four types of D-rich carbonaceous matter. The D-enrichments suggest that these organic globules have

  19. The Magnetization of Carbonaceous Meteorites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Herndon, James Herndon

    1974-01-01

    Alternating field demagnetization experiments have been conducted on representative samples of the carbonaceous meteorites (carbonaceous chondrites and ureilites). The results indicate that many, if not all, of these meteorites possess an intense and stable magnetic moment of extraterrestrial origin. Thermomagnetic analyses have been conducted on samples of all known carbonaceous meteorites. In addition to yielding quantitative magnetite estimates, these studies indicate the presence of a thermally unstable component, troilite, which reacts with gaseous oxygen to form magnetite. It is proposed that the magnetite found in some carbonaceous chondrites resulted from the oxidation of troilite during the early history of the solar system. The formation of pyrrhotite is expected as a natural consequence of magnetite formation via this reaction. Consideration is given to the implications of magnetite formation on paleointensity studies.

  20. Early solar system. Early accretion of water in the inner solar system from a carbonaceous chondrite-like source.

    PubMed

    Sarafian, Adam R; Nielsen, Sune G; Marschall, Horst R; McCubbin, Francis M; Monteleone, Brian D

    2014-10-31

    Determining the origin of water and the timing of its accretion within the inner solar system is important for understanding the dynamics of planet formation. The timing of water accretion to the inner solar system also has implications for how and when life emerged on Earth. We report in situ measurements of the hydrogen isotopic composition of the mineral apatite in eucrite meteorites, whose parent body is the main-belt asteroid 4 Vesta. These measurements sample one of the oldest hydrogen reservoirs in the solar system and show that Vesta contains the same hydrogen isotopic composition as that of carbonaceous chondrites. Taking into account the old ages of eucrite meteorites and their similarity to Earth's isotopic ratios of hydrogen, carbon, and nitrogen, we demonstrate that these volatiles could have been added early to Earth, rather than gained during a late accretion event. Copyright © 2014, American Association for the Advancement of Science.

  1. Intrinsic oxygen fugacity measurements on seven chondrites, a pallasite, and a tektite and the redox state of meteorite parent bodies

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Brett, R.; Sato, M.

    1984-01-01

    Intrinsic oxygen-fugacity (fO2) measurements were made on five ordinary chondrites, a carbonaceous chondrite, an enstatite chondrite, a pallasite, and a tektite. Results are of the form of linear log fO2 - 1 T plots. Except for the enstatite chondrite, measured results agree well with calculated estimates by others. The tektite produced fO2 values well below the range measured for terrestrial and lunar rocks. The lowpressure atmospheric regime that is reported to follow large terrestrial explosions, coupled with a very high temperature, could produce glass with fO2 in the range measured. The meteorite Salta (pallasite) has low fO2 and lies close to Hvittis (E6). Unlike the other samples, results for Salta do not parallel the iron-wu??stite buffer, but are close to the fayalite-quartz-iron buffer in slope. Minor reduction by graphite appears to have taken place during metamorphism of ordinary chondrites. fO2 values of unequilibrated chondrites show large scatter during early heating suggesting that the constituent phases were exposed to a range of fO2 conditions. The samples equilibrated with respect to fO2 in relatively short time on heating. Equilibration with respect to fO2 in ordinary chondrites takes place between grades 3 and 4 of metamorphism. Application of P - T - fO2 relations in the system C-CO-CO2 indicates that the ordinary chondrites were metamorphosed at pressures of 3-20 bars, as it appears that they lay on the graphite surface. A steep positive thermal gradient in a meteorite parent body lying at the graphite surface will produce thin reduced exterior, an oxidized near-surface layer, and an interior that is increasingly reduced with depth; a shallow thermal gradient will produce the reverse. A body heated by accretion on the outside will have a reduced exterior and oxidized interior. Meteorites from the same parent body clearly are not required to have similar redox states. ?? 1984.

  2. The accretion and impact history of the ordinary chondrite parent bodies

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Blackburn, Terrence; Alexander, Conel M. O'D.; Carlson, Richard; Elkins-Tanton, Linda T.

    2017-03-01

    A working timeline for the history of ordinary chondrites includes chondrule formation as early as 0-2 Ma after our Solar System's earliest forming solids (CAIs), followed by rapid accretion into undifferentiated planetesimals that were heated internally by 26Al decay and cooled over a period of tens of millions of years. There remains conflict, however, between metallographic cooling rate (Ni-metal) and radioisotopic thermochronometric data over the sizes and lifetimes of the chondrite parent bodies, as well as the timing of impact related disruptions. The importance of establishing the timing of parent body disruption is heightened by the use of meteorites as recorders of asteroid belt wide disruption events and their use to interpret Solar System dynamical models. Here we attempt to resolve these records by contributing new 207Pb-206Pb data obtained on phosphates isolated from nine previously unstudied ordinary chondrites. These new results, along with previously published Pb-phosphate, Ni-metal and thermometry data, are interpreted with a series of numerical models designed to simulate the thermal evolution for a chondrite parent body that either remains intact or is disrupted by impact prior to forming smaller unsorted "rubble piles". Our thermal model and previously published thermometry data limit accretion time to 2.05-2.25 Ma after CAIs. Measured Pb-phosphate data place minimum estimates on parent body diameters of ∼260-280 km for both the L and H chondrite parent bodies. They also consistently show that petrologic Type 6 (highest thermal metamorphism) chondrites from both the H and L bodies have younger ages and, therefore, cooled more slowly than Type 5 (lesser metamorphism) chondrites. This is interpreted as evidence for Type 5 chondrite origination from shallower depths than Type 6 chondrites within initially concentrically zoned bodies. This contrasts metallographic cooling rate data that are inconsistent with such a simple onion shell scenario. One

  3. Aqueous Alteration of the Grosnaja CV3 Carbonaceous Chondrite

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Keller, L. P.; McKay, D. S.

    1993-07-01

    Previous petrographic studies have shown that aqueous alteration products are locally well developed in some of the CV3 falls [e.g., 1-3]. In this abstract, we describe our transmission electron microscope (TEM) study of the extent of aqueous alteration in matrix and in chondrules in the Grosnaja CV3 carbonaceous chondrite. Grosnaja is an observed fall and belongs to the oxidized subgroup of the CV chondrites [4]. We obtained fragments of Grosnaja from the Naturhistorisches Museum in Vienna. Regions of interest were extracted from polished thin sections and prepared for TEM observation by ion milling. Quantitative energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analyses were obtained using a JEOL 2000FX TEM equipped with a LINK thin- window EDX detector. Grosnaja has undergone aqueous alteration, which has resulted in the formation of phyllosilicates in matrix and in chondrules. The suprising result from Grosnaja is that three different types of phyllosilicates are intimately intergrown. Serpentine is the most abundant phyllosilicate in matrix and occurs as fine-grained packets along grain boundaries and as fracture-fillings and veinlets that cross cut olivine and pyroxene grains. Mixed with the serpentine are packets of fine-grained phyllosilicates with a distinct 1.4-nm basal spacing that is probably a chlorite group mineral. Rare packets of smectite occur as epitaxial intergrowths with olivine, but are not interstratified with serpentine as observed in the CI chondrites. Phyllosilicates in Grosnaja matrix occur with Mg-rich carbonates, fine-grained magnetite, chromite and pentlandite, and poorly-crystalline FeNi- oxide/hydroxides, which stain the matrix a brownish-red color. Some of the rust may be of terrestrial origin (Grosnaja fell in 1861). Although the matrix phyllosilicates are too small to obtain single-phase chemical analyses in the TEM, quantitative EDX analyses suggest that the serpentine contains significant Fe (Mg/Mg + Fe ~0.5). The serpentine/chlorite forms as an

  4. The neodymium stable isotope composition of the silicate Earth and chondrites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    McCoy-West, Alex J.; Millet, Marc-Alban; Burton, Kevin W.

    2017-12-01

    The non-chondritic neodymium (Nd) 142Nd/144Nd ratio of the silicate Earth potentially provides a key constraint on the accretion and early evolution of the Earth. Yet, it is debated whether this offset is due to the Earth being formed from material enriched in s-process Nd isotopes or results from an early differentiation process such as the segregation of a late sulfide matte during core formation, collisional erosion or a some combination of these processes. Neodymium stable isotopes are potentially sensitive to early sulfide segregation into Earth's core, a process that cannot be resolved using their radiogenic counterparts. This study presents the first comprehensive Nd stable isotope data for chondritic meteorites and terrestrial rocks. Stable Nd measurements were made using a double spike technique coupled with thermal ionisation mass spectrometry. All three of the major classes of chondritic meteorites, carbonaceous, enstatite and ordinary chondrites have broadly similar isotopic compositions allowing calculation of a chondritic mean of δ146/144Nd = -0.025 ± 0.025‰ (±2 s.d.; n = 39). Enstatite chondrites yield the most uniform stable isotope composition (Δ146/144Nd = 26 ppm), with considerably more variability observed within ordinary (Δ146/144Nd = 72 ppm) and carbonaceous meteorites (Δ146/144Nd = 143 ppm). Terrestrial weathering, nucleosynthetic variations and parent body thermal metamorphism appear to have little measurable effect on δ146/144Nd in chondrites. The small variations observed between ordinary chondrite groups most likely reflect inherited compositional differences between parent bodies, with the larger variations observed in carbonaceous chondrites being linked to varying modal proportions of calcium-aluminium rich inclusions. The terrestrial samples analysed here include rocks ranging from basaltic to rhyolitic in composition, MORB glasses and residual mantle lithologies. All of these terrestrial rocks possess a broadly similar Nd

  5. Chondritic Meteorites: Nebular and Parent-Body Formation Processes

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Rubin, Alan E.; Lindstrom, David (Technical Monitor)

    2002-01-01

    It is important to identify features in chondrites that formed as a result of parent-body modification in order to disentangle nebular and asteroidal processes. However, this task is difficult because unmetamorphosed chondritic meteorites are mixtures of diverse components including various types of chondrules, chondrule fragments, refractory and mafic inclusions, metal-sulfide grains and fine-grained matrix material. Shocked chondrites can contain melt pockets, silicate-darkened material, metal veins, silicate melt veins, and impact-melt-rock clasts. This grant paid for several studies that went far in helping to distinguish primitive nebular features from those produced during asteroidal modification processes.

  6. Ion irradiation of carbonaceous chondrites: A new view of space weathering on primitive asteroids

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lantz, C.; Brunetto, R.; Barucci, M. A.; Fornasier, S.; Baklouti, D.; Bourçois, J.; Godard, M.

    2017-03-01

    We present an experimental study on ion irradiation of carbonaceous chondrites, simulating solar wind irradiation on primitive asteroids, to better constrain the space weathering processes of low albedo objects. The irradiations were performed on pressed pellets of the CV Allende, CO Frontier Mountain 95002 and Lancé, CM Mighei, CI Alais, and ungrouped Tagish Lake meteorites, as well as on some silicate samples (olivine and diopside). We used 40keV He+ with fluences up to 6 × 1016 ions/cm2 corresponding to timescales of 103-104 years for an object in the Main Belt. Reflectance spectra were acquired ex situ before and after irradiations in the visible to mid-infrared range (0.4-16 μm). Several spectral modifications are observed. In the MIR range, we observe a shift of the phyllosilicates (near 3 and 10 μm) and silicates (near 10 μm) bands toward longer wavelength. In the visible-NIR range, spectral darkening and reddening are observed for some samples, while others show spectral brightening and blueing. Results are also compared with previous irradiation on ordinary and carbonaceous chondrites. We find that the spectral modifications in the visible range are correlated with the initial albedo/composition. We propose a model for space weathering effects on low albedo objects, showing that those with initial albedo between 5 and 9% shall not suffer SpWe effects in the visible range. These experiments provide new clues on spectroscopic features modifications within the visible-infrared ranges that could be detected in situ by future sample return missions (Hayabusa-2/JAXA and OSIRIS-REx/NASA).

  7. The parent body controls on cosmic spherule texture: Evidence from the oxygen isotopic compositions of large micrometeorites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    van Ginneken, M.; Gattacceca, J.; Rochette, P.; Sonzogni, C.; Alexandre, A.; Vidal, V.; Genge, M. J.

    2017-09-01

    High-precision oxygen isotopic compositions of eighteen large cosmic spherules (>500 μm diameter) from the Atacama Desert, Chile, were determined using IR-laser fluorination - Isotope Ratio Mass spectrometry. The four discrete isotopic groups defined in a previous study on cosmic spherules from the Transantarctic Mountains (Suavet et al., 2010) were identified, confirming their global distribution. Approximately 50% of the studied cosmic spherules are related to carbonaceous chondrites, 38% to ordinary chondrites and 12% to unknown parent bodies. Approximately 90% of barred olivine (BO) cosmic spherules show oxygen isotopic compositions suggesting they are related to carbonaceous chondrites. Similarly, ∼90% porphyritic olivine (Po) cosmic spherules are related to ordinary chondrites and none can be unambiguously related to carbonaceous chondrites. Other textures are related to all potential parent bodies. The data suggests that the textures of cosmic spherules are mainly controlled by the nature of the precursor rather than by the atmospheric entry parameters. We propose that the Po texture may essentially be formed from a coarse-grained precursor having an ordinary chondritic mineralogy and chemistry. Coarse-grained precursors related to carbonaceous chondrites (i.e. chondrules) are likely to either survive atmospheric entry heating or form V-type cosmic spherules. Due to the limited number of submicron nucleation sites after total melting, ordinary chondrite-related coarse-grained precursors that suffer higher peak temperatures will preferentially form cryptocrystalline (Cc) textures instead of BO textures. Conversely, the BO textures would be mostly related to the fine-grained matrices of carbonaceous chondrites due to the wide range of melting temperatures of their constituent mineral phases, allowing the preservation of submicron nucleation sites. Independently of the nature of the precursors, increasing peak temperatures form glassy textures.

  8. Chondritic Meteorites: Nebular and Parent-Body Formation Process

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Rubin, Alan E.

    1997-01-01

    Chondritic meteorites are the products of condensation, agglomeration and accretion of material in the solar nebula; these objects are the best sources of information regarding processes occurring during the early history of the solar system. We obtain large amounts of high-quality chemical and petrographic data and use them to infer chemical fractionation processes that occurred in the solar nebula and on meteorite parent bodies during thermal metamorphism, shock metamorphism and aqueous alteration. We compare diverse groups of chondrites and model their different properties in terms of processes that differed at different nebular locations or on different parent-bodies. In order to expand our set of geochemically important elements (particularly Si, C, P and S) and to distinguish the different oxidation states of Fe, Greg Kallemeyn spent three months (1 Sept. - 30 Nov. 1995) at the Smithsonian Institution to learn Eugene Jarosewich's wet chemical techniques. Key specimens from the recently established CK, CR and R chondrite groups were analyzed.

  9. High-temperature rims around calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions from the CR, CB and CH carbonaceous chondrites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Krot, Alexander N.; Nagashima, Kazuhide; van Kooten, Elishevah M. M.; Bizzarro, Martin

    2017-03-01

    We describe the mineralogy, petrology and oxygen isotopic compositions of high-temperature rims around mineralogically pristine calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions (CAIs) from the CR, CB and CH carbonaceous chondrites. In CR chondrites, nearly all CAIs are surrounded by single- or multi-layered rims composed of CAI-like minerals; relict CAIs inside chondrules in which the rims were resorbed by the host chondrule melt (Aléon et al., 2002; Makide et al., 2009) are the only exception. A complete multi-layered rim sequence (from inside outward: spinel + hibonite + perovskite → melilite → anorthite replacing melilite → Al-diopside → forsterite) is rarely observed; Al-diopside ± forsterite rims are more common. The CR CAIs and all rim layers are uniformly 16O-rich (Δ17O ∼-24‰), indicating formation in a 16O-rich gaseous reservoir. The mineralogy, petrology and 16O-rich compositions of these rims suggest formation by evaporation/condensation, melting (?), and thermal annealing in the formation region of the host CAIs. We define such rims as the primordial Wark-Lovering (WL) rims. In CH chondrites, most CAIs are uniformly 16O-rich and surrounded by the primordial WL rims. One of the 16O-rich CAIs is surrounded by an anorthite-Al-diopside WL rim showing a range of Δ17O values, from ∼-24‰ to ∼-6‰; Δ17O decreases towards the CAI core. We infer that this rim experienced incomplete melting and O-isotope exchange in an 16O-poor nebular gas, most likely during chondrule formation. Most CAIs in CB chondrites and about 10% of CAIs in CH chondrites are uniformly 16O-depleted igneous inclusions; Δ17O values between individual CAIs vary from ∼-12‰ to ∼-5‰. These CAIs have diverse mineralogies (grossite-rich, hibonite-rich, melilite-rich, spinel-rich, and Al,Ti-diopside ± forsterite-rich), but are surrounded by the mineralogically similar igneous rims composed of ±melilite, Al-diopside and Ca-rich forsterite (0.5-1.4 wt% CaO). The igneous rims and the

  10. A refractory inclusion in the Kaba CV3 chondrite - Some implications for the origin of spinel-rich objects in chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Fegley, B., Jr.; Post, J. E.

    1985-01-01

    The first detailed petrographic and mineralogical study of a Ca, Al-rich inclusion (CAI) from the Kaba CV3 chondrite is reported. This 'fine-grained' CAI contains abundant small, rounded, rimmed, spinel-rich objects which have important features in common with the spinel-rich objects in other carbonaceous and ordinary chondrites. These nodules are interpreted as fractionated distillation residues of primitive dust. However, the available data do not unambiguously rule out a condensation origin for at least some of these objects. Finally, the preservation of distinct diopside-hedenbergite rims on the spinel-rich bodies and the small grain size of many minerals in the CAI matrix material both suggest that the CAI accreted cool and had a relatively cool thermal history in the Kaba parent body.

  11. 13C NMR spectroscopy of the insoluble carbon of carbonaceous chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Cronin, J. R.; Pizzarello, S.; Frye, J. S.

    1987-01-01

    13C NMR spectra have been obtained of the insoluble carbon residues resulting from HF-digestion of three carbonaceous chondrites, Orgueil (C1), Murchison (CM2), and Allende (CV3). Spectra obtained using the cross polarization magic-angle spinning technique show two major features attributable respectively to carbon in aliphatic/olefinic structures. The spectrum obtained from the Allende sample was weak, presumably as a consequence of its low hydrogen content. Single pulse excitation spectra, which do not depend on 1H-13C polarization transfer for signal enhancement were also obtained. These spectra, which may be more representative of the total carbon in the meteorite samples, indicate a greater content of carbon in aromatic/olefinic structures. These results suggest that extensive polycyclic aromatic sheets are important structural features of the insoluble carbon of all three meteorites. The Orgueil and Murchison materials contain additional hydrogenated aromatic/olefinic and aliphatic groups.

  12. A strongly hydrated microclast in the Rumuruti chondrite NWA 6828: Implications for the distribution of hydrous material in the solar system

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Greshake, Ansgar

    2014-05-01

    Hydrous carbonaceous microclasts are by far the most abundant foreign fragments in stony meteorites and mostly resemble CI1-, CM2-, or CR2-like material. Their occurrence is of great importance for understanding the distribution and migration of water-bearing volatile-rich matter in the solar system. This paper reports the first finding of a strongly hydrated microclast in a Rumuruti chondrite. The R3-6 chondrite Northwest Africa 6828 contains a 420 × 325 μm sized angular foreign fragment exhibiting sharp boundaries to the surrounding R-type matrix. The clast is dominantly composed of magnetite, pyrrhotite, rare Ca-carbonate, and very rare Mg-rich olivine set in an abundant fine-grained phyllosilicate-rich matrix. Phyllosilicates are serpentine and saponite. One region of the clast is dominated by forsteritic olivine (Fa<2) supported by a network of interstitial Ca-carbonate. The clast is crosscut by Ca-carbonate-filled veins and lacks any chondrules, calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions, or their respective pseudomorphs. The hydrous clast contains also a single grain of the very rare phosphide andreyivanovite. Comparison with CI1, CM2, and CR2 chondrites as well as with the ungrouped C2 chondrite Tagish Lake shows no positive match with any of these types of meteorites. The clast may, thus, either represent a fragment of an unsampled lithology of the hydrous carbonaceous chondrite parent asteroids or constitute a sample from an as yet unknown parent body, maybe even a comet. Rumuruti chondrites are a unique group of highly oxidized meteorites that probably accreted at a heliocentric distance >1 AU between the formation regions of ordinary and carbonaceous chondrites. The occurrence of a hydrous microclast in an R chondrite attests to the presence of such material also in this region at least at some point in time and documents the wide distribution of water-bearing (possibly zodiacal cloud) material in the solar system.

  13. Fe and O EELS Studies of Ion Irradiated Murchison CM2 Carbonaceous Chondrite Matrix

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Keller, L. P.; Christofferson, R.; Dukes, C. A.; Baragiola, R. A.; Rahman, Z.

    2015-01-01

    Introduction: The physical and chemical response of hydrated carbonaceous chondrite materials to space weathering processes is poorly understood. Improving this understanding is a key part of establishing how regoliths on primitive carbonaceous asteroids respond to space weathering processes, knowledge that supports future sample return missions (Hayabusa 2 and OSIRISREx) that are targeting objects of this type. We previously reported on He+ irradiation of Murchison matrix and showed that the irradiation resulted in amorphization of the matrix phyllosilicates, loss of OH, and surface vesiculation. Here, we report electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) measurements of the irradiated material with emphasis on the Fe and O speciation. Sample and Methods: A polished thin section of the Murchison CM2 carbonaceous chondrite was irradiated with 4 kilovolts He(+) (normal incidence) to a total dose of 1 x 10(exp 18) He(+) per square centimeter. We extracted thin sections from both irradiated and unirradiated regions in matrix using focused ion beam (FIB) techniques with electron beam deposition for the protective carbon strap to minimize surface damage artifacts from the FIB milling. The FIB sections were analyzed using a JEOL 2500SE scanning and transmission electron microscope (STEM) equipped with a Gatan Tridiem imaging filter. EELS spectra were collected from 50 nanometer diameter regions with an energy resolution of 0.7 electronvolts FWHM at the zero loss. EELS spectra were collected at low electron doses to minimize possible artifacts from electron-beam irradiation damage. Results and Discussion: Fe L (sub 2,3) EELS spectra from matrix phyllosilicates in CM chondrites show mixed Fe(2+)/Fe(3+) oxidation states with Fe(3+)/Sigma Fe approximately 0.5. Fe L(sub 2,3) spectra from the irradiated/ amorphized matrix phyllosilicates show higher Fe(2+)/Fe(3+) ratios compared to spectra obtained from pristine material at depths beyond the implantation/amorphization layer. We

  14. Metastable equilibria among dicarboxylic acids and the oxidation state during aqueous alteration on the CM2 chondrite parent body

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    McAlister, Jason A.; Kettler, Richard M.

    2008-01-01

    Linear saturated dicarboxylic acids are present in carbonaceous chondrite samples at concentrations that suggest aqueous alteration under conditions of metastable equilibrium. In this study, previously published values of dicarboxylic acid concentrations measured in Murchison, Yamato-791198, and Tagish Lake carbonaceous chondrites are converted to aqueous activities during aqueous alteration assuming water:rock ratios that range from 1:10 to 10:1. Logarithmic plots of the aqueous activities of any two dicarboxylic acids are proximal to lines whose slope is fixed by the stoichiometry of reactions describing the oxidation-reduction equilibrium between the two species. The precise position of any line is controlled by the equilibrium constant of the reaction relating the species and the hydrogen fugacity for the reaction of interest. Reactions among succinic (C4), glutaric (C5), and adipic (C6) acids obtained from CM2 chondrites show evidence of metastable equilibrium and yield logf values that agree to within 0.3 log units at 298.15 K and 0.6 log units at 473.15 K. At a water:rock ratio of 1:1, metastable equilibrium among succinic, glutaric, and adipic acids results in calculated logf values during aqueous alteration that range from -6.2 at 298.15 K to -3.3 at 373.15 K. These values are consistent with those obtained in previous work on carbonaceous chondrites and with metastable equilibrium at temperatures ranging from 300 to 355 K in contact with cronstedtite + magnetite.

  15. Oxygen Isotope Compositions of the Kaidun Meteorite - Indications for Aqeuous Alteration of E-Chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Ziegler, K.; Zolensky, M.; Young, E. D.; Ivanov, A.

    2012-01-01

    The Kaidun microbreccia is a unique meteorite due to the diversity of its constituent clasts. Fragments of various types of carbonaceous (CI, CM, CV, CR), enstatite (EH, EL), and ordinary chondrites, basaltic achondrites, and impact melt products have been described, and also several unknown clasts [1, and references therein]. The small mm-sized clasts represent material from different places and times in the early solar system, involving a large variety of parent bodies [2]; meteorites are of key importance to the study of the origin and evolution of the solar system, and Kaidun is a collection of a range of bodies evidently representing samples from across the asteroid belt. The parent-body on which Kaidun was assembled is believed to be a C-type asteroid, and 1-Ceres and the martian moon Phobos have been proposed [1-4]. Both carbonaceous (most oxidized) and enstatite (most reduced) chondrite clasts in Kaidun show signs of aqueous alterations that vary in type and degree and are most likely of pre-Kaidun origin [1, 4].

  16. In situ extraction and analysis of volatile elements and molecules from carbonaceous chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hartmetz, C. P.; Gibson, E. K., Jr.; Blanford, G. E.

    1991-01-01

    A laser microprobe mass spectrometer was used to measure volatiles released, on a scale of 30-50 microns, from freshly broken, sawed, and weathered surfaces in fragments of the Allende, Murchison, Coolidge, Felix, and Orgueil carbonaceous chondrites. Samples were heated to about 120 C under a vacuum of 200 ntorr and illuminated with the focused beam of a Q-switched Nd:glass laser of variable energy output (0.1-1.0 J); the gases released were analyzed using a computer-controlled mass-selective detector. The results are presented in tables and graphs and discussed in detail, with particular attention to aqueous alteration; weathering; thermal metamorphism; the distribution of sulfur-bearing phases; and differences in the amounts of volatiles in matrix, inclusions, and chondrules.

  17. Chondritic Asteroids--When Did Aqueous Alteration Happen?

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Doyle, P. M.

    2015-06-01

    Using a synthesized fayalite (Fe2SiO4) standard for improved 53Mn-53Cr radiometric age dating, Patricia Doyle (previously at the University of Hawaii and now at the University of Cape Town, South Africa) and coauthors from Hawaii, the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, University of Chicago, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, analyzed aqueously formed fayalite in the ordinary chondrite Elephant Moraine 90161 (L3.05) and in the carbonaceous chondrites Asuka 881317 (CV3) and MacAlpine Hills 88107 (CO3-like) from Antarctica. The data obtained indicate that liquid water existed - and aqueous alteration started - on the chondritic parent bodies about three million years earlier than previously determined. This discovery has implications for understanding when and where the asteroids accreted. The 53Mn-53Cr chronology of chondrite aqueous alteration, combined with thermodynamic calculations and physical modeling, signifies that hydrated asteroids, at least those sampled by meteorites, accreted in the inner Solar System (2-4 AU) near the main asteroid belt 2-4 million years after the beginning of the Solar System, rather than migrating inward after forming in the Solar System's colder, outer regions beyond Jupiter's present orbit (5-15 AU).

  18. Rapid Contamination During Storage of Carbonaceous Chondrites Prepared for Micro FTIR Measurements

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Kebukawa, Yoko; Nakashima, Satoru; Otsuka, Takahiro; Nakamura-Messenger, Keiko; Zolensky, ichael E.

    2008-01-01

    The carbonaceous chondrites Tagish Lake and Murchison, which contain abundant hydrous minerals, when pressed on aluminum plates and analyzed by micro FTIR, were found to have been contaminated during brief (24 hours) storage. This contamination occurred when the samples were stored within containers which included silicone rubber, silicone grease or adhesive tape. Long-path gas cell FTIR measurements for silicone rubber revealed the presence of contaminant volatile molecules having 2970 cm(sup -1) (CH3) and 1265 cm(sup -1) (Si-CH3) peaks. These organic contaminants are found to be desorbed by in-situ heating infrared measurements from room temperature to 200-300 C. Careful preparation and storage are therefore needed for precious astronomical samples such as meteorites, IDPs and mission returned samples from comets, asteroids and Mars, if useful for FTIR measurements are to be made.

  19. Hydrogen isotopes in lunar volcanic glasses and melt inclusions reveal a carbonaceous chondrite heritage.

    PubMed

    Saal, Alberto E; Hauri, Erik H; Van Orman, James A; Rutherford, Malcolm J

    2013-06-14

    Water is perhaps the most important molecule in the solar system, and determining its origin and distribution in planetary interiors has important implications for understanding the evolution of planetary bodies. Here we report in situ measurements of the isotopic composition of hydrogen dissolved in primitive volcanic glass and olivine-hosted melt inclusions recovered from the Moon by the Apollo 15 and 17 missions. After consideration of cosmic-ray spallation and degassing processes, our results demonstrate that lunar magmatic water has an isotopic composition that is indistinguishable from that of the bulk water in carbonaceous chondrites and similar to that of terrestrial water, implying a common origin for the water contained in the interiors of Earth and the Moon.

  20. Penecontemporaneous metamorphism, fragmentation, and reassembly of ordinary chondrite parent bodies

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Grimm, R. E.

    1985-01-01

    The thermal histories of ordinary chondrites and the canonical internal heating or onion shell models, which predict an inverse relation between the petrologic type of chondrites and the metallographic cooling rate, are reviewed. The thermal and accretional requirements of the 'metamorphosed planetesimal' model proposed by Scott and Rajan (1981) are analyzed, and an alternative model consistent with the metallographic cooling rate constraints is suggested in which ordinary chondrite parent bodies are collisionally fragmented and then rapidly reassembled before metamorphic heat has been dissipated.

  1. Water and ice in asteroids: Connections between asteroid observations and the chondritic meteorite record

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Schmidt, B.; Dyl, K.

    2014-07-01

    The mid-outer main belt is rich in possible parent bodies for the water-bearing carbonaceous chondrites, given their dark surfaces and frequent presence of hydrated minerals (e.g., Feierberg et al. 1985). Ceres (Thomas et al. 2005) and Pallas (Schmidt et al. 2009) possess shapes that indicate that these bodies have achieved hydrostatic equilibrium and may be differentiated (rock from ice). Dynamical calculations suggest asteroids formed rapidly to large sizes to produce the size frequency distribution within today's main belt (e.g., Morbidelli et al. 2009). Water-ice bound to organics has now been detected on the surface of Themis (Rivkin and Emery 2009, Campins et al. 2009), and indirect evidence for ice on many of the remaining family members, including main-belt comets (Hsieh & Jewitt 2006, Castillo-Rogez & Schmidt 2010), supports the theory that the ''C-class'' asteroids formed early and ice-rich. The carbonaceous chondrites represent a rich history of the thermal and aqueous evolution of early planetesimals (e.g., McSween 1979, Bunch and Chang, 1980, Zolensky and McSween 1988, Clayton 1993, Rowe et al., 1994). The composition of these meteorites reflects the timing and duration of water flow, as well as subsequent mineral alteration and isotopic evolution that can constrain temperature and water-rock ratios in which these systematics were set (e.g., Young et al. 1999, Dyl et al. 2012). Debate exists as to how the chemical and thermal consequences of fluid flow on carbonaceous chondrite parent bodies relate to parent-body characteristics: small, static water bodies (e.g., McSween 1979); small, convecting but homogeneous bodies (e.g., Young et al. 1999, 2003); or larger convecting bodies (e.g., Grimm and McSween 1989, Palguta et al. 2010). Heterogeneous thermal and aqueous evolution on larger asteroids that suggests more than one class of carbonaceous chondrite may be produced on the same body (e.g., Castillo-Rogez & Schmidt 2010, Elkins-Tanton et al. 2011

  2. Synchrotron Radiation XRD Analysis of Indialite in Y-82094 Ungrouped Carbonaceous Chondrite

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Mikouchi, T.; Hagiya, K.; Sawa, N.; Kimura, M.; Ohsumi, K.; Komatsu, M.; Zolensky, M.

    2016-01-01

    Y-82094 is an ungrouped type 3.2 carbonaceous chondrite, with abundant chondrules making 78 vol.% of the rock. Among these chondrules, an unusual porphyritic Al-rich magnesian chondrule is reported that consists of a cordierite-like phase, Al-rich orthopyroxene, cristobalite, and spinel surrounded by an anorthitic mesostasis. The reported chemical formula of the cordierite-like phase is Na(0.19)Mg(1.95)Fe(0.02)Al(3.66)Si(5.19)O18, which is close to stoichiometric cordierite (Mg2Al3[AlSi5O18]). Although cordierite can be present in Al-rich chondrules, it has a high temperature polymorph (indialite) and it is therefore necessary to determine whether it is cordierite or indialite in order to better constrain its formation conditions. In this abstract we report on our synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction (SR-XRD) study of the cordierite-like phase in Y-82094.

  3. Crystallography of Magnetite Plaquettes and their Significance as Asymmetric Catalysts for the Synthesis of Chiral Organics in Carbonaceous Chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Chan, Q. H. S.; Zolensky, M. E.

    2015-01-01

    We have previously observed the magnetite plaquettes in carbonaceous chondrites using scanning electron microscope (SEM) imaging, examined the crystal orientation of the polished surfaces of magnetite plaquettes in CI Orgueil using electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) analysis, and concluded that these magnetite plaquettes are likely naturally asymmetric materials. In this study, we expanded our EBSD observation to other magnetite plaquettes in Orgueil, and further examined the internal structure of these remarkable crystals with the use of X-ray computed microtomography.

  4. Actinide abundances in ordinary chondrites

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Hagee, B.; Bernatowicz, T.J.; Podosek, F.A.; Johnson, M.L.; Burnett, D.S.; Tatsumoto, M.

    1990-01-01

    Measurements of 244Pu fission Xe, U, Th, and light REE (LREE) abundances, along with modal petrographic determinations of phosphate abundances, were carried out on equilibrated ordinary chondrites in order to define better the solar system Pu abundance and to determine the degree of variation of actinide and LREE abundances. Our data permit comparison of the directly measured Pu/ U ratio with that determined indirectly as (Pu/Nd) ?? (Nd/U) assuming that Pu behaves chemically as a LREE. Except for Guaren??a, and perhaps H chondrites in general, Pu concentrations are similar to that determined previously for St. Se??verin, although less precise because of higher trapped Xe contents. Trapped 130Xe 136Xe ratios appear to vary from meteorite to meteorite, but, relative to AVCC, all are similar in the sense of having less of the interstellar heavy Xe found in carbonaceous chondrite acid residues. The Pu/U and Pu/Nd ratios are consistent with previous data for St. Se??verin, but both tend to be slightly higher than those inferred from previous data on Angra dos Reis. Although significant variations exist, the distribution of our Th/U ratios, along with other precise isotope dilution data for ordinary chondrites, is rather symmetric about the CI chondrite value; however, actinide/(LREE) ratios are systematically lower than the CI value. Variations in actinide or LREE absolute and relative abundances are interpreted as reflecting differences in the proportions and/or compositions of more primitive components (chondrules and CAI materials?) incorporated into different regions of the ordinary chondrite parent bodies. The observed variations of Th/U, Nd/U, or Ce/U suggest that measurements of Pu/U on any single equilibrated ordinary chondrite specimen, such as St. Se??verin, should statistically be within ??20-30% of the average solar system value, although it is also clear that anomalous samples exist. ?? 1990.

  5. Low-temperature aqueous alteration on the CR chondrite parent body: Implications from in situ oxygen-isotope analyses

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jilly-Rehak, Christine E.; Huss, Gary R.; Nagashima, Kazu; Schrader, Devin L.

    2018-02-01

    The presence of hydrated minerals in chondrites indicates that water played an important role in the geologic evolution of the early Solar System; however, the process of aqueous alteration is still poorly understood. Renazzo-like carbonaceous (CR) chondrites are particularly well-suited for the study of aqueous alteration. Samples range from being nearly anhydrous to fully altered, essentially representing snapshots of the alteration process through time. We studied oxygen isotopes in secondary-minerals from six CR chondrites of varying hydration states to determine how aqueous fluid conditions (including composition and temperature) evolved on the parent body. Secondary minerals analyzed included calcite, dolomite, and magnetite. The O-isotope composition of calcites ranged from δ18O ≈ 9 to 35‰, dolomites from δ18O ≈ 23 to 27‰, and magnetites from δ18O ≈ -18 to 5‰. Calcite in less-altered samples showed more evidence of fluid evolution compared to heavily altered samples, likely reflecting lower water/rock ratios. Most magnetite plotted on a single trend, with the exception of grains from the extensively hydrated chondrite MIL 090292. The MIL 090292 magnetite diverges from this trend, possibly indicating an anomalous origin for the meteorite. If magnetite and calcite formed in equilibrium, then the relative 18O fractionation between them can be used to extract the temperature of co-precipitation. Isotopic fractionation in Al Rais carbonate-magnetite assemblages revealed low precipitation temperatures (∼60 °C). Assuming that the CR parent body experienced closed-system alteration, a similar exercise for parallel calcite and magnetite O-isotope arrays yields "global" alteration temperatures of ∼55 to 88 °C. These secondary mineral arrays indicate that the O-isotopic composition of the altering fluid evolved upon progressive alteration, beginning near the Al Rais water composition of Δ17O ∼ 1‰ and δ18O ∼ 10‰, and becoming increasingly

  6. On the Relationship between Cosmic Ray Exposure Ages and Petrography of CM Chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Takenouchi, A.; Zolensky, M. E.; Nishiizumi, K.; Caffee, M.; Velbel, M. A.; Ross, K.; Zolensky, A.; Lee, L.; Imae, N.; Yamaguchi, A.; hide

    2014-01-01

    Carbonaceous (C) chondrites are potentially the most primitive among chondrites because they mostly escaped thermal metamorphism that affected the other chondrite groups. C chondrites are chemically distinguished from other chondrites by their high Mg/Si ratios and refractory elements, and have experienced various degrees of aqueous alteration. They are subdivided into eight subgroups (CI, CM, CO, CV, CK, CR, CB and CH) based on major element and oxygen isotopic ratios. Their elemental ratios vary over a wide range, in contrast to those of ordinary and enstatite chondrites which are relatively uniform. It is critical to know how many separate bodies are represented by the C chondrites. In this study we defined 4 distinct cosmic-ray exposure (CRE) age groups of CMs and systematically characterized the petrography in each of the 4 CRE age groups to determine whether the groups have significant petrographic differences with such differences probably reflecting different parent body (asteroid) geological processing, or multiple original bodies. We have reported the results of a preliminary grouping at the NIPR Symp. in 2013 [3], however, we revised the grouping and here report our new results.

  7. Effects of Microsecond Pulse Laser Irradiation on Vis-NIR Reflectance Spectrum of Carbonaceous Chondrite Simulant: Implications for Martian Moons and Primitive Asteroids

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hiroi, T.; Moroz, L. V.; Shingareva, T. V.; Basilevsky, A. T.; Pieters, M.

    2003-01-01

    Goal of this study is to make a progress in understanding the optical effects of space weathering on small bodies believed to be similar in composition to carbonaceous chondrites: C, G, B, F, T, D, and P asteroids and possibly Martian satellites Phobos and Deimos. The companion work focuses on petrological and mineralogical aspects of this process. One of the main factors of space weathering is meteorite and micrometeorite bombardment leading, in particular, to impact melting of components of the regolith. Studies of lunar regolith and laboratory experiments simulating impact melting show that the melting products differ from the unmelted material in mineralogy and distribution of chemical components among different phases that results in spectral changes. We simulate impact melting of CM chondrite by pulse laser irradiation of an artificial analog of such a meteorite. The analog is a mixture of 46 wt.% non-magnetic fraction of L5 ordinary chondrite Tsarev, 47 wt.% serpentine, 5 wt.% kerite, and 2 wt.% calcite. It simulates rather well bulk chemistry, including volatiles such as H2O and CO2, and only approximately the CM chondrite mineralogy. Thus, we do not expect the mixture to be spectrally similar to CM chondrites, but expect the laser melting products to be similar to those formed by impact melting of natural CM chondrites.

  8. Spectral evidence for amorphous silicates in least-processed CO meteorites and their parent bodies

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    McAdam, Margaret M.; Sunshine, Jessica M.; Howard, Kieren T.; Alexander, Conel M.; McCoy, Timothy J.; Bus, Schelte J.

    2018-05-01

    Least-processed carbonaceous chondrites (carbonaceous chondrites that have experienced minimal aqueous alteration and thermal metamorphism) are characterized by their predominately amorphous iron-rich silicate interchondrule matrices and chondrule rims. This material is highly susceptible to destruction by the parent body processes of thermal metamorphism or aqueous alteration. The presence of abundant amorphous material in a meteorite indicates that the parent body, or at least a region of the parent body, experienced minimal processing since the time of accretion. The CO chemical group of carbonaceous chondrites has a significant number of these least-processed samples. We present visible/near-infrared and mid-infrared spectra of eight least-processed CO meteorites (petrologic type 3.0-3.1). In the visible/near-infrared, these COs are characterized by a broad weak feature that was first observed by Cloutis et al. (2012) to be at 1.3-μm and attributed to iron-rich amorphous silicate matrix materials. This feature is observed to be centered at 1.4-μm for terrestrially unweathered, least-processed CO meteorites. At mid-infrared wavelengths, a 21-μm feature, consistent with Si-O vibrations of amorphous materials and glasses, is also present. The spectral features of iron-rich amorphous silicate matrix are absent in both the near- and mid-infrared spectra of higher metamorphic grade COs because this material has recrystallized as crystalline olivine. Furthermore, spectra of least-processed primitive meteorites from other chemical groups (CRs, MET 00426 and QUE 99177, and C2-ungrouped Acfer 094), also exhibit a 21-μm feature. Thus, we conclude that the 1.4- and 21-μm features are characteristic of primitive least-processed meteorites from all chemical groups of carbonaceous chondrites. Finally, we present an IRTF + SPeX observation of asteroid (93) Minerva that has spectral similarities in the visible/near-infrared to the least-processed CO carbonaceous chondrites

  9. Dark inclusions in CO3 chondrites: new indicators of parent-body processes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Itoh, Daisuke; Tomeoka, Kazushige

    2003-01-01

    A petrographic and scanning electron microscopic study of the four CO3 chondrites Kainsaz, Ornans, Lancé, and Warrenton reveals for the first time that dark inclusions (DIs) occur in all the meteorites. DIs are mostly smaller in size than those reported from CV3 chondrites. They show evidence suggesting that they were formed by aqueous alteration and subsequent dehydration of a chondritic precursor and so probably have a formation history similar to that of DIs in CV3 chondrites. DIs in the CO3 chondrites consist mostly of fine-grained, Fe-rich olivine and can be divided into two types on the basis of texture. Type I DIs contain rounded, porous aggregates of fine grains in a fine-grained matrix and have textures suggesting that they are fragments of chondrule pseudomorphs. Veins filled with Fe-rich olivine are common in type I DIs, providing evidence that they experienced aqueous alteration on the parent body. Type II DIs lack rounded porous aggregates and have a matrix-like, featureless texture. Bulk chemical compositions of DIs and mineralogical characteristics of olivine grains in DIs suggest that these two types of DIs have a close genetic relationship. The DIs are probably clasts that have undergone aqueous alteration and subsequent dehydration at a location different from the present location in the meteorites. The major element compositions, the mineralogy of metallic phases, and the widely dispersed nature of the DIs suggest that their precursor was CO chondrite material. The CO parent body has been commonly regarded to have been dry, homogeneous, and unprocessed. However, the DIs suggest that the CO parent body was a heterogeneous conglomerate consisting of water-bearing regions and water-free regions and that during asteroidal heating, the water-bearing regions were aqueously altered and subsequently dehydrated. Brecciation may also have been active in the parent body. The DIs and the matrices are similarly affected by thermal metamorphism in their own

  10. The Insoluble Carbonaceous Material of CM Chondrites as Possible Source of Discrete Organics During the Asteroidal Aqueous Phase

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Yabuta, H.; Williams, L.; Cody, G.; Pizzarello, S.

    2005-01-01

    The larger portion of the organic carbon in carbonaceous chondrites (CC) is present as a complex and heterogeneous macromolecular material that is insoluble in acids and most solvents (IOM). So far, it has been analyzed only as a whole by microscopy (TEM) and spectroscopy (IR, NMR, EPR), which have offered and overview of its chemical nature, bonding, and functional group composition. Chemical or pyrolytic decomposition has also been used in combination with GC-MS to identify individual compounds released by these processes. Their value in the recognition of the original IOM structure resides in the ability to properly interpret the decomposition pathways for any given process. We report here a preliminary study of IOM from the Murray meteorite that combines both the analytical approaches described above, under conditions that would realistically model the IOM hydrothermal exposure in the meteorite parent body. The aim is to document the possible release of water and solvent soluble organics, determine possible changes in NMR spectral features, and ascertain, by extension, the effect of this loss on the frame of the IOM residue. Additional information is included in the original extended abstract.

  11. A Raman Study of Carbonates and Organic Contents in Five CM Chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Chan, Q. H. S.; Zolensky, M. E.; Bodnar, R. J.; Farley, C.; Cheung, J. C. H.

    2016-01-01

    Carbonates comprise the second most abundant class of carbon-bearing phases in carbonaceous chondrites after organic matter (approximately 2 wt.%), followed by other C-bearing phases such as diamond, silicon carbide, and graphite. Therefore, understanding the abundances of carbonates and the associated organic matter provide critical insight into the genesis of major carbonaceous components in chondritic materials. Carbonates in CM chondrites mostly occur as calcite (of varying composition) and dolomite. Properly performed, Raman spectroscopy provides a non-destructive technique for characterizing meteorite mineralogy and organic chemistry. It is sensitive to many carbonaceous phases, allows the differentiation of organic from inorganic materials, and the interpretation of their spatial distribution. Here, with the use of Raman spectroscopy, we determine the structure of the insoluble organic matter (IOM) in the matrix and carbonate phases in five CM chondrites: Jbilet Winselwan, Murchison, Nogoya, Santa Cruz, and Wisconsin Range (WIS) 91600, and interpret the relative timing of carbonate precipitation and the extent of the associated alteration events.

  12. 40Ar/39Ar Ages of Carbonaceous Xenoliths in 2 HED Meteorites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Turrin, B.; Lindsay, F. N.; Park, J.; Herzog, G. F.; Delaney, J. S.; Swisher, C. C., III; Johnson, J.; Zolensky, M.

    2016-01-01

    The generally young K/Ar and 40Ar/39Ar ages of CM chondrites made us wonder whether carbonaceous xenoliths (CMX) entombed in Howardite–Eucrite–Diogenite (HED) meteorites might retain more radiogenic 40Ar than do ‘free-range’ CM-chondrites. To find out, we selected two HED breccias with carbonaceous inclusions in order to compare the 40Ar/39Ar release patterns and ages of the inclusions with those of nearby HED material. Carbonaceous inclusions (CMXs) in two HED meteorites lost a greater fraction of radiogenic 40Ar than did surrounding host material, but a smaller fraction of it than did free-range CM-chondrites such as Murchison or more heavily altered ones. Importantly, however, the siting of the CMXs in HED matrix did not prevent the 40Ar loss of about 40 percent of the radiogenic 40Ar, even from phases that degas at high laboratory temperatures. We infer that carbonaceous asteroids with perihelia of 1 astronomical unit probably experience losses of at least this size. The usefulness of 40Ar/39Ar dating for samples returned from C-type asteroids may hinge, therefore, on identifying and analyzing separately small quantities of the most retentive phases of carbonaceous chondrites.

  13. INAA of CAIs from the Maralinga CK4 chondrite: Effects of parent body thermal metamorphism

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Lindstrom, D. J.; Keller, L. P.; Martinez, R. R.

    1993-01-01

    Maralinga is an anomalous CK4 carbonaceous chondrite which contains numerous Ca-, Al-rich inclusions (CAI's) unlike the other members of the CK group. These CAI's are characterized by abundant green hercynitic spinel intergrown with plagioclase and high-Ca clinopyroxene, and a total lack of melilite. Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) was used to further characterize the meteorite, with special focus on the CAI's. High sensitivity INAA was done on eight sample disks about 100-150 microns in diameter obtained from a normal 30 micron thin section with a diamond microcoring device. The CAI's are enriched by 60-70X bulk meteorite values in Zn, suggesting that the substantial exchange of Fe for Mg that made the spinel in the CAI's hercynitic also allowed efficient scavenging of Zn from the rest of the meteorite during parent body thermal metamorphism. Less mobile elements appear to have maintained their initial heterogeneity.

  14. Thermal Studies of Ammonium Cyanide Reactions: A Model for Thermal Alteration of Prebiotic Compounds in Meteorite Parent Bodies

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hammer, P. G.; Locke, D. R.; Burton, A. S.; Callahan, M. P.

    2017-01-01

    Organic compounds in carbonaceous chondrites were likely transformed by a variety of parent body processes including thermal and aqueous processing. Here, we analyzed ammonium cyanide reactions that were heated at different temperatures and times by multiple analytical techniques. The goal of this study is to better understand the effect of hydrothermal alteration on cyanide chemistry, which is believed to be responsible for the abiotic synthesis of purine nucleobases and their structural analogs detected in carbonaceous chondrites.

  15. Bacterial Paleontology and Studies of Carbonaceous Chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Gerasimenko, L. M.; Hoover, Richard B.; Rozanov, Alexei Y.; Zhegallo, E. A.; Zhmur, S. I.

    1999-01-01

    The study of the fossilization processes of modern cyanobacteria provides insights needed to recognize bacterial microfossils. The fossilization of cyanobacteria is discussed and images of recent and fossil bacteria and cyanobacteria from the Early Proterozoic to Neogene carbonaceous rocks (kerites, shungites, and black shales) and phosphorites are provided. These are compared with biomorphic microstructures and possible microfossils encountered in-situ in carbonaceous meteorites.

  16. Rare-earth abundances in chondritic meteorites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Evensen, N. M.; Hamilton, P. J.; Onions, R. K.

    1978-01-01

    Fifteen chondrites, including eight carbonaceous chondrites, were analyzed for rare earth element abundances by isotope dilution. Examination of REE for a large number of individual chondrites shows that only a small proportion of the analyses have flat unfractionated REE patterns within experimental error. While some of the remaining analyses are consistent with magmatic fractionation, many patterns, in particular those with positive Ce anomalies, can not be explained by known magmatic processes. Elemental abundance anomalies are found in all major chondrite classes. The persistence of anomalies in chondritic materials relatively removed from direct condensational processes implies that anomalous components are resistant to equilibrium or were introduced at a late stage of chondrite formation. Large-scale segregation of gas and condensate is implied, and bulk variations in REE abundances between planetary bodies is possible.

  17. CI chondrite-like clasts in the Nilpena polymict ureilite - Implications for aqueous alteration processes in CI chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Brearley, Adrian J.; Prinz, Martin

    1992-01-01

    Petrographic studies of Nilpena polymict ureilite have revealed the presence of small quantities of carbonaceous chondrite matrix clasts. Detailed electron microprobe and TEM studies show that the chemistry and fine-scale mineralogy of one of these clasts is consistent with CI carbonaceous chondrite matrix. Compared to Orgeuil, the phyllosilicate, sulfide, and oxide mineralogy suggests that the Nilpena clasts may represent a less altered type of CI matrix. It is suggested that increased oxidation and aqueous alteration of Nilpena-type materials could result in the formation of the type of mineral assemblage observed in Orgueil. Increased alteration produces progressive more Mg-rich phyllosilicates and more Fe(3+)-rich iron oxides, such as ferrihydrite. As a function of increased alteration, Ca is also progressively leached from the matrix material to form carbonate veins. The depletion of Ca in CI chondrite matrices suggests the Ivuna and Alais may be intermediate in their degree of alteration to Nilpena and Orgueil.

  18. Workshop on Parent-Body and Nebular Modification of Chondritic Materials

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Krot, A. N. (Editor); Zolensky, M. E. (Editor); Scott, E. R. D. (Editor)

    1997-01-01

    The purpose of the workshop was to advance our understanding of solar nebula and asteroidal processes from studies of modification features in chondrites and interplanetary dust particles. As reflected in the program contained in this volume, the workshop included five regular sessions, a summary session, and a poster session. Twenty-three posters and 42 invited and contributed talks were presented. Part 1 of this report contains the abstracts of these presentations. The focus of the workshop included: (1) mineralogical, petrologic, chemical, and isotopic observations of the alteration mineralogy in interplanetary dust particles, ordinary and carbonaceous chondrites, and their components (Ca-Al-rich inclusions, chondrules, and matrix) to constrain the conditions and place of alteration; (2) sources of water in chondrites; (3) the relationship between aqueous alteration and thermal metamorphism; (4) short-lived radionuclides, AI-26, Mn-53, and I-129, as isotopic constraints on timing of alteration; (5) experimental and theoretical modeling of alteration reactions; and (6) the oxidation state of the solar nebula. There were approximately 140 participants at the workshop, probably due in part to the timeliness of the workshop goals and the workshop location. In the end few new agreements were achieved between warring factions, but new research efforts were forged and areas of fruitful future exploration were highlighted. Judged by these results, the workshop was successful.

  19. Hf-W chronology of CR chondrites: Implications for the timescales of chondrule formation and the distribution of 26Al in the solar nebula

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Budde, Gerrit; Kruijer, Thomas S.; Kleine, Thorsten

    2018-02-01

    solar protoplanetary disk. Taken together, the chemical, isotopic, and chronological data for components of CR chondrites imply a close temporal link between chondrule formation and chondrite accretion, indicating that the CR chondrite parent body is one of the youngest meteorite parent bodies. The relatively late accretion of the CR parent body is consistent with its isotopic composition (for instance the elevated 15N/14N) that suggests a formation at a larger heliocentric distance, probably beyond the orbit of Jupiter. As such, the accretion age of the CR chondrite parent body of ∼3.6 Ma after CAI formation provides the earliest possible time at which Jupiter's growth could have led to scattering of carbonaceous meteorite parent bodies from beyond its orbit into the inner solar system.

  20. Dehydration kinetics and thermochemistry of selected hydrous phases, and simulated gas release pattern in carbonaceous chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Bose, Kunal; Ganguly, J.

    1992-01-01

    As part of our continued program of study on the volatile bearing phases and volatile resource potential of carbonaceous chondrite, results of our experimental studies on the dehydration kinetics of talc as a function of temperature and grain size (50 to 0.5 microns), equilibrium dehydration boundary of talc to 40 kbars, calorimetric study of enthalpy of formation of both natural and synthetic talc as a function of grain size, and preliminary results on the dehydration kinetics of epsomite are reported. In addition, theoretical calculations on the gas release pattern of Murchison meteorite, which is a C2(CM) carbonaceous chondrite, were performed. The kinetic study of talc leads to a dehydration rate constant for 40-50 microns size fraction of k = (3.23 x 10(exp 4))exp(-Q/RT)/min with the activation energy Q = 376 (plus or minus 20) kJ/mole. The dehydration rate was found to increase somewhat with decreasing grain size. The enthalpy of formation of talc from elements was measured to be -5896(10) kJ/mol. There was no measurable effect of grain size on the enthalpy beyond the limits of precision of the calorimetric studies. Also the calorimetric enthalpy of both synthetic and natural talc was found to be essentially the same, within the precision of measurements, although the natural talc had a slightly larger field of stability in our phase equilibrium studies. The high pressure experimental data the dehydration equilibrium of talc (talc = enstatite + coesite + H2O) is in strong disagreement with that calculated from the available thermochemical data, which were constrained to fit the low pressure experimental results. The calculated gas release pattern of Murchison meteorite were in reasonable agreement with that determined by stepwise heating in a gas chromatograph.

  1. Refractory inclusions in the Ornans C30 chondrite

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Davis, A. M.

    1985-01-01

    Several types of metedorites contain unusual objects 10 micrometers to 2 centimeters across that are enriched in refractory elements such as calcium, aluminum and titanium. These objects, commonly known as refractory inclusions, are most abundant in the meteorites known as carbonaceous chondrites. The refractory inclusions that have been found in the Ornans metedorite, a member of a little-studied group of carbonaceous chondrites are described. Some refractory inclusions in Ornans resemble those found in other meteorites, while others are unlike any seen before. The unusual inclusions in Ornans contain minerals with extraordinary enrichments in highly refractory elements.

  2. C Chondrite Clasts in H Chondrite Regolith Breccias: Something Different

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Zolensky, M. E.; Fries, M.; Utas, J.; Chan, Q. H.-S.; Kebukawa, Y.; Steele, A.; Bodnar, R. J.; Ito, M.; Nakashima, D.; Greenwood, R.; hide

    2016-01-01

    Zag (H3-6) and Monahans (1998) (H5) are regolith breccias that contain 4.5 GY old halite crystals which in turn contain abundant inclusions of aqueous fluids, solids and organics [1-4]. We have previously proposed that these halites originated on a hydro-volcanically-active C-class asteroid, probably Ceres [3-7]. We have begun a detailed analysis of the included solids and organics and are re-examining the related carbonaceous (C)) chondrite clast we previously reported in Zag [5-7]. These new investigations will potentially reveal the mineralogy of asteroid Ceres. We report here on potentially identical C chondrite clasts in the H chondrite regolith breccias Tsukuba (H5-6) and Carancas (H4-5). The clast in Tsukuba was known before [8], but the Carancas clast is newly recognized.

  3. Enstatite chondrites and enstatite achondrites (aubrites) were not derived from the same parent body

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Brett, Robin; Keil, Klaus

    1986-01-01

    Enstatite achondrites (aubrites) were not derived from known enstatite chondrites by melting and fractionation on one and the same parent body, for these and other reasons: (1) There is no satisfactory mechanism for fractionating metal plus troilite in enstatite chondrites to form these phases in different proportions and with different Ti contents in aubrites. (2) Many enstatite chondrites and aubrites are regolith or fragmental breccias, but clasts of one within the other have not been found. (3) Cosmic ray exposure ages of the two groups are difficult to explain if they are from the same parent body, but are easy to explain if they are from different parent bodies. Siderophile element abundances in metal from the Mt. Egerton meteorite, which consists of enstatite and metallic Fe, Ni, preclude it from being a complementary differentiate of the aubrites. Rather, it appears that Mt. Egerton was formed from the same source material as enstatite chondrites, but the components were mixed in different proportions.

  4. Enstatite chondrites and enstatite achondrites (aubrites) were not derived from the same parent body

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Brett, R.; Keil, Klaus

    1986-01-01

    Enstatite achondrites (aubrites) were not derived from known enstatite chondrites by melting and fractionation on one and the same parent body, for these and other reasons: (1) There is no satisfactory mechanism for fractionating metal plus troilite in enstatite chondrites to form these phases in different proportions and with different Ti contents in aubrites. (2) Many enstatite chondrites and aubrites are regolith or fragmental breccias, but clasts of one within the other have not been found. (3) Cosmic ray exposure ages of the two groups are difficult to explain if they are from the same parent body, but are easy to explain if they are from different parent bodies. Siderophile element abundances in metal from the Mt. Egerton meteorite, which consists of enstatite and metallic Fe,Ni, preclude it from being a complementary differentiate of the aubrites. Rather, it appears that Mt. Egerton was formed from the same source material as enstatite chondrites, but the components were mixed in different proportions. ?? 1986.

  5. Oxygen isotopic ratios of primordial water in carbonaceous chondrites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fujiya, Wataru

    2018-01-01

    In this work, I estimate the δ18 O and δ17 O values of primordial water in CM chondrites to be 55 ± 13 and 35 ± 9‰, respectively, based on whole-rock O and H data. Also, I found that the O and/or H data of Antarctic meteorites are biased, which is attributed to terrestrial weathering. This characteristic O isotopic ratio of water together with corresponding water abundances in CM chondrites are consistent with the origin of water as ice processed by photochemical reactions at the outer regions of the solar nebula, where mass-independent O isotopic fractionation and water destruction may have occurred. Another possible mechanism to produce the inferred O isotopic ratio of water would be O isotopic fractionation between water vapor and ice, which likely occurred near the condensation front of H2O (snow line) in the solar nebula. The inferred O isotopic ratio of water suggests that carbonate in CM chondrites formed at low temperatures of <150 °C. The O isotopic ratios of primordial water in chondrites other than CM chondrites are not well constrained.

  6. Chondritic models of 4 Vesta: Implications for geochemical and geophysical properties

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Toplis, M. J.; Mizzon, H.; Monnereau, M.; Forni, O.; McSween, H. Y.; Mittlefehldt, D. W.; McCoy, T. J.; Prettyman, T. H.; De Sanctis, M. C.; Raymond, C. A.; Russell, C. T.

    2013-11-01

    Simple mass-balance and thermodynamic constraints are used to illustrate the potential geochemical and geophysical diversity of a fully differentiated Vesta-sized parent body with a eucrite crust (e.g., core size and density, crustal thickness). The results of this analysis are then combined with data from the howardite-eucrite-diogenite (HED) meteorites and the Dawn mission to constrain Vesta's bulk composition. Twelve chondritic compositions are considered, comprising seven carbonaceous, three ordinary, and two enstatite chondrite groups. Our analysis excludes CI and LL compositions as plausible Vesta analogs, as these are predicted to have a negative metal fraction. Second, the MELTS thermodynamic calculator is used to show that the enstatite chondrites, the CV, CK and L-groups cannot produce Juvinas-like liquids, and that even for the other groups, depletion in sodium is necessary to produce liquids of appropriate silica content. This conclusion is consistent with the documented volatile-poor nature of eucrites. Furthermore, carbonaceous chondrites are predicted to have a mantle too rich in olivine to produce typical howardites and to have Fe/Mn ratios generally well in excess of those of the HEDs. On the other hand, an Na-depleted H-chondrite bulk composition is capable of producing Juvinas-like liquids, has a mantle rich enough in pyroxene to produce abundant howardite/diogenite, and has a Fe/Mn ratio compatible with eucrites. In addition, its predicted bulk-silicate density is within 100 kg m-3 of solutions constrained by data of the Dawn mission. However, oxidation state and oxygen isotopes are not perfectly reproduced and it is deduced that bulk Vesta may contain approximately 25% of a CM-like component. Values for the bulk-silicate composition of Vesta and a preliminary phase diagram are proposed.

  7. Selective Disparity of Ordinary Chondritic Precursors in Micrometeorite Flux

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rudraswami, N. G.; Fernandes, D.; Naik, A. K.; Shyam Prasad, M.; Carrillo-Sánchez, J. D.; Plane, J. M. C.; Feng, W.; Taylor, S.

    2018-01-01

    All known extraterrestrial dust (micrometeoroids) entering the Earth’s atmosphere is anticipated to have a significant contribution from ordinary chondritic precursors, as seen in meteorites, but this is an apparent contradiction that needs to be addressed. Ordinary chondrites represent a minor contribution to the overall meteor influx compared to carbonaceous chondrites, which are largely dominated by CI and/or CM chondrites. However, the near-Earth asteroid population presents a scenario with sufficient scope for generation of dust-sized debris from ordinary chondritic sources. The bulk chemical composition of 3255 micrometeorites (MMs) collected from Antarctica and deep-sea sediments has shown Mg/Si largely dominated by carbonaceous chondrites, and less than 10% having ordinary chondritic precursors. The chemical ablation model is combined with different initial chondritic compositions (CI, CV, L, LL, H), and the results clearly indicate that high-density (≥2.8 g cm‑3) precursors, such as CV and ordinary chondrites in the size range 100–700 μm and zenith angle 0°–70°, ablate at much faster rates and lose their identity even before reaching the Earth’s surface and hence are under-represented in our collections. Moreover, their ability to survive as MMs remains grim for high-velocity micrometeoroids (>16 km s‑1). The elemental ratio for CV and ordinary chondrites are also similar to each other irrespective of the difference in the initial chemical composition. In conclusion, MMs belonging to ordinary chondritic precursors’ concentrations may not be insignificant in thermosphere, as they are found on Earth’s surface.

  8. Cosmic-ray exposure ages of the ordinary chondrites and their significance for parent body stratigraphy

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Crabb, J.; Schultz, L.

    1981-01-01

    Improved exposure ages are derived for 201 H, 203 L, and 38 LL chondrites in an effort to understand the characteristics of the chondrite parent body. The Ne-21 exposure ages were calculated from literature values taking into account shielding differences, a trapped component and radiogenic He. The exposure age distributions show clear peaks at 4.5 and 20 million years for the H chondrites, while the Ls and LLs appear more as a continuous series of intermediate peaks which may be modeled by at least six peaks between 1 and 35 million years in the case of L chondrites. The observations that every petrological type occurs in each large peak and contain solar wind gases suggest that the parent bodies have been fragmented and reassembled into a megabreccia. The H meteorites are proposed to represent the surface layer of a body with a substantial, active regolith as indicated by the relatively high abundances of solar gases. The L chondrites, on the other hand, are attributed to a parent body that was fragmented by collision about 500 million years ago.

  9. Could G Asteroids be the Parent Bodies of the CM Chondrites?

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Burbine, T. H.; Binzel, R. P.

    1995-09-01

    Since almost all meteorites are believed to be derived from asteroidal source bodies, the comparison of asteroid and meteorite spectra should allow for possible meteorite parent bodies to be identified. However only two asteroids with unique spectral characteristics, 4 Vesta with the basaltic achondrites [1] and near-Earth asteroid 3103 Eger with the aubrites [2], have been convincingly linked with any meteorite type. Farinella et al. [3] has done a study of 2355 numbered main-belt asteroids to determine which asteroids have the highest probability of having their fragments injected into the 3:1 mean motion and the nu6 secular resonance regions. Interestingly, asteroids with the third (19 Fortuna), tenth (1 Ceres) and eleventh (13 Egeria) highest theoretical total fragment delivery efficiencies are G-asteroids, a moderately rare type of asteroid with approximately ten known members. (Vesta has the fifth highest theoretical total fragment delivery efficiency.) G-asteroids tend to have the strongest ultraviolet, 0.7 micrometers and 3 micrometers absorption features of all C-type (B, C, F and G) asteroids, appearing to indicate that G-asteroids are at the upper range of the aqueous alteration sequence in the asteroid population. (The 0.7 micrometers feature is apparently due to iron oxides in hydrated silicates and the 3 micrometers feature is apparently due to hydrated minerals.) Meteorites that have reflectance spectra with a 3 micrometers feature of comparable intensity to those of the G-asteroids are the CI, CM and CR chondrites. However, G-asteroids (like all C-types) have ultraviolet absorption features that are weaker than previously measured meteorite spectra. Comparisons of reflectance spectra between Ceres and meteorite samples appear to indicate that Ceres is compositionally different from almost all known carbonaceous chondrites. Both Fortuna and Egeria have an absorption feature centered around 0.7 micrometers [4] that is similar in structure and strength

  10. Nepheline and sodalite in chondrules of the Ningqiang carbonaceous chondrite: Implications for a genetic relationship with those in the matrix

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Matsumoto, Megumi; Tomeoka, Kazushige; Seto, Yusuke

    2017-07-01

    Ningqiang is an ungrouped carbonaceous chondrite that has a chemical and mineralogical affinity to CV3 chondrites. The Ningqiang matrix has distinctly higher abundances of Na, K, and Al than CV3 matrices. A recent study by Matsumoto et al. (2014) revealed that the major proportions of these elements can be attributed to the presence of nepheline and sodalite. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that all of the Ningqiang chondrules studied show abundant evidence of extensive Na-Fe metasomatism. Only a small proportion of the chondrules contain primary mesostases in their cores, but the mesostases in their mantles were replaced by fine grains of nepheline, sodalite, Fe-rich olivine, and hedenbergite. The mesostases in the majority of the chondrules were completely replaced by fine grains of the same secondary minerals. Most opaque nodules were also largely replaced by various fine-grained secondary minerals. Nepheline/sodalite form veins penetrating the primary mesostases, providing evidence that aqueous fluids were involved in the alteration reactions. The nepheline/sodalite in the mesostases contain various amounts of inclusions of Fe-rich olivine, diopside, hedenbergite, Fe sulfides, and magnetite. The mineralogical features of the nepheline/sodalite in the mesostases are almost identical to those in the meteorite matrix. These results suggest that a significant fraction of the nepheline/sodalite grains in the Ningqiang matrix originated from the nepheline/sodalite produced in chondrules and refractory inclusions and that they were disaggregated and mixed into the matrix. These processes can be explained consistently by the model of the dynamic formation of chondrite lithology in a parent body proposed by Tomeoka and Ohnishi (2015). We suggest that after a Ningqiang precursor with a CV3-like lithology was metasomatized, it was fragmented, causing the disaggregation of the fine-grained host matrix and the fine-grained altered mesostases, including nepheline

  11. Carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen isotopes in solvent-extractable organic matter from carbonaceous chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Becker, R. H.; Epstein, S.

    1982-01-01

    CCl4 and CH3OH solvent extractions were performed on the Murray, Murchison, Orgueil and Renazzo carbonaceous chondrites. Delta-D values of +300-+500% are found in the case of the CH3OH-soluble organic matter. The combined C, H and N isotope data makes it unlikely that the CH3OH-soluble components are derivable from, or simply related to, the insoluble organic polymer found in the same meteorites. A relation between the event that formed hydrous minerals in CI1 and CM2 meteorites and the introduction of water- and methanol-soluble organic compounds is suggested. Organic matter soluble in CCl4 has no N, and delta-C-13 values are lower than for CH3OH-soluble phases. It is concluded that there either are large isotopic fractionations for carbon and hydrogen between different soluble organic phases, or the less polar components are partially of terrestrial origin.

  12. Carbonaceous Chondrite Meteorites: the Chronicle of a Potential Evolutionary Path between Stars and Life

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pizzarello, Sandra; Shock, Everett

    2017-09-01

    The biogenic elements, H, C, N, O, P and S, have a long cosmic history, whose evolution can still be observed in diverse locales of the known universe, from interstellar clouds of gas and dust, to pre-stellar cores, nebulas, protoplanetary discs, planets and planetesimals. The best analytical window into this cosmochemical evolution as it neared Earth has been provided so far by the small bodies of the Solar System, some of which were not significantly altered by the high gravitational pressures and temperatures that accompanied the formation of larger planets and may carry a pristine record of early nebular chemistry. Asteroids have delivered such records, as their fragments reach the Earth frequently and become available for laboratory analyses. The Carbonaceous Chondrite meteorites (CC) are a group of such fragments with the further distinction of containing abundant organic materials with structures as diverse as kerogen-like macromolecules and simpler compounds with identical counterparts in Earth's biosphere. All have revealed a lineage to cosmochemical synthetic regimes. Several CC show that asteroids underwent aqueous alteration of their minerals or rock metamorphism but may yet yield clues to the reactivity of organic compounds during parent-body processes, on asteroids as well as larger ocean worlds and planets. Whether the exogenous delivery by meteorites held an advantage in Earth's molecular evolution remains an open question as many others regarding the origins of life are. Nonetheless, the natural samples of meteorites allow exploring the physical and chemical processes that might have led to a selected chemical pool amenable to the onset of life. [Figure not available: see fulltext.

  13. Carbonaceous Chondrite Meteorites: the Chronicle of a Potential Evolutionary Path between Stars and Life.

    PubMed

    Pizzarello, Sandra; Shock, Everett

    2017-09-01

    The biogenic elements, H, C, N, O, P and S, have a long cosmic history, whose evolution can still be observed in diverse locales of the known universe, from interstellar clouds of gas and dust, to pre-stellar cores, nebulas, protoplanetary discs, planets and planetesimals. The best analytical window into this cosmochemical evolution as it neared Earth has been provided so far by the small bodies of the Solar System, some of which were not significantly altered by the high gravitational pressures and temperatures that accompanied the formation of larger planets and may carry a pristine record of early nebular chemistry. Asteroids have delivered such records, as their fragments reach the Earth frequently and become available for laboratory analyses. The Carbonaceous Chondrite meteorites (CC) are a group of such fragments with the further distinction of containing abundant organic materials with structures as diverse as kerogen-like macromolecules and simpler compounds with identical counterparts in Earth's biosphere. All have revealed a lineage to cosmochemical synthetic regimes. Several CC show that asteroids underwent aqueous alteration of their minerals or rock metamorphism but may yet yield clues to the reactivity of organic compounds during parent-body processes, on asteroids as well as larger ocean worlds and planets. Whether the exogenous delivery by meteorites held an advantage in Earth's molecular evolution remains an open question as many others regarding the origins of life are. Nonetheless, the natural samples of meteorites allow exploring the physical and chemical processes that might have led to a selected chemical pool amenable to the onset of life. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.

  14. The Nature of C Asteroid Regolith Revealed from the Jbilet Winselwan CM Chondrite

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Zolensky, Michael; Mikouchi, Takashi; Hagiya, Kenji; Ohsumi, Kazumasa; Komatsu, Mutsumi; Chan, Queenie H. S.; Le, Loan; Kring, David; Cato, Michael; Fagan, Amy L.

    2016-01-01

    C-class asteroids frequently exhibit reflectance spectra consistent with thermally metamorphosed carbonaceous chondrites, or a mixture of phyllosilicate-rich material along with regions where they are absent. One particularly important example appears to be asteroid 162173 Ryugu, the target of the Hayabusa 2 mission, although most spectra of Ryugu are featureless, suggesting a heterogeneous regolith. Here we explore an alternative cause of dehydration of regolith of C-class asteroids - impact shock melting. Impact shock melting has been proposed to ex-plain some mineralogical characteristics of CB chondrites, but has rarely been considered a major process for hydrous carbonaceous chondrites.

  15. Evidence for Impact Shock Melting in CM and CI Chondrite Regolith Samples

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Zolensky, Michael; Mikouchi, Takashi; Hagiya, Kenji; Ohsumi, Kazumasa; Komatsu, Mutsumi; Le, Loan

    2014-01-01

    C class asteroids frequently exhibit reflectance spectra consistent with thermally metamorphosed carbonaceous chondrites, or a mixture of phyllosilicate-rich material along with regions where they are absent. One particularly important example appears to be near-Earth asteroid 1999 JU3, the target of the Hayabusa II sample return mission [1], although not all spectra indicate this. In fact most spectra of 1999 JU3 are featureless, suggesting a heterogeneous regolith. Here we explore an alternative cause of dehydration of regolith of C class asteroids - impact shock melting. Impact shock melting has been proposed to explain some mineralogical characteristics of CB chondrites, but has not been considered a major process for hydrous carbonaceous chondrites. What evidence is there for significant shock melting in the very abundant CMs, or less abundant but still important CI chondrites?

  16. Ultra-Refractory Calcium-Aluminum-Rich Inclusion in an AOA in CR Chondrite Yamato-793261

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Komatsu, M.; Fagan, T. J.; Yamaguchi, A.; Mikouchi, T.; Yasutake, M.; Zolensky, M. E.

    2017-01-01

    CR chondrites are a group of primitive carbonaceous chondrites that preserve nebular records of the formation conditions of their components. We have been investigating a set of Antarctic CR chondrites from the Japanese-NIPR collection in order to study variations within this group. During our study, we have found an AOA that encloses an ultrarefractory (UR) CAI in Yamato-793261 (Y-793261). UR CAIs are rare in carbonaceous chondrites, and only three UR CAIs in AOAs have been identified so far. UR CAIs can provide information on crystallization processes at very high temperatures in the solar nebula. Here we describe the petrology of Y-793261, and preliminary results on this newly discovered AOA enclosing a UR CAI.

  17. Were chondrites magnetized by the early solar wind?

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Oran, Rona; Weiss, Benjamin P.; Cohen, Ofer

    2018-06-01

    Chondritic meteorites have been traditionally thought to be samples of undifferentiated bodies that never experienced large-scale melting. This view has been challenged by the existence of post-accretional, unidirectional natural remanent magnetization (NRM) in CV carbonaceous chondrites. The relatively young inferred NRM age [∼10 million years (My) after solar system formation] and long duration of NRM acquisition (1-106 y) have been interpreted as evidence that the magnetizing field was that of a core dynamo within the CV parent body. This would imply that CV chondrites represent the primitive crust of a partially differentiated body. However, an alternative hypothesis is that the NRM was imparted by the early solar wind. Here we demonstrate that the solar wind scenario is unlikely due to three main factors: 1) the magnitude of the early solar wind magnetic field is estimated to be <0.1 μT in the terrestrial planet-forming region, 2) the resistivity of chondritic bodies limits field amplification due to pile-up of the solar wind to less than a factor of 3.5 times that of the instantaneous solar wind field, and 3) the solar wind field likely changed over timescales orders of magnitude shorter than the timescale of NRM acquisition. Using analytical arguments, numerical simulations and astronomical observations of the present-day solar wind and magnetic fields of young stars, we show that the maximum mean field the ancient solar wind could have imparted on an undifferentiated CV parent body is <3.5 nT, which is 3-4 and 3 orders of magnitude weaker than the paleointensities recorded by the CV chondrites Allende and Kaba, respectively. Therefore, the solar wind is highly unlikely to be the source of the NRM in CV chondrites. Nevertheless, future high sensitivity paleomagnetic studies of rapidly-cooled meteorites with high magnetic recording fidelity could potentially trace the evolution of the solar wind field in time.

  18. Early Archean Spherule Beds: Chromium Isotopes Confirm Origin Through Multiple Impacts of Projectiles of Carbonaceous Chondrite Type

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Kyte, Frank T.; Shukolyukov, Alex; Lugmair, Guenter W.; Lowe, Donald R.; Byerly, Gary R.

    2003-01-01

    Three Early Archean spherule beds from Barberton, South Africa, have anomalous Cr isotope compositions in addition to large Ir anomalies, confirming the presence of meteoritic material with a composition similar to that in carbonaceous chondrites. The extra-terrestrial components in beds S2, S3, and S4 are estimated to be approx. l%, 50% - 60%, and 15% - 30%, respectively. These beds are probably the distal, and possibly global, ejecta from major large-body impacts. These impacts were probably much larger than the Cretaceous-Tertiary event, and all occurred over an interval of approx. 20 m.y., implying an impactor flux at 3.2 Ga that was more than an order of magnitude greater than the present flux.

  19. Ultrafine-grained mineralogy and matrix chemistry of olivine-rich chondritic interplanetary dust particles

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Rietmeijer, F. J. M.

    1989-01-01

    Olivine-rich chondritic interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) are an important subset of fluffy chondritic IDPs collected in the earth's stratosphere. Particles in this subset are characterized by a matrix of nonporous, ultrafine-grained granular units. Euhedral single crystals, crystals fragments, and platey single crystals occur dispersed in the matrix. Analytical electron microscopy of granular units reveals predominant magnesium-rich olivines and FeNi-sulfides embedded in amorphous carbonaceous matrix material. The variable ratio of ultrafine-grained minerals vs. carbonaceous matrix material in granular units support variable C/Si ratios, and some fraction of sulfur is associated with carbonaceous matrix material. The high Mg/(Mg+Fe) ratios in granular units is similar to this distribution in P/Comet Halley dust. The chondritic composition of fine-grained, polycrystalline IDPs gradually breaks down into nonchondritic, and ultimately, single mineral compositions as a function of decreased particle mass. The relationship between particle mass and composition in the matrix of olivine-rich chondritic IDPs is comparable with the relationship inferred for P/Comet Halley dust.

  20. Comparison of Nickel XANES Spectra and Elemental Maps from a Ureilite, a LL3.8 Ordinary Chondrite, Two Carbonaceous Chondrites and Two Large Cluster IDPs

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Wirick, S.; Flynn, G. J.; Sutton, S.; Zolensky, M. E.

    2014-01-01

    Nickel in the extraterrestrial world is commonly found in both Fe-Ni sulfide and Fe-Ni met-al forms [1] and in the pure metal state in the interior of iron meteorites where it is not easily oxidized. Ni is also found in olivine, pyroxene and glasses and in some melts the partitioning of Ni between the olivines and glass is controlled by the amount of S in the melt [2]. Its most common valence state is Ni(2+) but Ni also occurs as Ni(0), Ni(+), and Ni(3+) and rarely as Ni(2-), Ni(1-) and Ni(4+) [3]. It's valence state in olivines is Ni(2+) in octa-hedral coordination on the M1 site and rarely on the M2 site.[4]. The chemical sensitivity of X-ray absorp-tion near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy is well established and can be used to determine not only va-lence states but also coordination sites [5]. We report here Ni XANES spectroscopy and elemental maps collected from 2 carbonaceous chondrites, 2 large clus-ter IDPs, 1 ureilite and 1 LL3 orginary chondrite.Using XANES it may be possible to find a common trait in the large cluster IDPs that will also be found in mete-orite samples.

  1. Carbonaceous structures in the Tissint Martian Meteorite: evidence of a biogenetic origin

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wallis, Jamie; Wickramasinghe, N. C.; Wallis, Daryl H.; Miyake, Nori; Wallis, M. K.; Hoover, Richard B.

    2015-09-01

    We report for the first time in situ observations of 5-50μm spherical carbonaceous structures in the Tissint Martian meteorite comprising of pyrite (FeS2) cores and carbonaceous outer coatings. The structures are characterized as smooth immiscible spheres with curved boundaries occasionally following the contours of the pyrite inclusion. The structures bear striking resemblance to similar-sized immiscible carbonaceous spheres found in hydrothermal calcite vein deposits in the Mullaghwornia Quarry in central Ireland. Similar structures have been reported in Proterozoic and Ordovician sandstones from Canada as well as in a variety of astronomical sources including carbonaceous chondrites, chondritic IDPs and primitive chondritic meteorites. SEM and X-Ray elemental mapping confirmed the presence of organic carbon filling the crack and cleavage space in the pyroxene substrate, with further evidence of pyrite acting as an attractive substrate for the collection of organic matter. The detection of precipitated carbon collecting around pyrite grains is at variance with an igneous origin as proposed for the reduced organic component in Tissint, and is more consistent with a biogenetic origin.

  2. Raman Spectrum of Quenched Carbonaceous Composites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Wada, S.; Hayashi, S.; Miyaoka, H.; Tokunaga, A. T.

    1996-01-01

    Quenched Carbonaceous Composites (QCC's) are products from the ejecta of a hydrocarbon plasma. Two types of QCC, dark QCC and thermally-altered (heated) filmy QCC, have been shown to have a 220 nm absorption feature similar to that seen in the interstellar extinction curve. We present here Raman spectra of the QCCs and compare them with various carbonaceous materials to better understand the structure QCC. We find that structure of QCC is different from that of graphite and more similar to carbonaceous material found in some interplanetary dust particles and chondritic meteorites.

  3. A history of violence: Insights into post-accretionary heating in carbonaceous chondrites from volatile element abundances, Zn isotopes and water contents

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mahan, Brandon; Moynier, Frédéric; Beck, Pierre; Pringle, Emily A.; Siebert, Julien

    2018-01-01

    Carbonaceous chondrites (CCs) may have been the carriers of water, volatile and moderately volatile elements to Earth. Investigating the abundances of these elements, their relative volatility, and isotopes of state-change tracer elements such as Zn, and linking these observations to water contents, provide vital information on the processes that govern the abundances and isotopic signatures of these species in CCs and other planetary bodies. Here we report Zn isotopic data for 28 CCs (20 CM, 6 CR, 1 C2-ung, and 1 CV3), as well as trace element data for Zn, In, Sn, Tl, Pb, and Bi in 16 samples (8 CM, 6 CR, 1 C2-ung, and 1 CV3), that display a range of elemental abundances from case-normative to intensely depleted. We use these data, water content data from literature and Zn isotopes to investigate volatile depletions and to discern between closed and open system heating. Trace element data have been used to construct relative volatility scales among the elements for the CM and CR chondrites. From least volatile to most, the scale in CM chondrites is Pb-Sn-Bi-In-Zn-Tl, and for CR chondrites it is Tl-Zn-Sn-Pb-Bi-In. These observations suggest that heated CM and CR chondrites underwent volatile loss under different conditions to one another and to that of the solar nebula, e.g. differing oxygen fugacities. Furthermore, the most water and volatile depleted samples are highly enriched in the heavy isotopes of Zn. Taken together, these lines of evidence strongly indicate that heated CM and CR chondrites incurred open system heating, stripping them of water and volatiles concomitantly, during post-accretionary shock impact(s).

  4. Establishing a molecular relationship between chondritic and cometary organic solids

    PubMed Central

    Cody, George D.; Heying, Emily; Alexander, Conel M. O.; Nittler, Larry R.; Kilcoyne, A. L. David; Sandford, Scott A.

    2011-01-01

    Multidimensional solid-state NMR spectroscopy is used to refine the identification and abundance determination of functional groups in insoluble organic matter (IOM) isolated from a carbonaceous chondrite (Murchison, CM2). It is shown that IOM is composed primarily of highly substituted single ring aromatics, substituted furan/pyran moieties, highly branched oxygenated aliphatics, and carbonyl groups. A pathway for producing an IOM-like molecular structure through formaldehyde polymerization is proposed and tested experimentally. Solid-state 13C NMR analysis of aqueously altered formaldehyde polymer reveals considerable similarity with chondritic IOM. Carbon X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy of formaldehyde polymer reveals the presence of similar functional groups across certain Comet 81P/Wild 2 organic solids, interplanetary dust particles, and primitive IOM. Variation in functional group concentration amongst these extraterrestrial materials is understood to be a result of various degrees of processing in the parent bodies, in space, during atmospheric entry, etc. These results support the hypothesis that chondritic IOM and cometary refractory organic solids are related chemically and likely were derived from formaldehyde polymer. The fine-scale morphology of formaldehyde polymer produced in the experiment reveals abundant nanospherules that are similar in size and shape to organic nanoglobules that are ubiquitous in primitive chondrites. PMID:21464292

  5. Detection of serpentine in exogenic carbonaceous chondrite material on Vesta from Dawn FC data

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nathues, Andreas; Hoffmann, Martin; Cloutis, Edward A.; Schäfer, Michael; Reddy, Vishnu; Christensen, Ulrich; Sierks, Holger; Thangjam, Guneshwar Singh; Le Corre, Lucille; Mengel, Kurt; Vincent, Jean-Baptist; Russell, Christopher T.; Prettyman, Tom; Schmedemann, Nico; Kneissl, Thomas; Raymond, Carol; Gutierrez-Marques, Pablo; Hall, Ian; Büttner, Irene

    2014-09-01

    The Dawn mission’s Framing Camera (FC) observed Asteroid (4) Vesta in 2011 and 2012 using seven color filters and one clear filter from different orbits. In the present paper we analyze recalibrated HAMO color cubes (spatial resolution ∼60 m/pixel) with a focus on dark material (DM). We present a definition of highly concentrated DM based on spectral parameters, subsequently map the DM across the Vestan surface, geologically classify DM, study its spectral properties on global and local scales, and finally, compare the FC in-flight color data with laboratory spectra. We have discovered an absorption band centered at 0.72 μm in localities of DM that show the lowest albedo values by using FC data as well as spectral information from Dawn’s imaging spectrometer VIR. Such localities are contained within impact-exposed outcrops on inner crater walls and ejecta material. Comparisons between spectral FC in-flight data, and laboratory spectra of meteorites and mineral mixtures in the wavelength range 0.4-1.0 μm, revealed that the absorption band can be attributed to the mineral serpentine, which is typically present in CM chondrites. Dark material in its purest form is rare on Vesta’s surface and is distributed globally in a non-uniform manner. Our findings confirm the hypothesis of an exogenic origin of the DM by the infall of carbonaceous chondritic material, likely of CM type. It further confirms the hypothesis that most of the DM was deposited by the Veneneia impact.

  6. Magnetite as Possible Template for the Synthesis of Chiral Organics in Carbonaceous Chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Chan, Q. H. S.; Zolensky, M. E.

    2014-01-01

    The main goal of the Japanese Aerospace Ex-ploration Agency (JAXA) Hayabusa-2 mission is to visit and return to Earth samples of a C-type asteroid (162173) 1999 JU3 in order to understand the origin and nature of organic materials in the Solar System. Life on Earth shows preference towards the set of organics with particular spatial arrangements, this 'selectivity' is a crucial criterion for life. With only rare exceptions, life 'determines' to use the left- (L-) form over the right- (D-) form of amino acids, resulting in a L-enantiomeric excess (ee). Recent studies have shown that L-ee is found within the alpha-methyl amino acids in meteorites [1, 2], which are amino acids with rare terrestrial occurrence, and thus point towards a plausible abiotic origin for ee. One of the proposed origins of chiral asymmetry of amino acids in meteorites is their formation with the presence of asymmetric catalysts [3]. The catalytic mineral grains acted as a surface at which nebular gases (CO, H2 and NH3) were allowed to condense and react through Fisher Tropsch type (FTT) syntheses to form the organics observed in meteorites [4]. Magnetite is shown to be an effective catalyst of the synthesis of amino acids that are commonly found in meteorites [5]. It has also taken the form as spiral magnetites (a.k.a. 'plaquettes'), which were found in various carbonaceous chondrites (CCs), including C2s Tagish Lake and Esseibi, CI Orgueil, and CR chondrites [e.g., 6, 7, 8]. In addition, L-ee for amino acids are common in the aqueously altered CCs, as opposed to the unaltered CCs [1]. It seems possible that the synthesis of amino acids with chiral preferences is correlated to the alteration process experienced by the asteroid parent body, and related to the configuration of spiral magnetite catalysts. Since C-type asteroids are considered to be enriched in organic matter, and the spectral data of 1999 JU3 indicates a certain de-gree of aqueous alteration [9], the Hayabusa-2 mission serves as

  7. The identification of group II inclusions in carbonaceous chondrites by electron probe microanalysis of perovskite

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Kornacki, A. S.; Wood, J. A.

    1985-01-01

    The technique developed by Kornacki (1984) for identifying group II Ca/Al-rich inclusions in carbonaceous chondrites by electron-microprobe analysis of the ZrO2 or Y2O3 content of their perovskite component is demonstrated using material from 20 Allende inclusions. The results are presented in tables and graphs and compared with findings obtained by other procedures. Group II inclusions are found to have perovskites generally containing less than 0.10 wt pct ZrO2 and/or Y2O3 (average of several grains), while those of groups I, III, V, and VI have more than 0.25 wt pct ZrO2. Analysis of data on eight Allende Ca/Al-rich inclusions shows that 75 percent of the fine-grained inclusions belong to group II. The implications of these findings for fractionation processes in the primitive solar nebula are indicated.

  8. Weakly shocked and deformed CM microxenoliths in the Pułtusk H chondrite

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    KrzesińSka, Agata; Fritz, JöRg

    2014-04-01

    The Pułtusk meteorite is a brecciated H4-5 chondrite cut by darkened cataclastic zones. Within the breccia, relict type IA, IB, and IIA chondrules, and microxenoliths of carbonaceous CM chondrite lithology occur. This is the first description of foreign clasts in the Pułtusk meteorite. The matrix of the xenoliths was identified by usage of microprobe and Raman spectroscopic analyses. Raman spectra show distinct bands related to the presence of slightly ordered carbonaceous matter at approximately 1320 and 1580-1584 cm-1. Bands related to serpentine group minerals are also visible, especially a peak at 692 cm-1 and moreover other weak bands are interpreted as evidence for tochilinite. We decipher the metamorphic and deformational history of the xenoliths. They experienced aqueous alteration before being incorporated into the unaltered and well-equilibrated parent rock of the Pułtusk chondrite. The xenoliths are weakly shocked as indicated by defects in the crystal structure of silicates and carbonates, but hydrated minerals (serpentine and tochilinite) are still present in the matrix. The carbonaceous matter within the clasts' matrix displays first order D and G Raman bands that suggests it is only slightly ordered as a result of mild thermal processing. Distinct shear bands are present in both the xenoliths and the surrounding rock, which testifies that the xenoliths were affected by a deformational event along with host rock. The host rock was brittly deformed, but the clasts experienced more ductile deformation revealed by semibrittle faulting of minerals, kinking of the tochilinite-cronstedtite matrix, and injections of xenolithic material into the adjacent breccia. We argue that both processes, the high strain-rate shear deformation and the incorporation of the xenoliths into the host Pułtusk breccia, could have been impact-related. The Pułtusk xenoliths are, thus, rather spalled collisional fragments, than trapped fossil micrometeorites.

  9. Ubiquitous Exsolution of Pentlandite and Troilite in Pyrrhotite from the TIL 91722 CM2 Carbonaceous Chondrite: A Record of Low Temperature Solid State Processes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Brearley, A. J.; Martinez, C.

    2010-03-01

    SEM and TEM studies show that submicron exsolution of pentlandite and troilite occurred at very low temperatures in pyrrhotite in the TIL 91722 CM2 chondrite. The exsolution occurred below 373K on the CM chondrite parent body.

  10. Diversity in C-Xanes Spectra Obtained from Carbonaceous Solid Inclusions from Monahans Halite

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Kebukawa, Y.; Zolensky, M. E.; Fries, M.; Kilcoyne, A. L. D.; Rahman, Z.; Cody, G. D.

    2014-01-01

    . The natures of the macromolecular carbon in the solid inclusions observed by C-XANES are consistent with the previous studies showing that the carbonaceous solid inclusions have not originated from Monahans parent body [1-3], and have various origins, including various chondritic meteorite parent bodies as well as other unknown source(s).

  11. The Cooling History and Structure of the Ordinary Chondrite Parent Bodies

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Benoit, P. H.; Sears, D. W. G.

    1996-01-01

    Most major meteorite classes exhibit significant ranges of metamorphism. The effects of metamorphism have been extensively characterized, but the heat source(s) and the metamorphic environment are unknown. Proposed beat sources include Al-26, Fe-60, electromagnetic induction, and impact. It is typically assumed that metamorphism occurred in parent bodies of some sort, but it uncertain whether these bodies were highly structured ("onion skins") or were chaotic mixes of material ("rubble piles"). The lack of simple trends of metallographic cooling rates with petrologic type has been considered supportive of both concepts. In this study, we use induced thermoluminescence (TL) as an indicator of thermal history. The TL of ordinary chondrites is produced by sodic feldspar, and the induced TL peak temperature is related to its crystallographic order/disorder. Ordered feldspar has TL peak temperatures of approx. 120 C, and disordered feldspar has TL peak temperatures of approx. 220 C. While ordered feldspar can be easily disordered in the laboratory by heating above 650 C and is easily quenched in the disordered form, producing ordered feldspar requires cooling at geologic cooling rates. We have measured the induced TL properties of 101 equilibrated ordinary chondrites, including 49 H, 29 L, and 23 LL chondrites. For the H chondrites there is an apparent trend of decreasing induced TL peak temperature with increasing petrologic type. H4 chondrites exhibit a tight range of TL peak temperatures, 190 C - 200 C, while H6 chondrites exhibit TL peak temperatures between 180 C and 190 C. H5 chondrites cover the range between H4 and H6, and also extend up to 210 C. Similar results are obtained for LL chondfiles and most L6 chondrites have lower induced TL peak temperatures than L5 chondrites.

  12. The great 8 MA event and the structure of the H-chondrite parent body

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Benoit, P. H.; Sears, D. W. G.

    1993-01-01

    The H-chondrites have been the subject of several recent controversies, including the question of whether Antarctic and non-Antarctic meteorites are or are not the same and whether there or is not evidence for stratigraphic layering in the original parent body. We have identified two distinct groups of H5 chondrites in the Antarctic collection. One group has induced thermoluminescence (TL) peak temperatures less than 190 C and metallographic cooling rates between S to 50 K/Myr, similar to modern falls. It also has a variety of cosmic ray exposure ages, many being greater than 107 years. The other group has TL peak temperatures greater than 190 C, metallographic cooling rates of 100 K/Myr and cosmic ray exposure ages of 8 Ma. The members of this group were generals smaller than those of the greater than 190 C group (including the mode falls) during cosmic ray exposure. Detailed study of the cosmogenic nuclide concentrations of these groups indicates that they are not solely the result of pairing of a few unusual meteorites. It is likely that the greater than 190 C group was an important part of the H-chondrite flux about 1 million years ago, but has since decreased in importance relative to the less than 190 C group. In a previous work, we discussed several possible origins for the greater than 190 C group, including multiple H-chondrite parent bodies, unusual parent body structure, and creation during the 8 Ma event. In this paper, we present new data for H4 chondrites in light of these ideas.

  13. High Precision Oxygen Three Isotope Analysis of Wild-2 Particles and Anhydrous Chondritic Interplanetary Dust Particles

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Nakashima, D.; Ushikubo, T.; Zolensky, Michael E.; Weisberg, M. K.; Joswiak, D. J.; Brownlee, D. E.; Matrajt, G.; Kita, N. T.

    2011-01-01

    One of the most important discoveries from comet Wild-2 samples was observation of crystalline silicate particles that resemble chondrules and CAIs in carbonaceous chondrites. Previous oxygen isotope analyses of crystalline silicate terminal particles showed heterogeneous oxygen isotope ratios with delta(sup 18)O to approx. delta(sup 17)O down to -50% in the CAI-like particle Inti, a relict olivine grain in Gozen-sama, and an olivine particle. However, many Wild-2 particles as well as ferromagnesian silicates in anhydrous interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) showed Delta(sup 17)O values that cluster around -2%. In carbonaceous chondrites, chondrules seem to show two major isotope reservoirs with Delta(sup 17)O values at -5% and -2%. It was suggested that the Delta(sup 17)O = -2% is the common oxygen isotope reservoir for carbonaceous chondrite chondrules and cometary dust, from the outer asteroid belt to the Kuiper belt region. However, a larger dataset with high precision isotope analyses (+/-1-2%) is still needed to resolve the similarities or distinctions among Wild-2 particles, IDPs and chondrules in meteorites. We have made signifi-cant efforts to establish routine analyses of small particles (< or =10micronsm) at 1-2% precision using IMS-1280 at WiscSIMS laboratory. Here we report new results of high precision oxygen isotope analyses of Wild-2 particles and anhydrous chondritic IDPs, and discuss the relationship between the cometary dust and carbonaceous chondrite chondrules.

  14. Mineralogy and chemistry of Rumuruti: The first meteorite fall of the new R chondrite group

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Schulze, H.; Bischoff, A.; Palme, H.; Spettel, B.; Dreibus, G.; Otto, J.

    1994-03-01

    The Rumuruti meteorite shower fell in Rumuruti, Kenya, on 1934 January 28 at 10:45 p.m. Rumuruti is an olivine-rich chondritic breccia with light-dark structure. Based on the coexistence of highly recrystallized fragments and unequilibrated components, Rumuruti is classified as a type 3-6 chondrite breccia. The most abundant phase of Rumuruti is olivine (mostly Fa(approximately 39) with about 70 vol%. Feldspar (approximately 14 vol%; mainly plagioclase), Ca-pyroxene (5 vol%), pyrrhotite (4.4 vol%), and pentlandite (3.6 vol%) are major constituents. All other phases have abundances below 1 vol%, including low-Ca pyroxene, chrome spinels, phosphates (chlorapatite and whitlockite), chalcopyrite, ilemenite, tridymite, Ni-rich and Ge-containing metals, kamacite, and various particles enriched in noble metals like Pt, Ir, and Au. The chemical composition of Rumuruti is chondritic. The depletion in refractory elements (Sc, REE, etc.) and the comparatively high Mn, Na, and K contents are characteristic of ordinary chondrites and distinguish Rumuruti from carbonaceous chondrites. However, S, Se, and Zn contents in Rumuruti are significantly above the level expected for ordinary chondrites. The oxygen isotope composition of Rumuruti is high in delta O-17 (5.52%) and delta O-18 (5.07%). With Rumuruti, nine meteorites samples exist that are chemically and mineralogically very similar. These meteorites are attributed to at least eight different fall events. It is proposed in this paper to call this group R chondrites (rumurutites) after the first and only fall among these meteorites. The meteorites have a close relationship to ordinary chondrites. However, they are more oxidized than any of the existing groups of ordinary chondrites. Small, but significant differences in chemical composition and in oxygen isotopes between R chondrites and ordinary chondrites exclude formation of R chondrites from ordinary chondrites by oxidation. This implies a separate, independent R chondrite

  15. Chondrites and the Protoplanetary Disk, Part 2

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    2004-01-01

    Contents include the following: On the Dynamical Evolution of a Nebula and Its Effect on Dust Coagulation and the Formation of Centimeter-sized Particles. The Mineralogy and Grain Properties of the Disk Surfaces in Three Herbig Ae/Be Stars. Astrophysical Observations of Disk Evolution Around Solar Mass Stars. The Systematic Petrology of Chondrites: A Consistent Approach to Assist Classification and Interpretation. Understanding Our Origins: Formation of Sun-like Stars in H II Region Environments. Chondrule Crystallization Experiments. Formation of SiO2-rich Chondrules by Fractional Condensation. Refractory Forsterites from Murchison (CM2) and Yamato 81020 (CO3.0) Chondrites: Cathodoluminescence, Chemical Compositions and Oxygen Isotopes. Apparent I-Xe Cooling Rates of Chondrules Compared with Silicates from the Colomera Iron Meteorite. Chondrule Formation in Planetesimal Bow Shocks: Physical Processes in the Near Vicinity of the Planetesimal. Genetic Relationships Between Chondrules, Rims and Matrix. Chondrite Fractionation was Cosmochemical; Chondrule Fractionation was Geochemical. Chondrule Formation and Accretion of Chondrite Parent Bodies: Environmental Constraints. Amoeboid Olivine Aggregates from the Semarkona LL3.0 Chondrite. The Evolution of Solids in Proto-Planetary Disks. New Nickel Vapor Pressure Measurements: Possible Implications for Nebular Condensates. Chemical, Mineralogical and Isotopic Properties of Chondrules: Clues to Their Origin. Maximal Size of Chondrules in Shock-Wave Heating Model: Stripping of Liquid Surface in Hypersonic Rarefied Gas Flow. The Nature and Origin of Interplanetary Dust: High Temperature Components. Refractory Relic Components in Chondrules from Ordinary Chondrites. Constraints on the Origin of Chondrules and CAIs from Short-lived and Long-lived Radionuclides. The Genetic Relationship Between Refractory Inclusions and Chondrules. Contemporaneous Chondrule Formation Between Ordinary and Carbonaceous Chondrites. Chondrules and

  16. Distribution of 26Al in the CR chondrite chondrule-forming region of the protoplanetary disk

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Schrader, Devin L.; Nagashima, Kazuhide; Krot, Alexander N.; Ogliore, Ryan C.; Yin, Qing-Zhu; Amelin, Yuri; Stirling, Claudine H.; Kaltenbach, Angela

    2017-03-01

    We report on the mineralogy, petrography, and in situ measured oxygen- and magnesium-isotope compositions of eight porphyritic chondrules (seven FeO-poor and one FeO-rich) from the Renazzo-like carbonaceous (CR) chondrites Graves Nunataks 95229, Grosvenor Mountains 03116, Pecora Escarpment 91082, and Queen Alexandra Range 99177, which experienced minor aqueous alteration and very mild thermal metamorphism. We find no evidence that these processes modified the oxygen- or Al-Mg isotope systematics of chondrules in these meteorites. Olivine, low-Ca pyroxene, and plagioclase within an individual chondrule have similar O-isotope compositions, suggesting crystallization from isotopically uniform melts. The only exceptions are relict grains in two of the chondrules; these grains are 16O-enriched relative to phenocrysts of the host chondrules. Only the FeO-rich chondrule shows a resolvable excesses of 26Mg, corresponding to an inferred initial 26Al/27Al ratio [(26Al/27Al)0] of (2.5 ± 1.6) × 10-6 (±2SE). Combining these results with the previously reported Al-Mg isotope systematics of CR chondrules (Nagashima et al., 2014, Geochem. J. 48, 561), 7 of 22 chondrules (32%) measured show resolvable excesses of 26Mg; the presence of excess 26Mg does not correlate with the FeO content of chondrule silicates. In contrast, virtually all chondrules in weakly metamorphosed (petrologic type 3.0-3.1) unequilibrated ordinary chondrites (UOCs), Ornans-like carbonaceous (CO) chondrites, and the ungrouped carbonaceous chondrite Acfer 094 show resolvable excesses of 26Mg. The inferred (26Al/27Al)0 in CR chondrules with resolvable excesses of 26Mg range from (1.0 ± 0.4) × 10-6 to (6.3 ± 0.9) × 10-6, which is typically lower than (26Al/27Al)0 in the majority of chondrules from UOCs, COs, and Acfer 094. Based on the inferred (26Al/27Al)0, three populations of CR chondrules are recognized; the population characterized by low (26Al/27Al)0 (<3 × 10-6) is dominant. There are no noticeable

  17. Formation and composition of the moon. [carbonaceous meteorites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Anderson, D. L.

    1974-01-01

    Many of the properties of the moon are discussed including the enrichment in Ca, Al, Ti, U, Th, Ba, Sr and the REE and the depletion in Fe, Rb, K, Na and other volatiles which could be understood if the moon represents a high temperature condensate from the solar nebula. Thermodynamic calculations show that Ca, Al and Ti rich compounds condense first in a cooling nebula. The initial high temperature mineralogy is gehlenite, spinel, perovskite, Ca-Al-rich pyroxenes and anorthite. Inclusions in Type III carbonaceous chondrites such as the Allende meteorite are composed primarily of these minerals and, in addition, are highly enriched in refractories such as REE relative to carbonaceous chondrites. These inclusions can yield basalt and anorthosite in the proportions required to eliminate the europium anomaly, leaving a residual spinel-melilite interior.

  18. Hf-W chronology of CR chondrites: Implications for the timescales of chondrule formation and the distribution of 26Al in the solar nebula

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Budde, Gerrit; Kruijer, Thomas S.; Kleine, Thorsten

    The CR chondrites are distinct from most other chondrites in having younger chondrule 26Al- 26Mg ages, but the significance of these ages and whether they reflect true formation times or a heterogeneous distribution of 26Al are not well understood. To better determine the timescales of CR chondrule formation and CR chondrite parent body accretion, we obtained Hf-W isotopic data for metal, silicate, and chondrule separates from four CR chondrites. We also obtained Mo isotopic data for the same samples, to assess potential genetic links among the components of CR chondrites, and between these components and bulk chondrites. The isotopic datamore » demonstrate that metal and silicate in CR chondrites exhibit distinct nucleosynthetic W and Mo isotope anomalies, caused by the heterogeneous distribution of a single presolar s-process carrier. These isotope signatures are akin to the complementary anomalies found previously for chondrules and matrix in CV chondrites and indicate that the major components of CR chondrites are genetically linked and formed from a common reservoir of solar nebula dust. The obtained Hf-W age of 3.6±0.6 million years (Ma) after the formation of Ca-Al-rich inclusions (CAIs) most likely dates metal-silicate separation during chondrule formation and is consistent with Al-Mg and Pb-Pb ages for CR chondrules, indicating that CR chondrules formed ~1–2 Ma later than chondrules from most other chondrite groups. Moreover, chemical, isotopic, and chronological data imply close temporal link between chondrule formation and chondrite accretion, making the CR chondrite parent body one of the youngest meteorite parent bodies. Such a late accretion at ~3.6 Ma after CAIs is consistent with isotopic composition of CR chondrites (e.g., 15N/ 14N) that is indicative of a formation at a larger heliocentric distance, probably beyond the orbit of Jupiter. As such, the accretion age of the CR parent body provides the earliest possible time at which Jupiter could

  19. Hf-W chronology of CR chondrites: Implications for the timescales of chondrule formation and the distribution of 26Al in the solar nebula

    DOE PAGES

    Budde, Gerrit; Kruijer, Thomas S.; Kleine, Thorsten

    2017-10-24

    The CR chondrites are distinct from most other chondrites in having younger chondrule 26Al- 26Mg ages, but the significance of these ages and whether they reflect true formation times or a heterogeneous distribution of 26Al are not well understood. To better determine the timescales of CR chondrule formation and CR chondrite parent body accretion, we obtained Hf-W isotopic data for metal, silicate, and chondrule separates from four CR chondrites. We also obtained Mo isotopic data for the same samples, to assess potential genetic links among the components of CR chondrites, and between these components and bulk chondrites. The isotopic datamore » demonstrate that metal and silicate in CR chondrites exhibit distinct nucleosynthetic W and Mo isotope anomalies, caused by the heterogeneous distribution of a single presolar s-process carrier. These isotope signatures are akin to the complementary anomalies found previously for chondrules and matrix in CV chondrites and indicate that the major components of CR chondrites are genetically linked and formed from a common reservoir of solar nebula dust. The obtained Hf-W age of 3.6±0.6 million years (Ma) after the formation of Ca-Al-rich inclusions (CAIs) most likely dates metal-silicate separation during chondrule formation and is consistent with Al-Mg and Pb-Pb ages for CR chondrules, indicating that CR chondrules formed ~1–2 Ma later than chondrules from most other chondrite groups. Moreover, chemical, isotopic, and chronological data imply close temporal link between chondrule formation and chondrite accretion, making the CR chondrite parent body one of the youngest meteorite parent bodies. Such a late accretion at ~3.6 Ma after CAIs is consistent with isotopic composition of CR chondrites (e.g., 15N/ 14N) that is indicative of a formation at a larger heliocentric distance, probably beyond the orbit of Jupiter. As such, the accretion age of the CR parent body provides the earliest possible time at which Jupiter could

  20. Infrared Spectroscopy of Carbonaceous-chondrite Inclusions in the Kapoeta Meteorite: Discovery of Nanodiamonds with New Spectral Features and Astrophysical Implications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Abdu, Yassir A.; Hawthorne, Frank C.; Varela, Maria E.

    2018-03-01

    We report the finding of nanodiamonds, coexisting with amorphous carbon, in carbonaceous-chondrite (CC) material from the Kapoeta achondritic meteorite by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and micro-Raman spectroscopy. In the C–H stretching region (3100–2600 cm‑1), the FTIR spectrum of the Kapoeta CC material (KBr pellet) shows bands attributable to aliphatic CH2 and CH3 groups, and is very similar to IR spectra of organic matter in carbonaceous chondrites and the diffuse interstellar medium. Nanodiamonds, as evidenced by micro-Raman spectroscopy, were found in a dark region (∼400 μm in size) in the KBr pellet. Micro-FTIR spectra collected from this region are dramatically different from the KBr-pellet spectrum, and their C–H stretching region is dominated by a strong and broad absorption band centered at ∼2886 cm‑1 (3.47 μm), very similar to that observed in IR absorption spectra of hydrocarbon dust in dense interstellar clouds. Micro-FTIR spectroscopy also indicates the presence of an aldehyde and a nitrile, and both of the molecules are ubiquitous in dense interstellar clouds. In addition, IR peaks in the 1500–800 cm‑1 region are also observed, which may be attributed to different levels of nitrogen aggregation in diamonds. This is the first evidence for the presence of the 3.47 μm interstellar IR band in meteorites. Our results further support the assignment of this band to tertiary CH groups on the surfaces of nanodiamonds. The presence of the above interstellar bands and the absence of shock features in the Kapoeta nanodiamonds, as indicated by Raman spectroscopy, suggest formation by a nebular-condensation process similar to chemical-vapor deposition.

  1. Rare-gas-rich separates from carbonaceous chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Reynolds, J. H.; Frick, U.; Neil, J. M.; Phinney, D. L.

    1978-01-01

    This paper describes an analysis of carbon-rich separates prepared by demineralization of colloidal fractions after disaggregation of bulk samples of the type C2 meteorites Murray, Murchison, and Cold Bokkeveld, as well as a methanol colloid extracted from acid-resistant residues of the Allende meteorite (type C3V) obtained by dissolution of most of the minerals in HCl and HF acids. The carbonaceous separates, or lAlates (a coined word designating colloids prepared sometimes before and sometimes after acid treatment), are characterized incompletely and with difficulty. A stepwise heating experiment on a Murray lAlate is discussed which revealed bimodal release of all noble gases, with similar patterns for Ar, Kr, and Xe. Chemical reactions are suggested as the likely mechanism for gas release. The results are shown to support the concept of a carbonaceous gas carrier uniformly present in meteorites of various types.

  2. Searching for Extraterrestrial Amino Acids in a Contaminated Meteorite: Amino Acid Analyses of the Canakkale L6 Chondrite

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Burton, A. S.; Elsila, J. E.; Glavin, D. P.; Dworkin, J. P.; Ornek, C. Y.; Esenoglu, H. H.; Unsalan, O.; Ozturk, B.

    2016-01-01

    Amino acids can serve as important markers of cosmochemistry, as their abundances and isomeric and isotopic compositions have been found to vary predictably with changes in parent body chemistry and alteration processes. Amino acids are also of astrobiological interest because they are essential for life on Earth. Analyses of a range of meteorites, including all groups of carbonaceous chondrites, along with H, R, and LL chondrites, ureilites, and a martian shergottite, have revealed that amino acids of plausible extraterrestrial origin can be formed in and persist after a wide range of parent body conditions. However, amino acid analyses of L6 chondrites to date have not provided evidence for indigenous amino acids. In the present study, we performed amino acid analysis on larger samples of a different L6 chondite, Canakkale, to determine whether or not trace levels of indigenous amino acids could be found. The Canakkale meteor was an observed fall in late July, 1964, near Canakkale, Turkey. The meteorite samples (1.36 and 1.09 g) analyzed in this study were allocated by C. Y. Ornek, along with a soil sample (1.5 g) collected near the Canakkale recovery site.

  3. Nature of the H chondrite parent body regolith - Evidence from the Dimmitt breccia

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Rubin, A. E.; Scott, E. R. D.; Taylor, G. J.; Keil, K.; Allen, J. S. B.; Mayeda, T. K.; Clayton, R. N.; Bogard, D. D.

    1983-01-01

    Meteorite regolith breccias are clastic rocks which formed by lithification of fragmental regolith material that once resided at the surface of a meteorite parent body. A study is reported of the matrix and 21 clasts of various sizes (0.2-24 mm) in the Dimmitt H chondrite regolith breccia using petrographic and electron microprobe techniques. In addition, oxygen isotope studies of three clasts and instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and Ar-39/Ar-40 age dating of one clast are reported. The Dimmitt meteorite was found about 1942 near Dimmitt, Texas. Attention is given to analytical procedures, the clastic matrix, equilibrated clasts, poikilitic melt-rock clast, clasts of different chondrite groups, graphite-magnetite aggregates, the origin of exotic clasts, and the complexity of parent body surfaces processes.

  4. The Effects of Thermal Metamorphism on the Amino Acid Content of the CI-Like Chondrite Y-86029

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Burton, A. S.; Grunsfeld, S.; Glavin, D. P.; Dworkin, J. P.

    2014-01-01

    Carbonaceous chondrites con-tain a diverse suite of amino acids that varies in abundance and structural diversity depending on the degree of aqueous alteration and thermal histo-ry that the parent body experienced [1 - 3]. We recently determined the amino acid contents of several fragments of the Sutter's Mill CM2 chon-drite [4]. In contrast with most other CM2 chon-drites, the Sutter's Mill meteorites showed minimal evidence for the presence of indigenous amino acids. A notable difference between the Sutter's Mill meteorites and other CM2 chondrites are that the Sutter's Mill stones were heated to tempera-tures of 150 - 400 C [4], whereas most other CM2 chondrites do not show evidence for thermal met-amorphism [5]. Because empirical studies have shown that amino acids rapidly degrade in aqueous solutions above 150 C and the presence of miner-als accelerates this degradation [6], a plausible explanation for the lack of amino acids observed in the Sutter's Mill meteorites is that they were destroyed during metamorphic alteration. Fewer CI chondrites have been analyzed for amino acids because only a small number of these meteorites have been recovered. Nevertheless, indigenous amino acids have been reported in the CI chondrites Ivuna and Orgueil [7]. Here we report on the amino acid analysis of the CI-like chondrite, Yamato 86029 (Y-86029; sample size of 110 mg). Just as the Sutter's Mill meteorites were thermally metamporphosed CM2 chondrites, Y-86029 has experienced thermal metamorphism at higher temperatures than Orgueil and Ivuna (normal CI chondrites) experienced, possibly up to 600 C [8].

  5. Isotopic composition of carbonaceous-chondrite kerogen Evidence for an interstellar origin of organic matter in meteorites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Kerridge, J. F.

    1983-01-01

    Stepwise combustion has revealed systematic patterns of isotopic heterogeneity for C, H and N in the insoluble organic fraction (m-kerogen) from the Orgueil and Murray carbonaceous chondrites. Those patterns are essentially identical for both meteorites, indicating a common source of m-kerogen. The data cannot be reconciled with a single mass-fractionation process acting upon a single precursor composition. This indicates either a multi-path history of mass-dependent processing or a significant nucleogenetic contribution, or both. If mass-fractionation were the dominant process, the magnitude of the observed isotopic variability strongly suggests that ion-molecule reactions at very low temperatures, probably in interstellar clouds, were responsible. In any case, an interstellar, rather than solar nebular, origin for at least some of the meteoritic organic matter is indicated. This has interesting implications for the origin of prebiotic molecules, temperatures in the early solar system, and the isotopic compositions of volatiles accreted by the terrestrial planets.

  6. Noble-gas-rich separates from ordinary chondrites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Moniot, R. K.

    1980-02-01

    Acid-resistant residues were prepared by HCl-HF demineralization of three H-type ordinary chondrites: Brownfield 1937 (H3), Dimmitt (H3, 4), and Estacado (H6). These residues were found to contain a large proportion of the planetary-type trapped Ar, Kr, and Xe in the meteorites. The similarity of these acid residues to those from carbonaceous chondrites and LL-type ordinary chondrites suggests that the same phase carries the trapped noble gases in all these diverse meteorite types. Because the H group represents a large fraction of all meteorites, this result indicates that the gas-rich carrier phase is as universal as the trapped noble-gas component itself. When treated with an oxidizing etchant, the acid residues lost almost all their complement of noble gases.

  7. CM chondrites exhibit the complete petrologic range from type 2 to 1. [Abstract only

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Zolensky, M. E.; Browning, L. B.

    1994-01-01

    Recognition and characterization of the different CM lithologies as components in all meteorites could reveal details of the nature and chronology of alteration and brecciation events on hydrous asteroids. The CM chondrites are of particular interest, as they are the most common carbonaceous chondrites and are found as clasts within other types of meteorites, which suggests that the CM parent asteroids are (or were) widespread in the sections of the asteroid belt providing samples to Earth. Some CM2s, including EET 90047, ALH 83100, and Y 82042, are more 'extensively' altered, and are distinguished by a high proportion of Mg-rich phyllosilicates and Ca-Mg carbonates, frequently in rounded aggregates, and near absence of olivine or pyroxene. 'Completely' altered CMs, called CM1s, essentially lack olivine or pyroxene; these include EET 83334, ALH 88045, and the CM1 clasts in Kaidun. Cold Bokkeveld and EET 84034, both highly brecciated CMs, consist of both extensively and completely altered lithologies. We describe how these lithologies further cosntrain physicochemical conditions on hydrous asteroids. We conclude that CM chondrites exhibit the petrologic range 2 through 1, and that progressive alteration on the parent hydrous asteroid(s) was accompanied by significant increases in temperature (to a peak of approximately 450 C), fO2, water-rock ratio, and (locally) degree of chemical leaching, all well beyond the conditions recorded by CM2s.

  8. Aqueous processing of organic compounds in carbonaceous asteroids

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Trigo-Rodríguez, Josep Maria; Rimola, Albert; Martins, Zita

    2015-04-01

    A (2002) Clay mineral-organic matter relationships in the early solar system. Meteorit Planet Sci 37:1829-1833. Rimola A, Costa D, Sodupe M, Lambert JF, Ugliengo P (2013) Silica surface features and their role in the adsorption of biomolecules: computational modeling and experiments. Chem Rev 113:4216-4313. Rimola A, Sodupe M, Ugliengo P (2007) Aluminosilicate as promoters for peptide bond formation: an assessment of Bernal's hypothesis by ab initio methods. J Am Chem soc 129:8333-8344 Trigo-Rodríguez JM, Moyano-Cambero CE, Llorca J, Formasier S, Barucci MA, Belskaya I, Martins Z, Rivkin AS, Dotto E, Madiedo JM, Alonso-Azcárate J (2014) UV to far-IR reflectance spectra of carbonaceous chondrites - I. Implications for remote characterization of dark primitive asteroids targeted by sample-return missions. Mon Not R Astron Soc 437:227-240. Trigo-Rodríguez JM, Alonso-Azcárate J, Abad MM, Lee MR (2015) Ultra high resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy of matrix mineral grains in CM chondrites: preaccretionary or parent body aqueous processing? LPI constribution, 46th LPSC, abstract #1198.

  9. The disruption of H and L ordinary chondrite parent bodies at 60 Ma

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Blackburn, T.; Alexander, C.; Carlson, R.; Elkins-Tanton, L. T.

    2016-12-01

    A working timeline for the history of ordinary chondrites (OCs) includes chondrule formation as early as 1-2 Ma after our Solar System's earliest forming solids (CAIs), followed by rapid accretion into undifferentiated planetesimals that were heated internally by 26Al decay and cooled over a period of tens of millions of years. There remains conflict, however, between metallographic cooling rates and radioisotopic thermochronometric data over the sizes and lifetimes of the chondrite parent bodies, as well as the timing of impact related disruption. The importance of establishing the timing of parent body disruption is heightened by the use of meteorites as recorders of asteroid belt wide disruption events as suggested by various dynamical models. Here we attempt to resolve these records with new Pb-phosphate dates for 9 previously unstudied OCs. These new results, along with previously published Pb-phosphate and metallographic data, are interpreted with a series of numerical models designed to simulate the thermal evolution for a chondrite parent body that is disrupted by impact prior to forming smaller unsorted "rubble piles". One model that could satisfy both the available thermochronologic and Ni-metal data takes into account subtle differences in closure temperatures for each system. It requires that disruption occur early enough such that the Ni-metal system can record the cooling rate associated with a rubble pile (<70 Ma), yet late enough that the Pb-phosphate system can record an onion shell structure (>30 Ma). For this 30-70 Ma timeline, reaccretion into smaller rubble piles will ensure that the originally deeply buried and hot Type 6 samples will always cool faster as a result of disruption, yielding nearly uniform ages that date parent body disruption. This is consistent with the available Pb-phosphate data, where all but one Type 6 chondrite (H, n=3; L, n=4) records a uniform cooling age (4508 ± 5 Ma). Our model results suggest that a disruption at

  10. Unique View of C Asteriod Regolith from the Jbilet Winselwan CM Chondrite

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Zolensky, Michael; Mikouchi, Takashi; Hagiya, Kenji; Ohsumi, Kazumasa; Komatsu, Mutsumi; Chan, Queenie H. S.; Le, Loan; Kring, David; Cato, Michael; Fagan, Amy L.; hide

    2016-01-01

    C-class asteroids frequently exhibit reflectance spectra consistent with thermally metamor-phosed carbonaceous chondrites, or a mixture of phyllosilicate-rich material along with regions where they are absent. One particularly important example appears to be asteroid 162173 Ryugu, the target of the Hayabusa 2 mission, although most spectra of Ryugu are featureless, suggesting a heterogeneous regolith. Here we explore an alternative cause of dehydration of regolith of C-class asteroids impact shock melting. Impact shock melting has been proposed to explain some mineralogical characteristics of CB chondrites, but has rarely been considered a major process for hydrous carbonaceous chondrites. Jbilet Winselwan (JW) is a very fresh CM breccia from Morocco, with intriguing characteristics. While some lithologies are typical of CM2s, other clasts show evidence of brief, though significant impact brecciation and heating. The first evidence for this came from preliminary petrographic and stable isotope studies. We contend that highly-brecciated, partially-shocked, and dehydrated lithologies like those in JW dominate C-class asteroid regolith.

  11. Possible sources of H2 to H2O enrichment at evaporation of parent chondritic material

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Makalkin, A. B.; Dorofeyeva, V. A.; Vityazev, A. V.

    1993-01-01

    One of the results obtained from thermodynamic simulation of recondensation of the source chondritic material is that at 1500-1800 K it's possible to form iron-rich olivine by reaction between enstatite, metallic iron and water vapor in the case of (H2O)/(H2) approximately equal to 0.1. This could be reached if the gas depletion in hydrogen is 200-300 times relative to solar abundance. To get this range of depletion one needs some source material more rich in hydrogen than the carbonaceous CI material which is the richest in volatiles among chondrites. In the case of recondensation at impact heating and evaporation of colliding planetesimals composed of CI material, we obtain insufficiently high value of (H2)/(H2O) ratio. In the present paper we consider some possible source materials and physical conditions necessary to reach gas composition with (H2)/(H2O) approximately 10 at high temperature.

  12. Mineralogy and Petrology of Amoeboid Olivine Inclusions in CO3 Chondrites: Relationship to Parent-Body Aqueous Alteration

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Chizmadia, Lysa J.; Rubin, Alan E.; Wasson, John T.

    2003-01-01

    Petrographic and mineralogic studies of amoeboid olivine inclusions (AOIs) in CO3 carbonaceous chondrites reveal that they are sensitive indicators of parent-body aqueous and thermal alteration. As the petrologic subtype increases from 3.0 to 3.8, forsteritic olivine (Fa(sub 0-1)) is systematically converted into ferroan olivine (Fa(sub 60-75)). We infer that the Fe, Si and O entered the assemblage along grain boundaries, forming ferroan olivine that filled fractures and voids. As temperatures increased, Fe(+2) from the new olivine exchanged with Mg(+2) from the original AOI to form diffusive haloes around low-FeO cores. Cations of Mn(+2), Ca(+2) and Cr(+3) were also mobilized. The systematic changes in AOI textures and olivine compositional distributions can be used to refine the classification of CO3 chondrites into subtypes. In subtype 3.0, olivine occurs as small forsterite grains (Fa(sub 0-1)), free of ferroan olivine. In petrologic subtype 3.2, narrow veins of FeO-rich olivine have formed at forsterite grain boundaries. With increasing alteration, these veins thicken to form zones of ferroan olivine at the outside AOI margin and within the AOI interior. By subtype 3.7, there is a fairly broad olivine compositional distribution in the range Fa(sub 63-70), and by subtype 3.8, no forsterite remains and the high-Fa peak has narrowed, Fa(sub 64-67). Even at this stage, there is incomplete equilibration in the chondrite as a whole (e.g., data for coarse olivine grains in Isna (CO3.8) chondrules and lithic clasts show a peak at Fa(sub39)). We infer that the mineral changes in A01 identified in the low petrologic types required aqueous or hydrothermal fluids whereas those in subtypes greater than or equal to 3.3 largely reflect diffusive exchange within and between mineral grains without the aid of fluids.

  13. Chemical characteristics and origin of H chondrite regolith breccias

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Lipschutz, M. E.; Biswas, S.; Mcsween, H. Y., Jr.

    1983-01-01

    Petrologic data and contents of Ag, Bi, Cd, Co, Cs, Ga, In, Rb, Se, Te, Tl and Zn-trace elements spanning the volatility/mobility range-in light and dark portions of H chondrite regolith breccias and L chondrite fragmental breccias are reported. The chemical/petrologic characteristics of H chondrite regolith breccias differ from those of nonbrecciated chondrites or fragmental breccias. Petrologic characteristics and at least some trace element contents of H chondrite regolith breccias reflect primary processes; contents of the most volatile/mobile elements may reflect either primary or secondary processing, possibly within layered H chondrite parent object(s). Chemical/petrologic differences existed in different regions of the parent(s). Regoligh formation and gardening and meteoroid compaction were not so severe as to alter compositions markedly.

  14. Aqueous fluid composition in CI chondritic materials: Chemical equilibrium assessments in closed systems

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zolotov, Mikhail Yu.

    2012-08-01

    Solids of nearly solar composition have interacted with aqueous fluids on carbonaceous asteroids, icy moons, and trans-neptunian objects. These processes altered mineralogy of accreted materials together with compositions of aqueous and gaseous phases. We evaluated chemistry of aqueous solutions coexisted with CI-type chondritic solids through calculations of chemical equilibria in closed water-rock-gas systems at different compositions of initial fluids, water/rock mass ratios (0.1-1000), temperatures (<350 °C), and pressures (<2 kbars). The calculations show that fluid compositions are mainly affected by solubilities of solids, the speciation of chlorine in initial water-rock mixtures, and the occurrence of Na-bearing secondary minerals such as saponite. The major species in modeled alkaline solutions are Na+, Cl-, CO32-,HCO3-, K+, OH-, H2, and CO2. Aqueous species of Mg, Fe, Ca, Mn, Al, Ni, Cr, S, and P are not abundant in these fluids owing to low solubility of corresponding solids. Typical NaCl type alkaline fluids coexist with saponite-bearing mineralogy that usually present in aqueously altered chondrites. A common occurrence of these fluids is consistent with the composition of grains emitted from Enceladus. Na-rich fluids with abundant CO32-,HCO3-, and OH- anions coexist with secondary mineralogy depleted in Na. The Na2CO3 and NaHCO3 type fluids could form via accretion of cometary ices. NaOH type fluids form in reduced environments and may locally occur on parent bodies of CR carbonaceous chondrites. Supposed melting of accreted HCl-bearing ices leads to early acidic fluids enriched in Mg, Fe and other metals, consistent with signs of low-pH alteration in chondrites. Neutralization of these solutions leads to alkaline Na-rich fluids. Sulfate species have negligible concentrations in closed systems, which remain reduced, especially at elevated pressures created by forming H2 gas. Hydrogen, CO2, and H2O dominate in the gaseous phase, though the abundance

  15. Search for Fluid Inclusions in a Carbonaceous Chondrite Using a New X-Ray Micro-Tomography Technique Combined with FIB Sampling

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Tsuchiyama, A.; Miyake, A.; Zolensky, M. E.; Uesugi, K.; Nakano, T.; Takeuchi, A.; Suzuki, Y.; Yoshida, K.

    2014-01-01

    Early solar system aqueous fluids are preserved in some H chondrites as aqueous fluid inclusions in halite (e.g., [1]). Although potential fluid inclusions are also expected in carbonaceous chondrites [2], they have not been surely confirmed. In order to search for these fluid inclusions, we have developped a new X-ray micro-tomography technique combined with FIB sampling and applied this techniqu to a carbanaceous chondrite. Experimental: A polished thin section of Sutter's Mill meteorite (CM) was observed with an optical microscope and FE-SEM (JEOL 7001F) for chosing mineral grains of carbonates (mainly calcite) and sulfides (FeS and ZnS) 20-50 microns in typical size, which may have aqueous fluid inclusions. Then, a "house" similar to a cube with a roof (20-30 microns in size) is sampled from the mineral grain by using FIB (FEI Quanta 200 3DS). Then, the house was atached to a thin W-needle by FIB and imaged by a SR-based imaging microtomography system with a Fresnel zone plate at beamline BL47XU, SPring-8, Japan. One sample was imaged at two X-ray energies, 7 and 8 keV, to identify mineral phases (dual-enegy microtomography: [3]). The size of voxel (pixel in 3D) was 50-80 nm, which gave the effective spatial resolution of approx. 200 nm. A terrestrial quartz sample with an aqueous fluid inclusion with a bubble was also examined as a test sample by the same method. Results and discussion: A fluid inclusion of 5-8 microns in quartz was clearly identified in a CT image. A bubble of approx. 4 microns was also identified as refraction contrast although the X-ray absorption difference between fluid and bubble is small. Volumes of the fluid and bubble were obtained from the 3D CT images. Fourteen grains of calcite, two grains of iron sulfide and one grain of (Zn,Fe)S were examined. Ten calcite, one iron sulfide and one (Zn,Fe)S grains have inclusions >1 micron in size (the maximum: approx. 5 microns). The shapes are spherical or irregular. Tiny inclusions (<1 micron

  16. Microbial Contamination of Allende and Murchison Carbonaceous Chondrites; Developing a Protocol for Life Detection in Extraterrestrial Materials Using Biotechnology

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Steele, A.; Whitby, C.; Griffin, C.; Toporski, J. K. W.; Westall, F.; Saunders, J. R.; McKay, D. S.

    2001-01-01

    The arguments used to refute the McKay et al., (1996) hypothesis of possible Martian life in ALH84001 failed to use contamination of the meteorite as a source. This has worrying implications for our ability to detect terrestrial microbiota in meteorites and therefore any potential extraterrestrial biosignatures in both meteorites and possible returned samples. We report on imaging and microbial culturing of both Allende and Murchison carbonaceous chondrites and on the use of molecular biology techniques on a sample of Allende. Contaminating fungi and bacteria were observed (in the case of Murchison) and cultured from both meteorites. DNA was successfully extracted and subsequent PCR showed the presence of both bacterial and fungal DNA although no Archaea were detected. These results show that it is possible to use molecular biological techniques on very small quantities (300 mg) of extraterrestrial material.

  17. Al-rich objects in ordinary chondrites - Related origin of carbonaceous and ordinary chondrites and their constituents

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Bischoff, A.; Keil, K.

    1984-01-01

    A description is given of 169 Al-rich objects (arbitrarily defined as having 10 wt pct or more of Al2O3) from 24 ordinary chondrites of types 3 and 4, five regolith breccias containing unequilibrated material, the unique meteorite Kakangari, and a few ordinary chondrites of types 5 and 6. On the basis of shape and texture, the Al-rich objects are divided into chondrules (round, with igneous textures), irregularly shaped inclusions (similar to type F and spinel-rich complex Ca-Al-rich inclusions), and fragments (probably fragments of Al-rich chondrules and inclusions). For descriptive purposes, the Al-rich chondrules are further subdivided into compositional subgroups, although they are entirely transitional.

  18. Cat Mountain: A meteoritic sample of an impact-melted chondritic asteroid

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Kring, David A.

    1993-01-01

    Although impact cratering and collisional disruption are the dominant geologic processes affecting asteroids, samples of impact melt breccias comprise less than 1 percent of ordinary chondritic material and none exist among enstatite and carbonaceous chondrite groups. Because the average collisional velocity among asteroids is sufficiently large to produce impact melts, this paucity of impact-melted material is generally believed to be a sampling bias, making it difficult to determine the evolutionary history of chondritic bodies and how impact processes may have affected the physical properties of asteroids (e.g., their structural integrity and reflectance spectra). To help address these and related issues, the first petrographic description of a new chondritic impact melt breccia sample, tentatively named Cat Mountain, is presented.

  19. The selenium isotopic variations in chondrites are mass-dependent; Implications for sulfide formation in the early solar system

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Labidi, J.; König, S.; Kurzawa, T.; Yierpan, A.; Schoenberg, R.

    2018-01-01

    -independent deficits ro excesses of 74Se, 76Se and 77Se are calculated relative to the observed 82Se/78Se ratios, and were observed negligible. This rules out poor mixing of nucleosynthetic components to account for the δ 82 / 78 Se variability and implies that the mass dependent Se isotopic variations were produced in a once-homogeneous disk. The mass-dependent isotopic difference between enstatite and ordinary chondrites may reflect the contribution of a kinetic sulfidation process at anomalously high H2S-H2Se contents in the region of enstatite chondrite formation. Experimental studies showed that high H2S contents favor the formation of compact sulfide layers around metallic grains. This decreases the reactive surface, which tends to inhibit the continuation of the sulfidation reaction. Under these conditions sulfide growth likely occurs under isotopic disequilibrium and favors the trapping of light S and Se isotopes in solids; This hypothesis provides an explanation for our Se isotope as well as for previously published S isotope data. On the other hand, high δ 82 / 78 Se values in carbonaceous chondrites may result from sample heterogeneities generated by parent body aqueous alteration, or could reflect the contribution of ices carrying photo-processed Se from the outer solar system.

  20. Ca-Al-rich chondrules and inclusions in ordinary chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Bischoff, A.; Keil, K.

    1983-01-01

    Ca-Al-rich objects, hitherto mostly found in carbonaceous chondrites, are shown to be widespread, albeit rare, constituents of type 3 ordinary chondrites. Widespread occurrence and textural similarities of Ca-Al-rich chondrules to common, Mg-Fe-rich chondrules suggest that they formed by related processes. It is suggested in this article that Ca-Al-rich chondrules were formed by total melting and crystallization of heterogeneous, submillimeter- to submillimeter-sized dustballs made up of mixtures of high-temperature, Ca-Al-rich and lower-temperature, Na-K-rich components.

  1. Oxygen isotope reservoirs in the outer asteroid belt inferred from oxygen isotope systematics of chondrule olivines and isolated forsterite and olivine grains in Tagish Lake-type carbonaceous chondrites, WIS 91600 and MET 00432

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yamanobe, Masakuni; Nakamura, Tomoki; Nakashima, Daisuke

    2018-03-01

    To understand oxygen isotope ratios and redox conditions of the chondrule formation environments of the outer rigions of the asteroid belt, we analyzed major element concentrations and oxygen isotope ratios of olivine grains in chondrules, isolated forsterite, and isolated olivine from the WIS 91600 and MET 00432 carbonaceous chondrites, which are thought to have originated from D-type asteroids located in the outer asteroid belt. The oxygen isotope ratios of individual chondrules and isolated grains show a wide variation in δ18O from -9.9‰ to +9.1‰ along the carbonaceous chondrite anhydrous mineral (CCAM) and primitive chondrule mineral (PCM) lines. The Δ17O (= δ17O - 0.52 × δ18O) values of the measured objects increase with decreasing Mg#; i.e., FeO-poor objects (Mg# > 90; type I chondrules and isolated forsterites) mainly have Δ17O values of ca. -6‰, and FeO-rich objects (Mg# < 90; type II chondrules and isolated olivines) have Δ17O values ranging from -3‰ to +2‰. Similar trends are observed for ferromagnesian silicate particles from comet Wild2 and CR chondrite chondrules, particularly in terms of FeO-rich objects with Δ17O values ranging from -3‰ to +2‰. It is suggested that FeO-rich objects formed in the outer regions of the asteroid belt and were transported to the outer solar nebular regions where comet Wild2 formed.

  2. Impact Record of a Asteroid Regolith Recorded in a Carbonaceous Chrondrite

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Zolensky, Michael; Mikouchi, Takashi; Hagiya, Kenji; Ohsumi, Kazumasa; Komatsu, Mutsumi; Chan, Queenie H. S.; Le, Loan; Kring, David; Cato, Michael; Fagan, Amy L.; hide

    2017-01-01

    C-class asteroids frequently exhibit reflectance spectra consistent with thermally metamor-phosed carbonaceous chondrites [1], or a mixture of phyllosilicate-rich material along with regions where they are absent [2]. One particularly important example appears to be asteroid 162173 Ryugu, the target of the Hayabusa 2 mission [1], although most spectra of Ryugu are featureless, suggesting a heterogeneous regolith [3]. Here we explore an alternative cause of dehydration of regolith of C-class asteroids - impact shock melting. Impact shock melting has been proposed to ex-plain some mineralogical characteristics of CB chondrites [4], but has rarely been considered a major process for hydrous carbonaceous chondrites [5]. Jbilet Winselwan (JW) is a very fresh CM breccia from Morocco, with intriguing characteristics. While some lithologies are typical of CM2s (Figure 1, top), other clasts show evidence of brief, though significant impact brecciation and heating. The first evidence for this came from preliminary petrographic and stable isotope studies [6,7]. We contend that highly-brecciated, partially-shocked, and dehydrated lithologies like those in JW dominate C-class asteroid regolith.

  3. Antarctic carbonaceous chondrites - New opportunities for research

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    McSween, Harry Y., Jr.

    An account is given of the types of carbonaceous meteorites available in the Antarctic collections of the U.S. and Japan. In the case of the collection for Victoria Land and Queen Maud Land, all known classes for meteorites except C1 are present; available pairing data, though limited, are indicative of the presence of many different falls. Thus far, attention has been focused on the largest meteorites. Most samples, however, are small.

  4. Antarctic carbonaceous chondrites - New opportunities for research

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Mcsween, Harry Y., Jr.

    1989-01-01

    An account is given of the types of carbonaceous meteorites available in the Antarctic collections of the U.S. and Japan. In the case of the collection for Victoria Land and Queen Maud Land, all known classes for meteorites except C1 are present; available pairing data, though limited, are indicative of the presence of many different falls. Thus far, attention has been focused on the largest meteorites. Most samples, however, are small.

  5. Titanium stable isotopic variations in chondrites, achondrites and lunar rocks

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Greber, Nicolas D.; Dauphas, Nicolas; Puchtel, Igor S.; Hofmann, Beda A.; Arndt, Nicholas T.

    2017-09-01

    Titanium isotopes are potential tracers of processes of evaporation/condensation in the solar nebula and magmatic differentiation in planetary bodies. To gain new insights into the processes that control Ti isotopic variations in planetary materials, 25 komatiites, 15 chondrites, 11 HED-clan meteorites, 5 angrites, 6 aubrites, a martian shergottite, and a KREEP-rich impact melt breccia have been analyzed for their mass-dependent Ti isotopic compositions, presented using the δ49Ti notation (deviation in permil of the 49Ti/47Ti ratio relative to the OL-Ti standard). No significant variation in δ49Ti is found among ordinary, enstatite, and carbonaceous chondrites, and the average chondritic δ49Ti value of +0.004 ± 0.010‰ is in excellent agreement with the published estimate for the bulk silicate Earth, the Moon, Mars, and the HED and angrite parent-bodies. The average δ49Ti value of komatiites of -0.001 ± 0.019‰ is also identical to that of the bulk silicate Earth and chondrites. OL-Ti has a Ti isotopic composition that is indistinguishable from chondrites and is therefore a suitable material for reporting δ49Ti values. Previously published isotope data on another highly refractory element, Ca, show measurable variations among chondrites. The decoupling between Ca and Ti isotope systematics most likely occurred during condensation in the solar nebula. Aubrites exhibit significant variations in δ49Ti, from -0.07 to +0.24‰. This is likely due to the uniquely reducing conditions under which the aubrite parent-body differentiated, allowing chalcophile Ti3+ and lithophile Ti4+ to co-exist. Consequently, the observed negative correlation between δ49Ti values and MgO concentrations among aubrites is interpreted to be the result of isotope fractionation driven by the different oxidation states of Ti in this environment, such that isotopically heavy Ti4+ was concentrated in the residual liquid during magmatic differentiation. Finally, KREEPy impact melt breccia

  6. Mineral associations and character of isotopically anomalous organic material in the Tagish Lake carbonaceous chondrite

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zega, Thomas J.; Alexander, Conel M. O.'D.; Busemann, Henner; Nittler, Larry R.; Hoppe, Peter; Stroud, Rhonda M.; Young, Andrea F.

    2010-10-01

    We report a coordinated analytical study of matrix material in the Tagish Lake carbonaceous chondrite in which the same small (⩽20 μm) fragments were measured by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS), and X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES). SIMS analysis reveals H and N isotopic anomalies (hotspots), ranging from hundreds to thousands of nanometers in size, which are present throughout the fragments. Although the differences in spatial resolution of the SIMS techniques we have used introduce some uncertainty into the exact location of the hotspots, in general, the H and N isotopic anomalies are spatially correlated with C enrichments, suggesting an organic carrier. TEM analysis, enabled by site-specific extraction using a focused-ion-beam scanning-electron microscope, shows that the hotspots contain an amorphous component, Fe-Ni sulfides, serpentine, and mixed-cation carbonates. TEM imaging reveals that the amorphous component occurs in solid and porous forms, EDS indicates that it contains abundant C, and EELS and XANES at the C K edge reveal that it is largely aromatic. This amorphous component is probably macromolecular C, likely the carrier of the isotopic anomalies, and similar to the material extracted from bulk samples as insoluble organic matter. However, given the large sizes of some of the hotspots, the disparity in spatial resolution among the various techniques employed in our study, and the phases with which they are associated, we cannot entirely rule out that some of the isotopic anomalies are carried by inorganic material, e.g., sheet silicates. The isotopic composition of the organic matter points to an initially primitive origin, quite possibly within cold interstellar clouds or the outer reaches of the solar protoplanetary disk. The association of organic material with secondary phases, e.g., serpentine

  7. Osmium Stable Isotope Composition of Chondrites and Iron Meteorites: Implications for Planetary Core Formation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nanne, J. A. M.; Millet, M. A.; Burton, K. W.; Dale, C. W.; Nowell, G. M.; Williams, H. M.

    2016-12-01

    Mass-dependent Os stable isotope fractionation is expected to occur during metal-silicate segregation as well as during crystallization of metal alloys due to the different bonding environment between silicate and metals. As such, Os stable isotopes have the potential to resolve questions pertaining to planetary accretion and differentiation. Here, we present stable Os isotope data for a set of chondrites and iron meteorites to examine the processes associated with core solidification. Carbonaceous, ordinary, and enstatite chondrites show no detectable stable isotope variation with a δ190Os weighted average of +0.12±0.04 (n=37). The uniform composition observed for chondrites implies Os stable isotope homogeneity of the bulk solar nebula. Contrary to chondrites, iron meteorites display a large range in Os stable isotope compositions from δ190Os of +0.05 up to +0.49‰. Variation is only observed in the IIAB and IIIAB irons. Type IVB irons display values similar to chondrites (+0.107±0.047 [n=3]) and IVA compositions are slightly different +0.187±0.004 (n=2). The type IIAB and IIIAB groups show values both within the chondritic range and up to heavier values extending up to +0.49‰. Since core formation in small planetary bodies is expected to quantitatively sequester Os in metal phases, bulk planetary cores are expected to display chondritic δ190Os values. Conversely, samples of the IIAB and IIIAB group display significant variation, possibly indicating that stable isotope fractionation occurred during solidification of the parent-body core. However, no covariation is observed between δ190Os and either Os abundance or radiogenic Os isotope ratios. Instead, liquid immiscibility during core crystallization, where the liquid metal splits into separate S- and P-rich liquids, may be a source of Os stable isotope fractionation.

  8. Organic Analysis in Miller Range 090657 and Buckley Island 10933 CR2 Chondrites: Part 1 In-Situ Observation of Carbonaceous Material

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Cao, T.; Nakamura-Messenger, K.; Berger, E. L.; Burton, A. S.; Messenger, S.; Clemett, S. J.

    2016-01-01

    Primitive carbonaceous chondrites contain a wide variety of organic material, ranging from soluble discrete molecules to insoluble unstructured kerogen-like component as well as structured nano-globules of macromolecular carbon. The relationship between the soluble organic molecules, macromolecular organic material, and host minerals are poorly understood. Due to the differences in extractability of soluble and insoluble organic materials, the analysis methods for each differ and are often performed independently. The combination of soluble and insoluble analyses, when performed concurrently, can provide a wider understanding on spatial distribution, and elemental, structural and isotopic composition of organic material in primitive meteorites. Furthermore, they can provide broader perspective on how extraterrestrial organic ma-terials potentially contributed to the synthesis of life's essential compounds such as amino acids, sugar acids, activated phosphates and nucleobases.

  9. A Breccia of Ureilitic and C2 Carbonaceous Chondrite Materials from Almahata Sitta: Implications for the Regolith of Urelitic Asteroids

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Goodrich, C. A.; Fioretti, A. M.; Zolensky, M.; Fries, M.; Shaddad, M.; Kohl, I.; Young, E.; Jenniskens, P.

    2017-01-01

    The Almahata Sitta (AhS) polymict ureilite is the first meteorite to originate from a spectrally classified asteroid (2008 TC3) [1-3], and provides an unprecedented opportunity to correlate properties of meteorites with those of their parent asteroid. AhS is also unique because its fragments comprise a wide variety of meteorite types. Of approximately140 stones studied to-date, 70% are ureilites (carbon-rich ultramafic achondrites) and 30% are various types of chondrites [4,5]. None of these show contacts between ureilitic and chondritic lithologies. It has been inferred that 2008 TC3 was loosely aggregated, so that it disintegrated in the atmosphere and only its most coherent clasts fell as individual stones [1,3,5]. Understanding the structure and composition of this asteroid is critical for missions to sample asteroid surfaces. We are studying [6] the University of Khartoum collection of AhS [3] to test hypotheses for the nature of 2008 TC3. We describe a sample that consists of both ureilitic and chondritic materials.

  10. The Glanerbrug Breccia: Evidence for a Separate L/LL-Chondritic Parent Body?

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Welten, K. C.; Lindner, L.; Poorter, R. P. E.; Kallemeyn, G. W.; Rubin, A. E.; Wasson, J. T.

    1992-07-01

    INTRODUCTION. On April 7, 1990, a brecciated ordinary chondrite fell through the roof of a house near Glanerbrug in the Netherlands and was shattered to pieces. The total weight of the recovered fragments was about 800 g, the largest piece weighing 135 g. This main fragment clearly shows the inhomogeneous structure of the Glanerbrug: a dark-grey breccia occasionally containing blackish inclusions, separated from a light-grey breccia by a sharp boundary. Chondrules seem to be more common in the light grey parts. On the basis of earlier electron microprobe analyses of olivines and pyroxenes the light-grey portion was classified at the high Fa-Fs end of the L-field and the dark-grey part at the high Fa-Fs end of the LL-field [1]. Since it is not likely that the L and LL chondritic fragments originated on a single parent body, two alternative explanations were suggested: (i) The light-dark structure of the Glanerbrug is a characteristic feature of regolithic breccias, which once resided on or close to the surface of its parent body [2]. This lends some support to the idea that the light portion is an exotic clast in a dark host rock or vice versa; (ii) the two lithologies represent materials of a body having compositions between L and LL tentatively designated as L/LL [3,4]. Therefore additional electron microprobe analyses (EPMA) of silicates and kamacites in combination with neutron-activation analyses (INAA) of a light and a dark fragment and a noble gas analysis of a mixed light-dark fragment were undertaken. RESULTS and DISCUSSION. The light lithology in two thin sections shows olivine compositions in the L range (24.5+-0.3% Fa) and kamacite compositions (13.0+-1.3 mg/g Co) close to the LL range, plotting in the L/LL rather than in the L field on a kamacite-Co vs. olivine-Fa diagram [3,4]. Whereas only one aberrant olivine grain (out of 50) was found in the light portion, the dark portion is less homogeneous: one thin section shows olivine and kamacite

  11. Cadmium Isotope Variations in Bulk Chondrites: The Effect of Thermal Neutron Capture

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Toth, E. R.; Schönbächler, M.; Friebel, M.; Fehr, M. A.

    2017-07-01

    Cadmium isotope data will be presented for bulk carbonaceous and enstatite chondrites, and acid leachates of Jbilet Winselwan (CM). Results of bulk samples show Cd isotope variations that are in good agreement with models of thermal neutron capture.

  12. Organic Analysis in the Miller Range 090657 CR2 Chondrite: Part 3 C and N Isotopic Imaging

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Messenger, S.; Nakamura-Messenger, K.; Elsila, J. E.; Berger, E. L.; Burton, A. S.; Clemett, S. J.; Cao, T.

    2016-01-01

    Primitive carbonaceous chondrites contain a wide variety of organic material, ranging from soluble discrete molecules to insoluble nanoglobules of macro-molecular carbon. The relationship between the soluble organic molecules, macromolecular organic material, and host minerals are poorly understood. Large H, C and N isotopic anomalies suggest some organic components formed in low-T interstellar or outer Solar System environments. The highest isotope anomalies occur in m-scale inclusions in the most primitive materials, such as cometary dust and the least altered carbonaceous chondrites. Often, the hosts of these isotopically anomalous 'hotspots' are discrete organic nanoglobules that probably formed in the outermost reaches of the protosolar disk or cold molecular cloud. Molecular and isotopic studies of meteoritic organic matter are aimed at identifying the chemical properties and formation processes of interstellar organic materials and the subsequent chemical evolutionary pathways in various Solar System environments. The combination of soluble and insoluble analyses with in situ and bulk studies provides powerful constraints on the origin and evolution of organic matter in the Solar System. Using macroscale extraction and analysis techniques as well as microscale in situ observations we have been studying both insoluble and soluble organic material in primitive astromaterial samples. Here, we present results of bulk C and N isotopic measurements and coordinated in situ C and N isotopic imaging and mineralogical and textural studies of carbonaceous materials in a Cr2 carbonaceous chondrite. In accompanying abstracts we discuss the morphology and distribution of carbonaceous components and soluble organic species of this meteorite.

  13. High-precision Mg isotopic systematics of bulk chondrites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Schiller, Martin; Handler, Monica R.; Baker, Joel A.

    2010-08-01

    Variations of the mass-independent abundance of 26Mg ( δ26Mg*) and stable Mg ( δ25Mg) isotope composition of chondrites are important because they constrain the homogeneity of 26Al and Mg isotopes in the proto-planetary disc and the validity of the short-lived 26Al-to- 26Mg chronometer applied to meteorites. We present high-precision Mg isotope data and Al/Mg ratios of chondrites representing nearly all major chondrite classes, including a step-leaching experiment on the CM2 chondrite Murchison. δ26Mg* variations in leachates of Murchison representing acid soluble material are ≤ 30 times smaller than reported for neutron-rich isotopes of Ti and Cr and do not reveal resolvable deficits in δ26Mg* (-0.002 to + 0.118‰). Very small variations in δ26Mg* anomalies in bulk chondrites (-0.006 to + 0.019‰) correlate with increasing 27Al/ 24Mg ratios and δ50Ti, reflecting the variable presence of calcium-aluminium-rich inclusions (CAIs) in some types of carbonaceous chondrites. Similarly, release of radiogenic 26Mg produced by 26Al decay from CAI material in the step-leaching of Murchison best explains the high δ26Mg* observed in the last, aggressive, leaching steps of this experiment. Overall, the observed variations in δ26Mg* are small and potential differences beyond that which result from the presence of CAI-like material cannot be detected within the analytical uncertainties of this study (± 0.004‰). The results do not allow radical heterogeneity of 26Al (≥±30%) or measurable Mg nucleosynthetic heterogeneity (≥±0.005‰) to have existed on a planetesimal scale in the proto-planetary disc. Combined with published δ26Mg* data for CAIs, the bulk chondrite data yield a precise initial ( 26Al/ 27Al) 0 = (5.21 ± 0.06) × 10 -5 and δ26Mg* = -0.0340 ± 0.0016‰ for the Solar System. However, it is not possible with the currently available data to determine with certainty whether CAIs and the material from which planetesimals accreted including

  14. Formation and transformations of Fe-rich serpentines by asteroidal aqueous alteration processes: A nanoscale study of the Murray chondrite

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Elmaleh, Agnès; Bourdelle, Franck; Caste, Florent; Benzerara, Karim; Leroux, Hugues; Devouard, Bertrand

    2015-06-01

    Fe-rich serpentines are an abundant product of the early aqueous alteration events that affected the parent bodies of CM carbonaceous chondrites. Alteration assemblages in these meteorites show a large chemical variability and although water-rock interactions occurred under anoxic conditions, serpentines contain high amounts of ferric iron. To date very few studies have documented Fe valence variations in alteration assemblages of carbonaceous chondrites, limiting the understanding of the oxidation mechanisms. Here, we report results from a nanoscale study of a calcium-aluminum-rich inclusion (CAI) from the Murray chondrite, in which alteration resulted in Fe import and Ca export by the fluid phase and in massive Fe-rich serpentines formation. We combined scanning and transmission electron microscopies and scanning transmission X-ray microscopy for characterizing the crystal chemistry of Fe-serpentines. We used reference minerals with known crystallographic orientations to quantify the Fe valence state in Fe-rich serpentines using X-ray absorption spectroscopy at the Fe L2,3-edges, yielding a robust methodology that would prove valuable for studying oxidation processes in other terrestrial or extra-terrestrial cases of serpentinization. We suggest that aqueous Fe2+ was transported to the initially Fe-depleted CAI, where local changes in pH conditions, and possibly mineral catalysis by spinel promoted the partial oxidation of Fe2+ into Fe3+ by water and the formation of Fe-rich serpentines close to the cronstedtite endmember. Such mechanisms produce H2, which opens interesting perspectives as hydrogen may have reacted with carbon species, or escaped and yield increasingly oxidizing conditions in the parent asteroid. From the results of this nanoscale study, we also propose transformations of the initial cronstedtite, destabilized by later input of Al- and Mg-rich solutions, leading to Fe2+ leaching from serpentines, as well as to random serpentine

  15. The Relationship Between Cosmic-Ray Exposure Ages And Mixing Of CM Chondrite Lithologies

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Zolensky, M. E.; Takenouchi, A.; Gregory, T.; Nishiizumi, K.; Caffee, M.; Velbel, M. A.; Ross, K.; Zolensky, A.; Le, L.; Imae, N.; hide

    2017-01-01

    Carbonaceous (C) chondrites are primitive materials probably deriving from C, P and D asteroids, and as such potentially include samples and analogues of the target asteroids of the Dawn, Hayabusa2 and OSIRIS-Rex missions. Foremost among the C chondrites are the CM chondrites, the most common type, and which have experienced the widest range of early solar system processes including oxidation, hydration, metamorphism, and impact shock deformation, often repeatedly or cyclically [1]. To track the activity of these processes in the early solar system, it is critical to learn how many separate bodies are represented by the CMs. Nishiizumi and Caffee [2] have reported that the CMs are unique in displaying several distinct peaks for cosmic-ray exposure (CRE) age groups, and that excavation from significant depth and exposure as small entities in space is the best explanation for the observed radionuclide data. There are either 3 or 4 CRE groups for CMs (Fig.1). We decided to systematically characterize the petrography in each of the CRE age groups to determine whether the groups have significant petrographic differences with these reflecting different parent asteroid geological processing or multiple original bodies. We previously re-ported preliminary results of our work [3], however we have now reexamined these meteorites from the perspective of brecciation, with interesting new results.

  16. The Th and U abundances in chondritic meteorites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Chen, J. H.; Wasserburg, G. J.; Papanastassiou, D. A.

    1993-01-01

    We present new analyses of Th-232/U-238 in CI and CM meteorites. The relative abundance of these nuclides is important in estimates of the age of r-process elements. The cosmochronology based upon the Th-232/U-238 ratio (kappa) depends on the precise determinations of these two different elements in meteorites and on the production ratios. Both parameters are subject to substantial errors. Recent recalculations of this chronology have used selected values from compilations but do not adequately address the errors in terms of a reliable data base. Morgan and Lovering provided extensive neutron activation analyses for ordinary chondrites which yield an average kappa of 3.6 +/- 0.4. Their work on carbonaceous chondrites showed a wide range in kappa from 2 to 6. More recent investigations by isotopic dilution have established the following: (1) highly variable kappa from 2.7 to 11 in Allende Ca-Al-rich inclusions and a value of 3.6 in the Orgueil CI1 chondrite; (2) a range from 2.71 to 6.63 for 7 L-type chondrites and a range from 2.7 to 4.4 for 6 L, H, and LL chondrites. A further investigation of this subject matter is presented.

  17. Compound-Specific Carbon, Nitrogen, and Hydrogen Isotopic Ratios for Amino Acids in CM and CR Chondrites and their use in Evaluating Potential Formation Pathways

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Elsila, Jamie E.; Charnley, Steven B.; Burton, Aaron S.; Glavin, Daniel P.; Dworkin, Jason P.

    2012-01-01

    Stable hydrogen, carbon, and nitrogen isotopic ratios (oD, 013C, and olSN) of organic compounds can revcal information about their origin and formation pathways. Several formation mechanisms and environments have been postulated for the amino acids detected in carbonaceous chondrites. As each proposed mechanism utilizes different precursor molecules, the isotopic signatures of the resulting amino acids may indicate the most likely of these pathways. We have applied gas chromatography with mass spectrometry and combustion isotope ratio mass spectrometry to measure the compound-specific C, N, and H stable isotopic ratios of amino acids from seven CM and CR carbonaceous chondrites: CM1I2 Allan Hills (ALH) 83100, CM2 Murchison, CM2 Lewis Cliff (LEW) 90500, CM2 Lonewolf Nunataks (LON) 94101, CRZ Graves Nunataks (GRA) 95229, CRZ Elephant Moraine (EET) 92042, and CR3 Queen Alexandra Range (QUE) 99177. We compare the isotopic compositions of amino acids in these meteorites with predictions of expected isotopic enrichments from potential formation pathways. We observe trends of decreasing ODC and increasing oD with increasing carbon number in the aH, (l-NH2 amino acids that correspond to predictions made for formation via Streckercyanohydrin synthesis. We also observe light ODC signatures for -alanine, which may indicate either formation via Michael addition or via a pathway that forms primarily small, straight-chain, amine-terminal amino acids (n-ro-amino acids). Higher deuterium enrichments are observed in amethyl amino acids, indicating formation of these amino acids or their precursors in cold interstellar or nebular environments. Finally, individual amino acids are more enriched in deuterium in CR chondrites than CM chondrites, reflecting different parent-body chemistry.

  18. Coordinated Isotopic and Mineral Characterization of Highly Fractionated 18O-Rich Silicates in the Queen Alexandra Range 99177 CR3 Chondrite

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Nguyen, A. N.; Keller, L. P.; Messenger, S.; Rahman, Z.

    2016-01-01

    Carbonaceous chondrites contain a mixture of solar system condensates, pre-solar grains, and primitive organic matter. Each of these materials record conditions and processes in different regions of the solar nebula, on the meteorite parent body, and beyond the solar system. Oxygen isotopic studies of meteorite components can trace interactions of distinct oxygen isotopic reservoirs in the early solar system and secondary alteration processes. The O isotopic compositions of the earliest solar system condensates fall along a carbonaceous chondrite anhydrous mineral (CCAM) line of slope approximately 1 in a plot of delta 17O against delta 18O. This trend is attributed to mixing of material from 16O-poor and 16O-rich reservoirs. Secondary processing can induce mass-dependent fractionation of the O isotopes, shifting these compositions along a line of slope approximately 0.52. Substantial mass-dependent fractionation of O isotopes has been observed in secondary minerals in CAIs, calcite, and FUN inclusions. These fractionations were caused by significant thermal or aqueous alteration. We recently reported the identification of four silicate grains with extremely fractionated O isotopic ratios (delta 18O equals 37 - 55 per mille) in the minimally altered CR3 chondrite QUE 99177. TEM analysis of one grain indicates it is a nebular condensate that did not experience substantial alteration. The history of these grains is thus distinct from those of the aforementioned fractionated materials. To constrain the origin of the silicate grains, we conducted further Mg and Fe isotopic studies and TEM analyses of two grains.

  19. Thermal and impact history of the H chondrite parent asteroid during metamorphism: Constraints from metallic Fe-Ni

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Scott, Edward R. D.; Krot, Tatiana V.; Goldstein, Joseph I.; Wakita, Shigeru

    2014-07-01

    We have studied cloudy taenite, metallographic cooling rates, and shock effects in 30 H3-6 chondrites to elucidate the thermal and early impact history of the H chondrite parent body. We focused on H chondrites with old Ar-Ar ages (>4.4 Gyr) and unshocked and mildly shocked H chondrites, as strongly shocked chondrites with such old ages are very rare. Cooling rates for most H chondrites at 500 °C are 10-50 °C/Myr and do not decrease systematically with increasing petrologic type as predicted by the onion-shell model in which types 3-5 are arranged in concentric layers around a type 6 core. Some type 4 chondrites cooled slower than some type 6 chondrites and type 3 chondrites did not cool faster than other types, contrary to the onion-shell model. Cloudy taenite particle sizes, which range from 40 to 120 nm, are inversely correlated with metallographic cooling rates and show that the latter were not compromised by shock heating. The three H4 chondrites that were used to develop the onion-shell model, Ste. Marguerite, Beaver Creek, and Forest Vale, cooled through 500 °C at ⩾5000 °C/Myr. Our thermal modeling shows that these rates are 50× higher than could be achieved in a body that was heated by 26Al and cooled without disturbance by impact. Published Ar-Ar ages do not decrease systematically with increasing petrologic type but do correlate inversely with cloudy taenite particle size suggesting that impact mixing decreased during metamorphism. Metal and silicate compositions in regolith breccias show that impacts mixed material after metamorphism without causing significant heating. Impacts during metamorphism created Portales Valley and two other H6 chondrites with large metallic veins, excavated the fast-cooled H4 chondrites around 3-4 Myr after accretion, and mixed petrologic types. Metallographic data do not require catastrophic disruption by impact during cooling.

  20. Volatiles in interplanetary dust particles: A comparison with CI and CM chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Bustin, Roberta

    1992-01-01

    In an effort to classify and determine the origin of interplanetary dust particles (IDPs), 14 of these particles were studied using a laser microprobe/mass spectrometer. The mass spectra for these particles varied dramatically. Some particles released hydroxide or water which probably originated in hydroxide-bearing minerals or hydrates. Others produced spectra which included a number of hydrocarbons and resembled meteorite spectra. However, none of the individual IDPs gave spectra which could be matched identically with a particular meteorite type such as a CI or CM carbonaceous chondrite. We believe this was due to the fact that 10-20 micron size IDPs are too small to be representative of the parent body. To verify that the diversity was due primarily to the small particle sizes, small grains of approximately the same size range as the IDPs were obtained from two primitive meteorites, Murchison and Orgueil, and these small meteorite particles were treated exactly like the IDPs. Considerable diversity was observed among individual grains, but a composite spectrum of all the grains from one meteorite closely resembled the spectrum obtained from a much larger sample of that meteorite. A composite spectrum of the 14 IDPs also resembled the spectra of the CM and CI meteorites, pointing to a possible link between IDPs and carbonaceous chondrites. This also illustrates that despite the inherent diversity in particles as small as 10-20 micron, conclusions can be drawn about the possible origin and overall composition of such particles by looking not only at results from individual particles but also by including many particles in a study and basing conclusions on some kind of composite data.

  1. Detecting Nonvolatile Life- and Nonlife-Derived Organics in a Carbonaceous Chondrite Analogue with a New Multiplex Immunoassay and Its Relevance for Planetary Exploration.

    PubMed

    Moreno-Paz, Mercedes; Gómez-Cifuentes, Ana; Ruiz-Bermejo, Marta; Hofstetter, Oliver; Maquieira, Ángel; Manchado, Juan M; Morais, Sergi; Sephton, Mark A; Niessner, Reinhard; Knopp, Dietmar; Parro, Victor

    2018-04-11

    Potential martian molecular targets include those supplied by meteoritic carbonaceous chondrites such as amino acids and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and true biomarkers stemming from any hypothetical martian biota (organic architectures that can be directly related to once living organisms). Heat extraction and pyrolysis-based methods currently used in planetary exploration are highly aggressive and very often modify the target molecules making their identification a cumbersome task. We have developed and validated a mild, nondestructive, multiplex inhibitory microarray immunoassay and demonstrated its implementation in the SOLID (Signs of Life Detector) instrument for simultaneous detection of several nonvolatile life- and nonlife-derived organic molecules relevant in planetary exploration and environmental monitoring. By utilizing a set of highly specific antibodies that recognize D- or L- aromatic amino acids (Phe, Tyr, Trp), benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), pentachlorophenol, and sulfone-containing aromatic compounds, respectively, the assay was validated in the SOLID instrument for the analysis of carbon-rich samples used as analogues of the organic material in carbonaceous chondrites or even Mars samples. Most of the antibodies enabled sensitivities at the 1-10 ppb level and some even at the ppt level. The multiplex immunoassay allowed the detection of B[a]P as well as aromatic sulfones in a water/methanol extract of an Early Cretaceous lignite sample (c.a., 140 Ma) representing type IV kerogen. No L- or D-aromatic amino acids were detected, reflecting the advanced diagenetic stage and the fossil nature of the sample. The results demonstrate the ability of the liquid extraction by ultrasonication and the versatility of the multiplex inhibitory immunoassays in the SOLID instrument to discriminate between organic matter derived from life and nonlife processes, an essential step toward life detection outside Earth. Key Words: Planetary exploration

  2. Halogens in chondritic meteorites and terrestrial accretion

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Clay, Patricia L.; Burgess, Ray; Busemann, Henner; Ruzié-Hamilton, Lorraine; Joachim, Bastian; Day, James M. D.; Ballentine, Christopher J.

    2017-11-01

    Volatile element delivery and retention played a fundamental part in Earth’s formation and subsequent chemical differentiation. The heavy halogens—chlorine (Cl), bromine (Br) and iodine (I)—are key tracers of accretionary processes owing to their high volatility and incompatibility, but have low abundances in most geological and planetary materials. However, noble gas proxy isotopes produced during neutron irradiation provide a high-sensitivity tool for the determination of heavy halogen abundances. Using such isotopes, here we show that Cl, Br and I abundances in carbonaceous, enstatite, Rumuruti and primitive ordinary chondrites are about 6 times, 9 times and 15-37 times lower, respectively, than previously reported and usually accepted estimates. This is independent of the oxidation state or petrological type of the chondrites. The ratios Br/Cl and I/Cl in all studied chondrites show a limited range, indistinguishable from bulk silicate Earth estimates. Our results demonstrate that the halogen depletion of bulk silicate Earth relative to primitive meteorites is consistent with the depletion of lithophile elements of similar volatility. These results for carbonaceous chondrites reveal that late accretion, constrained to a maximum of 0.5 ± 0.2 per cent of Earth’s silicate mass, cannot solely account for present-day terrestrial halogen inventories. It is estimated that 80-90 per cent of heavy halogens are concentrated in Earth’s surface reservoirs and have not undergone the extreme early loss observed in atmosphere-forming elements. Therefore, in addition to late-stage terrestrial accretion of halogens and mantle degassing, which has removed less than half of Earth’s dissolved mantle gases, the efficient extraction of halogen-rich fluids from the solid Earth during the earliest stages of terrestrial differentiation is also required to explain the presence of these heavy halogens at the surface. The hydropilic nature of halogens, whereby they track

  3. Zhamanshin astrobleme provides evidence for carbonaceous chondrite and post-impact exchange between ejecta and Earth's atmosphere.

    PubMed

    Magna, Tomáš; Žák, Karel; Pack, Andreas; Moynier, Frédéric; Mougel, Bérengère; Peters, Stefan; Skála, Roman; Jonášová, Šárka; Mizera, Jiří; Řanda, Zdeněk

    2017-08-09

    Chemical fingerprints of impacts are usually compromised by extreme conditions in the impact plume, and the contribution of projectile matter to impactites does not often exceed a fraction of per cent. Here we use chromium and oxygen isotopes to identify the impactor and impact-plume processes for Zhamanshin astrobleme, Kazakhstan. ε 54 Cr values up to 1.54 in irghizites, part of the fallback ejecta, represent the 54 Cr-rich extremity of the Solar System range and suggest a CI-like chondrite impactor. Δ 17 O values as low as -0.22‰ in irghizites, however, are incompatible with a CI-like impactor. We suggest that the observed 17 O depletion in irghizites relative to the terrestrial range is caused by partial isotope exchange with atmospheric oxygen (Δ 17 O = -0.47‰) following material ejection. In contrast, combined Δ 17 O-ε 54 Cr data for central European tektites (distal ejecta) fall into the terrestrial range and neither impactor fingerprint nor oxygen isotope exchange with the atmosphere are indicated.Identifying the original impactor from craters remains challenging. Here, the authors use chromium and oxygen isotopes to indicate that the Zhamanshin astrobleme impactor was a carbonaceous chrondrite by demonstrating that depleted 17O values are due to exchange with atmospheric oxygen.

  4. Aqueous Alteration of Enstatite Chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Zolensky, M. E.; Ziegler, K.; Weisberg, M. K.; Gounelle, M.; Berger, E. L.; Le, L.; Ivanov, A.

    2014-01-01

    The Kaidun meteorite is different from all other meteorites [1], consisting largely of a mixture of “incompatible” types of meteoritic material – carbonaceous and enstatite chondrites, i.e. corre-sponding to the most oxidized and the most reduced samples of meteorite materials, including CI1, CM1-2, CV3, EH3-5, and EL3. In addition to these, minor amounts of ordinary and R chondrites are present. In addition, approximately half of the Kaidun lithologies are new materials not known as separate meteorites. Among these are aqueously altered enstatite chondrites [1], which are of considerable interest because they testify that not all reduced asteroids escaped late-stage oxidation, and hydrolysis, and also because hydrated poorly crystalline Si-Fe phase, which in turn is re-placed by serpentine (Figs 3-5). In the end the only indication of the original presence of metal is the re-sidual carbides. In other enstatite chondrite lithogies (of uncertain type) original silicates and metal have been thoroughly replaced by an assemblage of authi-genic plagioclase laths, calcite boxwork, and occasion-al residual grains of silica, Cr-rich troilite, ilmenite, and rare sulfides including heideite (Fig. 6). Fe and S have been largely leached from the rock (Fig. 4). Again the accessory phases are the first clue to the original character of the rock, which can be verified by O isotopes. It is fortunate that Kaidun displays every step of the alteration process.

  5. Refractory inclusions from the ungrouped carbonaceous chondrites MAC 87300 and MAC 88107

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Russell, Sara S.; Davis, Andrew M.; MacPherson, Glenn J.; Guan, Yunbin; Huss, Gary R.

    2000-09-01

    MAC 87300 and MAC 88107 are two unusual carbonaceous chondrites that are intermediate in chemical composition between the CO3 and CM2 meteorite groups. Calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions (CAIs) from these two meteorites are mostly spinel-pyroxene and melilite-rich (Type A) varieties. Spinel-pyroxene inclusions have either a banded or nodular texture, with aluminous diopside rimming iron-poor spinel. Melilite-rich inclusions (4-42) are irregular in shape and contain minor spinel (FeO <1 wt%), perovskite and, more rarely, hibonite. The CAIs in MAC 88107 and MAC 87300 are similar in primary mineralogy to CAIs from low petrologic grade CO3 meteorites, but differ in that they commonly contain phyllosilicates. The two meteorites also differ somewhat from each other: melilite is more abundant and slightly more aluminum-rich in inclusions from MAC 88107 than in those from MAC 87300, and phyllosilicate is more abundant and magnesium-poor in MAC 87300 CAIs relative to that in MAC 88107. These differences suggest that the two meteorites are not paired. CAI sizes and the abundance of melilite-rich CAIs in MAC 88107 and MAC 87300 suggests a genetic relationship to CO3 meteorites, but the CAIs in both have suffered a greater degree of aqueous alteration than is observed in COs. Al-rich melilite in CAIs from both meteorites generally contains excess 26Mg, presumably from the in situ decay of 26Al. Although well-defined isochrons are not observed, the 26Mg excesses are consistent with initial 26Al/27Al ~3-5 ( 10-5. An unusual hibonite-bearing inclusion is isotopically heterogeneous, with two large and abutting hibonite crystals showing significant differences in their degrees of mass-dependent fractionation of 25Mg/24Mg. The two crystals also show differences in their inferred initial 26Al/27Al, 1 ( 10-5 vs. 3 ( 10-6.

  6. Anomalous REE patterns in unequilibrated enstatite chondrites: Evidence and implications

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Crozaz, Ghislaine; Hsu, Weibiao

    1993-01-01

    We present here a study of Rare Earth Element (REE) microdistributions in unequilibrated enstatite chondrites (EOC's). Although the whole rock REE contents are similar in both unequilibrated and equilibrated chondrites, the host minerals of these refractory elements are different. In the least equilibrated ordinary chondrites (UOC's), the REE reside mainly in glass whereas, in their more equilibrated counterparts, the bulk of the REE is in calcium phosphate, a metamorphic mineral that formed by oxidation of phosphorous originally contained in metal. In the smaller group of enstatite (E) chondrites, calcium phosphate is absent and the phase that contains the highest REE concentrations is a minor mineral, CaS (oldhamite), which contains approximately 50 percent of the total Ca present. In E chondrites, elements typically considered to be lithophiles (such as Ca and Mn) occur in sulfides rather than silicates. This indicates formation under extremely reducing conditions, thus in a region of the solar nebula distinct from those that supplied the more abundant ordinary and carbonaceous chondrites. Previously, we observed a variety of REE patterns in the oldhamite of UEC's; they range from almost flat to some with pronounced positive Eu and Yb anomalies. Here, we searched for complementary REE patterns in other minerals from E chondrites and found them in the major mineral, enstatite. Whenever Eu and Yb anomalies are present in this mineral, they are always negative.

  7. Space Weathering of Ordinary Chondrite Parent Bodies, Its Impact on the Method of Distinguishing H, L, and LL Types and Implications for Itokawa Samples Returned by the Hayabusa Mission

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hiroi, T.; Sasaki, S.; Noble, S. K.; Pieters, C. M.

    2011-01-01

    As the most abundance meteorites in our collections, ordinary chondrites potentially have very important implications on the origin and formation of our Solar System. In order to map the distribution of ordinary chondrite-like asteroids through remote sensing, the space weathering effects of ordinary chondrite parent bodies must be addressed through experiments and modeling. Of particular importance is the impact on distinguishing different types (H/L/LL) of ordinary chondrites. In addition, samples of asteroid Itokawa returned by the Hayabusa spacecraft may re veal the mechanism of space weathering on an LLchondrite parent body. Results of space weathering simulations on ordinary chondrites and implications for Itokawa samples are presented here.

  8. Amino Acids and Chirality

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Cook, Jamie E.

    2012-01-01

    Amino acids are among the most heavily studied organic compound class in carbonaceous chondrites. The abundance, distributions, enantiomeric compositions, and stable isotopic ratios of amino acids have been determined in carbonaceous chondrites fi'om a range of classes and petrographic types, with interesting correlations observed between these properties and the class and typc of the chondritcs. In particular, isomeric distributions appear to correlate with parent bodies (chondrite class). In addition, certain chiral amino acids are found in enantiomeric excess in some chondrites. The delivery of these enantiomeric excesses to the early Earth may have contributed to the origin of the homochirality that is central to life on Earth today. This talk will explore the amino acids in carbonaceous chondritcs and their relevance to the origin of life.

  9. Compound-specific carbon, nitrogen, and hydrogen isotopic ratios for amino acids in CM and CR chondrites and their use in evaluating potential formation pathways

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Elsila, Jamie E.; Charnley, Steven B.; Burton, Aaron S.; Glavin, Daniel P.; Dworkin, Jason P.

    2012-09-01

    Stable hydrogen, carbon, and nitrogen isotopic ratios (δD, δ13C, and δ15N) of organic compounds can reveal information about their origin and formation pathways. Several formation mechanisms and environments have been postulated for the amino acids detected in carbonaceous chondrites. As each proposed mechanism utilizes different precursor molecules, the isotopic signatures of the resulting amino acids may indicate the most likely of these pathways. We have applied gas chromatography with mass spectrometry and combustion isotope ratio mass spectrometry to measure the compound-specific C, N, and H stable isotopic ratios of amino acids from seven CM and CR carbonaceous chondrites: CM1/2 Allan Hills (ALH) 83100, CM2 Murchison, CM2 Lewis Cliff (LEW) 90500, CM2 Lonewolf Nunataks (LON) 94101, CR2 Graves Nunataks (GRA) 95229, CR2 Elephant Moraine (EET) 92042, and CR3 Queen Alexandra Range (QUE) 99177. We compare the isotopic compositions of amino acids in these meteorites with predictions of expected isotopic enrichments from potential formation pathways. We observe trends of decreasing δ13C and increasing δD with increasing carbon number in the α-H, α-NH2 amino acids that correspond to predictions made for formation via Strecker-cyanohydrin synthesis. We also observe light δ13C signatures for β-alanine, which may indicate either formation via Michael addition or via a pathway that forms primarily small, straight-chain, amine-terminal amino acids (n-ω-amino acids). Higher deuterium enrichments are observed in α-methyl amino acids, indicating formation of these amino acids or their precursors in cold interstellar or nebular environments. Finally, individual amino acids are more enriched in deuterium in CR chondrites than in CM chondrites, reflecting different parent-body chemistry.

  10. Matrix mineralogy of the Lance CO3 carbonaceous chondrite - A transmission electron microscope study

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Keller, Lindsay P.; Buseck, Peter R.

    1990-01-01

    Results are presented on electron microprobe analyses of three CO chondrites, all of which are falls: Lance, Kainsaz, and Warrenton. The TEM mineralogy results of Lance chondrite show that Fe-rich matrix olivines have been altered to Fe-bearing serpentine and Fe(3+) oxide; matrix metal was also altered to produce Fe(3+) oxides, leaving the residual metal enriched in Ni. Olivine grains in Lance's matrix contain channels along their 100-line and 001-line directions; the formation and convergence of such channels resulted in a grain-size reduction of the olivine. A study of Kainsaz and Warrenton showed that these meteorites do not contain phyllosilicates in their matrices, although both contain Fe(3+) oxide between olivine grains. It is suggested that, prior to its alteration, Lance probably resembled Kainsaz, an unaltered CO3 chondrite.

  11. Temperature and rate of dehydration of major constituents of carbonaceous chondrites under vacuum conditions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pohl, Leos; Britt, Daniel

    2017-10-01

    Some sub-types of carbonaceous chondrites contain a significant amount of hydrated minerals which produce specific absorption lines, typically due to the presence of hydroxyls. However, if these asteroids have come close enough to the Sun during their history, the high temperatures might have resulted in mineral decomposition and consequent loss of hydroxyl (or water) molecules in the surface layer and even to certain depths. Determination of the hydration state of phyllosilicates typically found on asteroids as well as the relative quantities of hydrated to desiccated phyllosilicates relies on experimental data - the temperature and rate of dehydration. Both dehydration temperature and rate depend on pressure. The rate also depends on the temperature. Experimentally determined phase curves for serpentine, that show for example decomposition of antigorite to forsterite and enstatite or talc and water, exist for GPa pressure levels. For antigorite, these temperatures span the range 500-750°C for pressures between 0.1 GPa and 8 GPa. However, these data are not suitable for vacuum environment found on asteroids; further, at lower pressures, the available data suggest a monotonically decreasing dehydration temperature with decreasing pressure. Also, the available data suggest dependence of both dehydration temperature and rate on the grain size distribution of the mineral. We have determined the temperature and rate of dehydration of the serpentine polymorphs antigorite, lizardite, cronstedtite, under high vacuum conditions and for various grain size distributions. The grain size distributions have been determined by particle analyzer and each sample source was also analyzed using X-Ray Diffraction.

  12. Fayalite-silica association in unequilibrated ordinary chondrites: Evidence for aqueous alteration on a parent body

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Wasson, John T.; Krot, Alexander N

    1994-01-01

    We report ten occurrences of high-fayalite (Fa56-99 mol%; four with Fa greater than 82 mol%) olivine in association with silica in type-3 ordinary chondrites. Pyroxene with high Fs contents is much less common; Fs contents do not exceed 66 mol%, and most maxima are less than 50 mol%. In those cases where the amount of fayalite is minor relative to that of silica, the fayalite forms a layer on the silica, and shows textural evidence of formation by reaction of silica with oxidized Fe; the latter seems to have resulted from reaction of metallic Fe-Ni with an oxidant, most likely H2O vapor. The fayalite is generally in contact with pyroxene (and, in one case, olivine) having a much lower Fe/(Fe + Mg) ratios, indicating that lattice diffusion has been minimal. Formation of fayalite from SiO2 explains the low Mg content of this olivine; the Mg was sequestered inside the lattices of mafic minerals and was thus inaccessible. In contrast, the moderately high Mn contents of the fayalite indicate that an appreciable fraction of the Mn in the precursor assemblage was accessible; it was probably sited in the matrix in the form of tiny, poorly crystallized oxide grains produced by nebular condensation at temperatures too low to permit diffusion into forsterite or enstatite. The reaction of SiO2 with FeO produced by oxidation (during metamorphism) of Fe-Ni can also account for fayalitic olivine associated with SiO2 microspherules in the fine-grained matrices of type-3 ordinary chondrites and, because matrix is SiO2 normative, for other occurrences of fayalite in matrix. The presence of Mn in the fayalitic rims on the olivine of carbonaceous chondrites does not require a nebular sign.

  13. N-15-Rich Organic Globules in a Cluster IDP and the Bells CM2 Chondrite

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Messenger, S.; Nakamura-Messenger, K.; Keller, Lindsay P.

    2008-01-01

    Organic matter in primitive meteorites and chondritic porous interplanetary dust particles (CP IDPs) is commonly enriched in D/H and 15N/14N relative to terrestrial values [1-3]. These anomalies are ascribed to the partial preservation of presolar cold molecular cloud material [1]. Some meteorites and IDPs contain m-size inclusions with extreme H and N isotopic anomalies [2-4], possibly due to preserved pristine primordial organic grains. We recently showed that the in the Tagish Lake meteorite, the principle carriers of these anomalies are sub- m, hollow organic globules [5]. The globules likely formed by photochemical processing of organic ices in a cold molecular cloud or the outermost regions of the protosolar disk [5]. We proposed that similar materials should be common among primitive meteorites, IDPs, and comets. Similar objects have been observed in organic extracts of carbonaceous chondrites [6-8], however their N and H isotopic compositions are generally unknown. Bulk H and N isotopic compositions may indicate which meteorites best preserve interstellar organic compounds. Thus, we selected the Bells CM2 carbonaceous chondrites for study based on its large bulk 15N (+335 %) and D (+990 %) [9].

  14. Coordinates Analyses of Hydrated Interplanetary Dust Particles: Samples of Primitive Solar System Bodies

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Keller, L. P.; Snead, C.; McKeegan, K. D.

    2016-01-01

    Interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) collected in the stratosphere fall into two major groups: an anhydrous group termed the "chondritic-porous (CP) IDPs and a hydrated group, the "chondritic-smooth (CS) IDPs, although rare IDPs with mineralogies intermediate between these two groups are known [1]. The CP-IDPs are widely believed to be derived from cometary sources [e.g. 2]. The hydrated CS-IDPs show mineralogical similarities to heavily aqueously altered carbonaceous chondrites (e.g. CI chondrites), but only a few have been directly linked to carbonaceous meteorite parent bodies [e.g. 3, 4]. Most CS-IDPs show distinct chemical [5] and oxygen isotopic composition differences [6-8] from primitive carbonaceous chondrites. Here, we report on our coordinated analyses of a suite of carbon-rich CS-IDPs focusing on their bulk compositions, mineralogy, mineral chemistry, and isotopic compositions.

  15. Organic Chemistry of Carbonaceous Meteorites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Cronin, John R.

    2001-01-01

    Chiral and carbon-isotopic analyses of isovaline have been carried out on numerous samples of the Murchison and one sample of the Murray carbonaceous chondrite. The isovaline was found to be heterogeneous with regard to enantiomeric excess (ee) both between samples and within a single Murchison sample. L-Excesses ranging from 0 to 15% were observed. The isovaline delta(sup 13) C was found to be about +18%. No evidence was obtained suggesting terrestrial contamination in the more abundant L-enantiomer. A correlation was observed between isovaline (also alpha - aminoisobutyric acid) concentration and PCP content of five CM chondrites. It is suggested that isovaline, along with other meteoritic a-methyl amino acids with ee, are of presolar origin. The possible formation of ee in extraterrestrial amino acids by exposure to circularly polarized light or by magnetochiral photochemistry is discussed. Key words: Murchison meteorite, Murray meteorite, amino acids, isovaline, chirality, carbon isotopes, PCP.

  16. Parent Body Influences on Amino Acids in the Tagish Lake Meteorite

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Glavin, D. P.; Callahan, M. P.; Dworkin, J. P.; Elsila, J. E.; Herd, C. D. K.

    2010-01-01

    The Tagish Lake meteorite is a primitive C2 carbonaceous chondrite with a mineralogy, oxygen isotope, and bulk chemical. However, in contrast to many CI and CM carbonaceous chondrites, the Tagish Lake meteorite was reported to have only trace levels of indigenous amino acids, with evidence for terrestrial L-amino acid contamination from the Tagish Lake meltwater. The lack of indigenous amino acids in Tagish Lake suggested that they were either destroyed during parent body alteration processes and/or the Tagish Lake meteorite originated on a chemically distinct parent body from CI and CM meteorites where formation of amino acids was less favorable. We recently measured the amino acid composition of three different lithologies (11h, 5b, and 11i) of pristine Tagish Lake meteorite fragments that represent a range of progressive aqueous alteration in order 11h < 5b < 11i as inferred from the mineralogy, petrology, bulk isotopes, and insoluble organic matter structure. The distribution and enantiomeric abundances of the one- to six-carbon aliphatic amino acids found in hot-water extracts of the Tagish Lake fragments were determined by ultra performance liquid chromatography fluorescence detection and time of flight mass spectrometry coupled with OPA/NAC derivatization. Stable carbon isotope analyses of the most abundant amino acids in 11h were measured with gas chromatography coupled with quadrupole mass spectrometry and isotope ratio mass spectrometry.

  17. Highly Siderophile Elements, 187Re-187 Os and 182Hf-182W Isotopic Systematics of Early Solar System Materials: Constraining the Early Evolution of Chondritic and Achondritic Parent Bodies

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Archer, Gregory J.

    Highly siderophile element (HSE) abundances and 187Re- 187Os isotopic systematics for H chondrites and ungrouped achondrites, as well as 182Hf-182W isotopic systematics of H and CR chondrites are reported. Achondrite fractions with higher HSE abundances show little disturbance of 187Re-187Os isotopic systematics. By contrast, isotopic systematics for lower abundance fractions are consistent with minor Re mobilization. For magnetically separated H chondrite fractions, the magnitudes of disturbance for the 187Re-187Os isotopic system follow the trend coarse-metal isotopic system follow the trend coarse-metalchondritic and consistent with limited large-scale differentiation of its parent body. Most likely, this rock formed on a chondritic parent body, and crystallized from a melt from which little or no metal was removed. Modest variations in the relative HSE abundances among bulk pieces may have been the result of sulfide loss or evolving oxidation state during crystallization. The HSE abundances of ungrouped achondrite NWA 7325 are highly fractionated and depleted, relative to bulk chondrites. Therefore, its parent body must have undergone complex processing, including core formation, late accretion, and igneous processes. A negative thermal ionization mass spectrometry (N-TIMS) technique was developed to measure the W isotopic compositions of H chondrite metal fractions. This method is capable of measuring 182W/184W to an external precision of 5.7 ppm and 183W/184W to 6.7 ppm, which is ˜2-3x more precise than the most recently published technique capable of measuring 182W/184W and 183W/184W. The HSE abundances of H chondrite nonmagnetic fractions are too high to reflect equilibration between metals and silicates. There is also no correlation between metamorphic grade and apparent degree of equilibration. The 182Hf-182W isotopic systematics of H chondrite

  18. Spectral reflectance "deconstruction" of the Murchison CM2 carbonaceous chondrite and implications for spectroscopic investigations of dark asteroids

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cloutis, Edward A.; Pietrasz, Valerie B.; Kiddell, Cain; Izawa, Matthew R. M.; Vernazza, Pierre; Burbine, Thomas H.; DeMeo, Francesca; Tait, Kimberly T.; Bell, James F.; Mann, Paul; Applin, Daniel M.; Reddy, Vishnu

    2018-05-01

    Carbonaceous chondrites (CCs) are important materials for understanding the early evolution of the solar system and delivery of volatiles and organic material to the early Earth. Presumed CC-like asteroids are also the targets of two current sample return missions: OSIRIS-REx to asteroid Bennu and Hayabusa-2 to asteroid Ryugu, and the Dawn orbital mission at asteroid Ceres. To improve our ability to identify and characterize CM2 CC-type parent bodies, we have examined how factors such as particle size, particle packing, and viewing geometry affect reflectance spectra of the Murchison CM2 CC. The derived relationships have implications for disc-resolved examinations of dark asteroids and sampleability. It has been found that reflectance spectra of slabs are more blue-sloped (reflectance decreasing toward longer wavelengths as measured by the 1.8/0.6 μm reflectance ratio), and generally darker, than powdered sample spectra. Decreasing the maximum grain size of a powdered sample results in progressively brighter and more red-sloped spectra. Decreasing the average grain size of a powdered sample results in a decrease in diagnostic absorption band depths, and redder and brighter spectra. Decreasing porosity of powders and variations in surface texture result in spectral changes that may be different as a function of viewing geometry. Increasing thickness of loose dust on a denser powdered substrate leads to a decrease in absorption band depths. Changes in viewing geometry lead to different changes in spectral metrics depending on whether the spectra are acquired in backscatter or forward-scatter geometries. In backscattered geometry, increasing phase angle leads to an initial increase and then decrease in spectral slope, and a general decrease in visible region reflectance and absorption band depths, and frequent decreases in absorption band minima positions. In forward scattering geometry, increasing phase angle leads to small non-systematic changes in spectral slope

  19. Chondritic meteorites and the lunar surface.

    PubMed

    O'keefe, J A; Scott, R F

    1967-12-01

    The landing dynamics of and soil penetration by Surveyor I indicated that the lunar soil has a porosity in the range 0.35 to 0.45. Experiments with Surveyor III's surface sampler for soil mechanics show that the lunar soil is approximately incompressible (as the word is used in soil mechanics) and that it has an angle of internal friction of 35 to 37 degrees; these results likewise point to a porosity of 0.35 to 0.45 for the lunar soil. Combination of these porosity measurements with the already-determined radar reflectivity fixes limits to the dielectric constant of the grains of the lunar soil. The highest possible value is about 5.9, relative to vacuum; a more plausible value is near 4.3. Either figure is inconsistent with the idea that the lunar surface is covered by chondritic meteorites or other ultrabasic rocks. The data point to acid rocks, or possibly vesicular basalts; carbonaceous chondrites are not excluded.

  20. Carbon-rich Chondritic Clast PV1 from the Plainview H-chondrite Regolith Formation from H3 Chondrite Material by Possible Cometary Impact

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Rubin, Alan E.; Trigo-Rodriguez, Josep M.; Kunihiro, Takuya; Kallemeyn, Gregory W.; Wasson, John T.

    2006-01-01

    Chondritic clast PV1 from the Plainview H-chondrite regolith breccia is a subrounded, 5-mm diameter unequilibrated chondritic fragment that contains 13 wt% C occurring mainly within irregularly shaped 30-400-micron-size opaque patches. The clast formed from H3 chondrite material as indicated by the mean apparent chondrule diameter (310 micron vs. approximately 300 micron in H3 chondrites), the mean Mg-normalized refractory lithophile abundance ratio (1.00 +/- 0.09 XH), the previously determined 0-isotopic composition (Delta O-17 = 0.66% vs. 0.68 +/- 0.04%0 in H3 chondrites and 0.73 +/- 0.09% in H4-6 chondrites), the heterogeneous olivine compositions in grain cores (with a minimum range of Fal-19), and the presence of glass in some chondrules. Although the clast lacks the fine-grained, ferroan silicate matrix material present in type 3 ordinary chondrites, PV1 contains objects that appear to be recrystallized clumps of matrix material. Similarly, the apparent dearth of radial pyroxene and cryptocrystalline chondrules in PV1 is accounted for by the presence of some recrystallized fragments of these chondrule textural types. All of the chondrules in PV1 are interfused indicating that temperatures must have briefly reached approximately 1100C (the approximate solidus temperature of H-chondrite silicate). The most likely source of this heating was by an impact. Some metal was lost during impact heating as indicated by the moderately low abundance of metallic Fe-Ni in PV1 (approximately 14 wt%) compared to that in mean H chondrites (approximately 18 wt%). The carbon enrichment of the clast may have resulted from a second impact event, one involving a cometary projectile, possibly a Jupiter-family comet. As the clast cooled, it experienced hydrothermal alteration at low water/rock ratios as evidenced by the thick rims of ferroan olivine around low-FeO olivine cores. The C-rich chondritic clast was later incorporated into the H-chondrite parent-body regolith and

  1. A proposition for the classification of carbonaceous chondritic micrometeorites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Rietmeijer, Frans J. M.

    1994-01-01

    Classification of interplanetary dust particles (IDP's) should be unambiguous and, if possible, provide an opportunity to interrelate these ultrafine IDP's with the matrices of undifferentiated meteorites. I prefer a scheme of chemical groupings and petrologic classes that is based on primary IDP properties that can be determined without prejudice by individual investigators. For IDP's of 2-50 microns these properties are bulk elemental chemistry, morphology, shape, and optical properties. The two major chemical groups are readily determined by energy dispersive spectroscopic analysis using the scanning or analytical electron microscope. Refinement of chondritic IDP classification is possible using the dominant mineral species, e.g. olivine, pyroxene, and layer silicates, and is readily inferred from FTIR, and automated chemical analysis. Petrographic analysis of phyllosilicate-rich IDP's will identify smectite-rich and serpentine-rich particles. Chondritic IDP's are also classified according to morphology, viz., CP and CF IDP's are aggregate particles that differ significantly in porosity, while the dense CS IDP's have a smooth surface. The CP IDP's are characterized by an anhydrous silicate mineralogy, but small amounts of layer silicates may be present. Distinction between the CP and CF IDP's is somewhat ambiguous, but the unique CP IDP's are fluffy, or porous, ultrafine-grained aggregates. The CP IDP's, which may contain silicate whiskers, are the most carbon-rich extraterrestrial material presently known. The CF IDP's are much less porous that CP IDP's. Using particle type definitions, CP IDP's in the NASA JSC Cosmic Dust Catalogs are approx. 15 percent of all IDP's that include nonchondritic spheres. Most aggregate particles are of the CF type.

  2. Identification of Highly Fractionated (18)O-Rich Silicate Grains in the Queen Alexandra Range 99177 CR3 Chondrite

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Nguyen, A. N.; Keller, L. P.; Messenger, S.; Rahman, Z.

    2015-01-01

    Carbonaceous chondrites contain a mixture of solar system condensates, presolar grains, and primitive organic matter. The CR3 chondrite QUE 99177 has undergone minimal al-teration [1], exemplified by abundant presolar silicates [2, 3] and anomalous organic matter [4]. Oxygen isotopic imaging studies of this meteorite have focused on finding submicrometer anomalous grains in fine-grained regions of thin sections. Here we present re-sults of an O isotopic survey of larger matrix grains.

  3. Preliminary Compositional Comparisons of H-Chondrite Falls to Antarctic H-Chondrite Populations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kallemeyn, G. W.; Krot, A. N.; Rubin, A. E.

    1993-07-01

    In a series of papers [e.g., 1,2], Lipschutz and co-workers compared trace- element RNAA data from Antarctic and non-Antarctic H4-6 chondrites and concluded that the two populations have significantly different concentrations of several trace elements including Co, Se, and Sb. They interpreted their data as indicating that these Antarctic H chondrites form different populations than observed H falls and may have originated in separate parent bodies. Recent work by Sears and co-workers [e.g., 3] has shown that there seem to be distinct populations of Antarctic H chondrites, distinguishable on the bases of induced thermoluminescence (TL) peak temperature, metallographic cooling rate, and cosmic ray exposure age. They showed that a group of Antarctic H chondrites having abnormally high induced TL peak temperatures (>=190 degrees C) also has cosmic ray exposure ages <20 Ma (mostly ~8 Ma) and fast metallographic cooling rates (~100 K/Ma). Another group having induced TL peak temperatures <190 degrees C has exposure ages >20 Ma and slower cooling rates (~10-20 K/Ma). We studied 24 H4-6 chondrites from Victoria Land (including 12 previously analyzed by the Lipschutz group) by optical microscopy and electron microprobe. Many of the Antarctic H chondrites studied by Lipschutz and co- workers are unsuitable for proper compositional comparisons with H chondrite falls: Four are very weathered, five are extensively shocked, and two are extensively brecciated. Furthermore, at least five of the samples contain solar-wind gas (and hence are regolith breccias) [4]. These samples were rejected because of possible compositional modification by secondary processes. For our INAA study we chose a suite of relatively unweathered and unbrecciated Antarctic H chondrites (including nine from the Lipschutz set): ALHA 77294 (H5, S3); ALHA 79026 (H5, S3); ALHA 79039 (H5, S3); ALHA 80131 (H5, S3); ALHA 80132 (H5, S4); ALHA 81037 (H6, S3); EETA 79007 (H5, S4); LEW 85320 (H6, S4); LEW 85329 (H6

  4. The Oxygen Isotopic Composition of MIL 090001: A CR2 Chondrite with Abundant Refractory Inclusions

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Keller, Lindsay P.; McKeegan, K. D.; Sharp, Z. D.

    2012-01-01

    MIL 090001 is a large (>6 kg) carbonaceous chondrite that was classified as a member of the CV reduced subgroup (CVred) that was recovered during the 2009-2010 ANSMET field season [1]. Based on the abundance of refractory inclusions and the extent of aqueous alteration, Keller [2] suggested a CV2 classification. Here we report additional mineralogical and petrographic data for MIL 090001, its whole-rock oxygen isotopic composition and ion microprobe analyses of individual phases. The whole rock oxygen isotopic analyses show that MIL 090001 should be classified as a CR chondrite.

  5. Si-rich Fe-Ni grains in highly unequilibrated chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Rambaldi, E. R.; Sears, D. W.; Wasson, J. T.

    1980-01-01

    Consideration is given to the Si contents of Fe-Ni grains in highly unequilibrated chondrites, which have undergone little metamorphosis and thus best preserve the record of processes in the solar nebula. Electron microprobe determinations of silicon content in grains of the Bishunpur chondrite are presented for the six Si-bearing Fe-Ni grains for which data could be obtained, five of which were found to be embedded in olivine chondrules. In addition, all grains are found to be Cr-rich, with Cr increased in concentration towards the grain edge, and to be encased in FeS shells which evidently preserved the Si that entered the FeNi at higher temperatures. A mechanism for the production of Si-bearing metal during the condensation of the cooling solar nebula is proposed which considers the metal to have condensed heterogeneously while the mafic silicates condensed homogeneously with amounts of required undercooling in the low-pressure regions where ordinary and carbonaceous chondrites formed, resulting in Si mole fractions of 0.003 at nebular pressures less than 0.000001 atm.

  6. Primitive material surviving in chondrites - Mineral grains

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Steele, Ian M.

    Besides chondrules and various kinds of polymineralic inclusion, carbonaceous chondrites commonly contain, embedded in their matrices, isolated grains of mafic silicates and metallic iron. Most of the silicate grains probably originated in chondrules, but some appear to predate chondrule formation and may have formed as individual grains in the solar nebula. If that was the case, their compositions suggest some departure from equilibrium condensation from a gas of solar composition. Metal-grain compositions are broadly suggestive of nebular formation but the exact nature of the conditions in which they were formed remains problematical.

  7. Petrology and geochemistry of Patuxent Range 91501, a clast-poor impact-melt from the L chondrite parent body, and Lewis Cliff 88663, an L7 chondrite

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mittlefehldt, David W.; Lindstrom, Marilyn M.

    2001-03-01

    We have performed petrologic and geochemical studies of Patuxent Range 91501 and Lewis Cliff 88663. PAT 91501, originally classified as an L7 chondrite, is rather a unique, near total impact-melt from the L chondrite parent body. Lewis Cliff 88663 was originally classified as an "achondrite (?)," but we find that it is a very weakly shocked L7 chondrite. PAT 91501 is an unshocked, homogeneous, igneous-textured ultramafic rock composed of euhedral to subhedral olivine, low-Ca pyroxene, augite and chrome-rich spinels with interstitial albitic plagioclase and minor silica-alumina-alkali-rich glass. Only ~10% relict chondritic material is present. Olivine grains are homogeneous (Fa25.2-26.8). Low-Ca pyroxene (Wo1.9-7.2En71.9-78.2Fs19.9-20.9) and augite (Wo29.8-39.0En49.2-55.3Fs11.8-14.9) display a strong linear TiO2-Al2O3 correlations resulting from igneous fractionation. Plagioclase is variable in composition; Or3.0-7.7Ab79.8-84.1An8.2-17.2. Chrome-rich spinels are variable in composition and zoned from Cr-rich cores to Ti-Al-rich rims. Some have evolved compositions with up to 7.9 wt% TiO2. PAT 91501 bulk silicate has an L chondrite lithophile element composition except for depletions in Zn and Br. Siderophile and chalcophile elements are highly depleted due to sequestration in cm-size metal-troilite nodules. The minerals in LEW 88663 are more uniform in composition than those in PAT 91501. Olivine grains have low CaO and Cr2O3 contents similar to those in L5-6 chondrites. Pyroxenes have high TiO2 contents with only a diffuse TiO2-Al2O3 correlations. Low-Ca pyroxenes are less calcic (Wo1.6-3.1En76.5-77.0Fs20.4-21.4), while augites (Wo39.5-45.6En46.8-51.1Fs7.6-9.4) and plagioclases (Or2.6-5.7Ab74.1-83.1An11.2-23.3) are more calcic. Spinels are homogeneous and compositionally similar to those in L6 chondrites. LEW 88663 has an L chondrite bulk composition for lithophile elements, and only slight depletions in siderophile and chalcophile elements that are plausibly due

  8. The stable Cr isotopic compositions of chondrites and silicate planetary reservoirs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Schoenberg, Ronny; Merdian, Alexandra; Holmden, Chris; Kleinhanns, Ilka C.; Haßler, Kathrin; Wille, Martin; Reitter, Elmar

    2016-06-01

    The depletion of chromium in Earth's mantle (∼2700 ppm) in comparison to chondrites (∼4400 ppm) indicates significant incorporation of chromium into the core during our planet's metal-silicate differentiation, assuming that there was no significant escape of the moderately volatile element chromium during the accretionary phase of Earth. Stable Cr isotope compositions - expressed as the ‰-difference in 53Cr/52Cr from the terrestrial reference material SRM979 (δ53/52CrSRM979 values) - of planetary silicate reservoirs might thus yield information about the conditions of planetary metal segregation processes when compared to chondrites. The stable Cr isotopic compositions of 7 carbonaceous chondrites, 11 ordinary chondrites, 5 HED achondrites and 2 martian meteorites determined by a double spike MC-ICP-MS method are within uncertainties indistinguishable from each other and from the previously determined δ53/52CrSRM979 value of -0.124 ± 0.101‰ for the igneous silicate Earth. Extensive quality tests support the accuracy of the stable Cr isotope determinations of various meteorites and terrestrial silicates reported here. The uniformity in stable Cr isotope compositions of samples from planetary silicate mantles and undifferentiated meteorites indicates that metal-silicate differentiation of Earth, Mars and the HED parent body did not cause measurable stable Cr isotope fractionation between these two reservoirs. Our results also imply that the accretionary disc, at least in the inner solar system, was homogeneous in its stable Cr isotopic composition and that potential volatility loss of chromium during accretion of the terrestrial planets was not accompanied by measurable stable isotopic fractionation. Small but reproducible variations in δ53/52CrSRM979 values of terrestrial magmatic rocks point to natural stable Cr isotope variations within Earth's silicate reservoirs. Further and more detailed studies are required to investigate whether silicate

  9. The Valence of Iron in CM Chondrite Serpentine as Measured by Synchrotron Xanes

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Mikouchi, T.; Zolensky, Michael E.; Satake, W.; Le, L.

    2012-01-01

    Fe-bearing phyllosilicates are the dominant product of aqueous alteration in carbonaceous chondrites, and serpentine is the most abundant phyllosilicate in CM2 chondrites that are the most abundant carbonaceous chondrite. Browning et al. predicted that Fe(3+)/(sum of Fe) ratios of serpentine in CM chondrites should change with progressive alteration. They proposed that progressive CM alteration is best monitored by evaluating the progress of Si and Fe3+ substitutions that necessarily attend the transition from end-member cronstedtite to serpentine. Their proposed Mineralogic Alteration Index, 2-(Fe(3+)/(2-Si)), was intended to highlight and utilize the relevant ex-change information in the stoichiometric phyllosilicate formulas based upon the coupled substitution of 2(Fe(3+), Al) = Si + (Mg, Fe(2+)...) in serpentine. The value of this ratio increases as alteration proceeds. We always wanted to directly test Browning s pre-diction through actual measurements of the Fe3+ con-tent of serpentine at the micron scale appropriate to EPMA analyses (Zega et al. have measured it at much finer scale), and this test can now be made using Synchrotron Radiation X-ray Absorption Near-Edge Structure (SR-XANES). Thus, we have recently begun investigation with CMs that span a large portion of the range of observed aqueous alteration, and we first analyzed Murray, Nogoya, and ALH84029 by SR-XANES. However, we did not find clear correlation between Fe3+/(sum of Fe) ratios of serpentine and their alteration degrees. We thus analyzed serpentine in three more CMs and here report their Fe3+/(sum of Fe) ratios in comparison with our previous results.

  10. Black ordinary chondrites - An analysis of abundance and fall frequency

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Britt, Daniel T.; Pieters, Carle M.

    1991-01-01

    Black ordinary chondrite meteorites sample the spectral effects of shock on ordinary chondrite material in the space environment. Since shock is an important regolith process these meteorites provide insight into the spectral properties of the regoliths on ordinary chondrite parent bodies. To determine how common black chondrites are in the meteorite collection and, by analogy, the frequency of shock-alteration in ordinary chondrites, several of the world's major meteorite collections were examined to identify black chondrites. Over 80 percent of all cataloged ordinary chondrites were examined and, using an optical definition, 61 black chondrites were identified. Black chondrites account for approximately 13.7 percent of ordinary chondrite falls. If the optically altered gas-rich ordinary chondrites are included the proportion of falls that exhibit some form of altered spectral properties increases to 16.7 percent. This suggests that optical alteration of asteroidal material in the space environment is a relatively common process.

  11. The relationship between CK and CV chondrites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Greenwood, R. C.; Franchi, I. A.; Kearsley, A. T.; Alard, O.

    2010-03-01

    CK chondrites are highly oxidized meteorites containing abundant magnetite and trace amounts of Fe,Ni metal. Although the group is predominately composed of equilibrated meteorites (types 4-6), in recent years a significant number of new samples have been classified as being either CK3 or CK3-anomalous. These unequilibrated CKs often display a close affinity with members of the CV oxidized subgroup. CKs and CVs (oxidized subgroup) may therefore form a continuum and by implication could be derived from a single common parent body. To investigate the relationship between these two groups a detailed study of the oxygen isotope composition, opaque mineralogy and major and trace element geochemistry of a suite of CV and CK chondrites has been undertaken. The results of oxygen isotope analysis confirm the close affinity between CV and CK chondrites, while excluding the possibility of a linkage between the CO and CK groups. Magnetites in both CV and CK chondrites show significant compositional similarities, but high Ti contents are a diagnostic feature of the latter group. The results of major and trace element analysis demonstrate that both CV and CK chondrites show overlapping variation. Supporting evidence for a single common source for both groups comes from their similar cosmic-ray exposure age distributions. Recent reflectance spectral analysis is consistent with both the CVs and CKs being derived from Eos family asteroids, which are believed to have formed by the catastrophic disruption of a single large asteroid. Thus, a range of evidence appears to be consistent with CV and CK chondrites representing samples from a single thermally stratified parent body. In view of the close similarity between CV and CK chondrites some modification of the present classification scheme may be warranted, possibly involving integration of the two groups. One means of achieving this would be to reassigned CK chondrites to a subgroup of the oxidized CVs. It is recognized that a full

  12. Oxygen isotope systematics of chondrules in the Murchison CM2 chondrite and implications for the CO-CM relationship

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chaumard, Noël; Defouilloy, Céline; Kita, Noriko T.

    2018-05-01

    High-precision oxygen three-isotope measurements of olivine and pyroxene were performed on 29 chondrules in the Murchison CM2 chondrite by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). The oxygen isotope ratios of analyzed chondrules all plot very close to the primitive chondrule minerals (PCM) line. In each of 24 chondrules, the olivine and/or pyroxene grains analyzed show indistinguishable oxygen isotope ratios. Exceptions are minor occurrences of isotopically distinguished relict olivine grains, which were found in nine chondrules. The isotope homogeneity of these phenocrysts is consistent with a co-magmatic crystallization of olivine and pyroxene from the final chondrule melts and a significant oxygen isotope exchange between the ambient gas and the melts. Homogeneous type I chondrules with Mg#'s of 98.9-99.5 have host chondrule Δ17O values ranging from -6.0‰ to -4.1‰, with one exception (Δ17O: -1.2‰; Mg#: 99.6). Homogeneous chondrules with Mg#'s <96, including four type II chondrules (Mg# ∼65-70), have Δ17O values of around -2.5‰. Five type I chondrules (Mg# ≥99) have internally heterogeneous oxygen isotope ratios with Δ17O values ranging from -6.5‰ to -4.0‰, similar to those of host chondrule values. These heterogeneous chondrules have granular or porphyritic textures, convoluted outlines, and contain numerous metal grains dispersed within fine-grained silicates. This is consistent with a low degree of melting of the chondrule precursors, possibly because of a low temperature of the melting event and/or a shorter duration of melting. The Δ17O values of relict olivine grains in nine chondrules range from -17.9‰ to -3.4‰, while most of them overlap the range of the host chondrule values. Similar to those reported from multiple carbonaceous chondrites (Acfer 094, Y-82094, CO, and CV), the Δ17O ∼ -5‰ and high Mg# (≥99) chondrules, which might derive from a reduced reservoir with limited dust enrichments (∼50 × Solar System), dominate

  13. LEW85332: A C2 Chondrite in the CR Clan

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Prinz, M.; Weisberg, M. K.; Brearley, A.; Grady, M. M.; Pillinger, C.; Clayton, R. N.; Mayeda, T. K.

    1992-07-01

    Introduction. LEW85332 was described as a unique C3 chondrite [1] and we undertook this study to learn more about its relationship to other carbonaceous chondrites. We find it to be a C2 chondrite with significant similarites to CR2 chondrites. This linkage extends to the ALH85085 [2] and Acfer 182 [3,4] chondrites, although there are some important differences among them. Petrologic and isotopic similarities define the CR clan, which consists of CR chondrites and their three relatives noted above (and Bencubbin). Some differences are due to major component abundances (chondrules, matrix, metal), and some to minor differences between components, but the similarities are greater and define the clan. Results. Petrogically, LEW85332 has over 60% (vol) chondrules, about 30% matrix and matrix clasts, and about 4-7% metal. Extensive weathering makes modal abundances uncertain. Chondrules are anhydrous, about 170 micrometers wide [1] and of all textural types. ALH85085 chondrules average 20 micrometers and are mainly pyroxene-rich, whereas Acfer 182 is more like LEW85332. Matrix is hydrous and occurs as interstitial matrix, matrix clasts, and chondrule rims [5]. The matrix contains phyllosilicates and magnetite framboids. Matrix clasts are not foreign [1], but part of the chondrite, making it C2. This is also the case for Acfer 182 [3], and perhaps ALH85085. Phyllosilicates are mainly saponite and serpentine [5], and their composition is similar to that in CR chondrites. The water/rock ratio was low. Metal abundances in LEW85332 [1] are lower than in Acfer 182 (9.3 vol%) [4] and ALH85085 (22%) [6]. However, FeNi composition is the same, with a positive Ni-Co trend equivalent to the solar abundance ratio. This is the same as that in CR chondrites [7]. LEW85332 contains 0.5% carbon, combusting between 200 and 500 degrees C, indicating fine-grained, poorly crystalline carbon, or organic material. It contains 259 ppm nitrogen with delta^15N = +249o/oo. Most nitrogen is

  14. An Amoeboid Olivine Aggregate in LEW 85300

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Komatsu, M. D.; Yamaguchi, A.; Fagan, T. J.; Zolensky, M. E.; Shiran, N.; Mikouchi, T.

    2016-01-01

    Amoeboid Olivine aggregates (AOAs) are irregularly shaped objects commonly observed in carbonaceous chondrites. Because they are composed of fine-grained olivine and Ca-Al-rich minerals, they are sensitive indicators for nebular process and parent body alteration of their parent bodies. Recently an AOA was found in a carbonaceous clast in polymict eucrite LEW 85300. The bulk major element composition of the clast matrix in LEW 85300 suggests a relation to CM, CO and CV chondrites, whereas bulk clast trace and major element compositions do not match any carbonaceous chondrite, suggesting they have a unique origin. Here we characterize the mineralogy of AOA in LEW 85300 and discuss the origin of the carbonaceous clasts. Results and Discussion: The AOA is located in an impact melt vein. Half of the aggregate shows recrystallization textures (euhedral pyroxene and molten metal/FeS) due to impact melting, but the remaining part preserves the original texture. The AOA is composed of olivine, FeS and Mg,Al-phyllosilicate. Individual olivine grains measure 1-8 microns, with Fe-rich rims, probably due to impact heating. Olivines in the AOA are highly forsteritic (Fo95-99), indicating that the AOA escaped thermal metamorphism [4]. Although no LIME (Low-Fe, Mn-Enriched) olivine is observed, forsterite composition and the coexistence of Mg,Al-phyllosilicate suggest that the AOA is similar to those in the Bali-type oxidized CV (CVoxB) and CR chondrites. However, it should be noted that fayalitic olivine, which commonly occurs in CVoxB AOA, is not observed in this AOA. Also, the smaller grain size (<8 microns) of olivine suggests they may be related to CM or CO chondrites. Therefore, we cannot exclude the possibility that the AOA originated from a unique carbonaceous chondrite.

  15. Why is it so difficult to classify Renazzo-type (CR) carbonaceous chondrites? - Implications from TEM observations of matrices for the sequences of aqueous alteration

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Abreu, Neyda M.

    2016-12-01

    A number of different classifications have been proposed for the CR chondrites; this study aims at reconciling these different schemes. Mineralogy-based classification has proved particularly challenging for weakly to moderately altered CRs because incipient mineral replacement and elemental mobilization arising from aqueous alteration only affected the most susceptible primary phases, which are generally located in the matrix. Secondary matrix phases are extremely fine-grained (generally sub-micron) and heterogeneously mixed with primary nebular materials. Compositional and isotopic classification parameters are fraught with confounding factors, such as terrestrial weathering, impact processes, and variable abundance of clasts from different regions of the CR parent body or from altogether different planetary bodies. Here, detailed TEM observations from eighteen FIB sections retrieved from the matrices of nine Antarctic CR chondrites (EET 96259, GRA 95229, GRO 95577, GRO 03116, LAP 02342, LAP 04516, LAP 04720, MIL 07525, and MIL 090001) are presented, representing a range of petrologic types. Amorphous Fe-Mg silicates are found to be the dominant phase in all but the most altered CR chondrite matrices, which still retain significant amounts of these amorphous materials. Amorphous Fe-Mg silicates are mixed with phyllosilicates at the nanometer scale. The ratio of amorphous Fe-Mg silicates to phyllosilicates decreases as: (1) the size of phyllosilicates, (2) abundance of magnetite, and (3) replacement of Fe-Ni sulfides increase. Carbonates are only abundant in the most altered CR chondrite, GRO 95577. Nanophase Fe-Ni metal and tochilinite are present small abundances in most CR matrices. Based on the presence, abundance and size of phyllosilicates with respect to amorphous Fe-Mg silicates, the sub-micron features of CR chondrites have been linked to existing classification sequences, and possible reasons for inconsistencies among classification schemes are discussed.

  16. A search for extraterrestrial amino acids in carbonaceous Antarctic micrometeorites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Brinton, K. L.; Engrand, C.; Glavin, D. P.; Bada, J. L.; Maurette, M.

    1998-01-01

    Antarctic micrometeorites (AMMs) in the 100-400 microns size range are the dominant mass fraction of extraterrestrial material accreted by the Earth today. A high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) based technique exploited at the limits of sensitivity has been used to search for the extraterrestrial amino acids alpha-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB) and isovaline in AMMs. Five samples, each containing about 30 to 35 grains, were analyzed. All the samples possess a terrestrial amino acid component, indicated by the excess of the L-enantiomers of common protein amino acids. In only one sample (A91) was AIB found to be present at a level significantly above the background blanks. The concentration of AIB (approximately 280 ppm), and the AIB/isovaline ratio (> or = 10), in this sample are both much higher than in CM chondrites. The apparently large variation in the AIB concentrations of the samples suggests that AIB may be concentrated in rare subset of micrometeorites. Because the AIB/isovaline ratio in sample A91 is much larger than in CM chondrites, the synthesis of amino acids in the micrometeorite parent bodies might have involved a different process requiring an HCN-rich environment, such as that found in comets. If the present day characteristics of the meteorite and micrometeorite fluxes can be extrapolated back in time, then the flux of large carbonaceous micrometeorites could have contributed to the inventory of prebiotic molecules on the early Earth.

  17. A search for extraterrestrial amino acids in carbonaceous Antarctic micrometeorites.

    PubMed

    Brinton, K L; Engrand, C; Glavin, D P; Bada, J L; Maurette, M

    1998-10-01

    Antarctic micrometeorites (AMMs) in the 100-400 microns size range are the dominant mass fraction of extraterrestrial material accreted by the Earth today. A high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) based technique exploited at the limits of sensitivity has been used to search for the extraterrestrial amino acids alpha-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB) and isovaline in AMMs. Five samples, each containing about 30 to 35 grains, were analyzed. All the samples possess a terrestrial amino acid component, indicated by the excess of the L-enantiomers of common protein amino acids. In only one sample (A91) was AIB found to be present at a level significantly above the background blanks. The concentration of AIB (approximately 280 ppm), and the AIB/isovaline ratio (> or = 10), in this sample are both much higher than in CM chondrites. The apparently large variation in the AIB concentrations of the samples suggests that AIB may be concentrated in rare subset of micrometeorites. Because the AIB/isovaline ratio in sample A91 is much larger than in CM chondrites, the synthesis of amino acids in the micrometeorite parent bodies might have involved a different process requiring an HCN-rich environment, such as that found in comets. If the present day characteristics of the meteorite and micrometeorite fluxes can be extrapolated back in time, then the flux of large carbonaceous micrometeorites could have contributed to the inventory of prebiotic molecules on the early Earth.

  18. Magnesium isotopic composition of the Earth and chondrites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Teng, Fang-Zhen; Li, Wang-Ye; Ke, Shan; Marty, Bernard; Dauphas, Nicolas; Huang, Shichun; Wu, Fu-Yuan; Pourmand, Ali

    2010-07-01

    To constrain further the Mg isotopic composition of the Earth and chondrites, and investigate the behavior of Mg isotopes during planetary formation and magmatic processes, we report high-precision (±0.06‰ on δ 25Mg and ±0.07‰ on δ 26Mg, 2SD) analyses of Mg isotopes for (1) 47 mid-ocean ridge basalts covering global major ridge segments and spanning a broad range in latitudes, geochemical and radiogenic isotopic compositions; (2) 63 ocean island basalts from Hawaii (Kilauea, Koolau and Loihi) and French Polynesia (Society Island and Cook-Austral chain); (3) 29 peridotite xenoliths from Australia, China, France, Tanzania and USA; and (4) 38 carbonaceous, ordinary and enstatite chondrites including 9 chondrite groups (CI, CM, CO, CV, L, LL, H, EH and EL). Oceanic basalts and peridotite xenoliths have similar Mg isotopic compositions, with average values of δ 25Mg = -0.13 ± 0.05 (2SD) and δ 26Mg = -0.26 ± 0.07 (2SD) for global oceanic basalts ( n = 110) and δ 25Mg = -0.13 ± 0.03 (2SD) and δ 26Mg = -0.25 ± 0.04 (2SD) for global peridotite xenoliths ( n = 29). The identical Mg isotopic compositions in oceanic basalts and peridotites suggest that equilibrium Mg isotope fractionation during partial melting of peridotite mantle and magmatic differentiation of basaltic magma is negligible. Thirty-eight chondrites have indistinguishable Mg isotopic compositions, with δ 25Mg = -0.15 ± 0.04 (2SD) and δ 26Mg = -0.28 ± 0.06 (2SD). The constancy of Mg isotopic compositions in all major types of chondrites suggest that primary and secondary processes that affected the chemical and oxygen isotopic compositions of chondrites did not significantly fractionate Mg isotopes. Collectively, the Mg isotopic composition of the Earth's mantle, based on oceanic basalts and peridotites, is estimated to be -0.13 ± 0.04 for δ 25Mg and -0.25 ± 0.07 for δ 26Mg (2SD, n = 139). The Mg isotopic composition of the Earth, as represented by the mantle, is similar to chondrites

  19. Organic matter and metamorphic history of CO chondrites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bonal, Lydie; Bourot-Denise, Michèle; Quirico, Eric; Montagnac, Gilles; Lewin, Eric

    2007-03-01

    The metamorphic grades of a series of eight CO3 chondrites (ALHA77307, Colony, Kainsaz, Felix, Lancé, Ornans, Warrenton and Isna) have been quantified. The method used was based on the structural grade of the organic matter trapped in the matrix, which is irreversibly transformed by thermal metamorphism. The maturation of the organic matter is independent with respect to the mineralogical context and aqueous alteration. This metamorphic tracer is thus valid whatever the chemical class of chondrites. Moreover, it is sensitive to the peak metamorphic temperature. The structural grade of the organic matter was used along with other metamorphic tracers such as petrography of opaque minerals, Fa and Fs silicate composition in type I chondrules, presolar grains and noble gas (P3 component) abundance. The deduced metamorphic hierarchy and the attributed petrographic types are the following: ALHA77307 (3.03) < Colony (3.1) < Kainsaz (3.6) < Felix (3.6 (1)) < Ornans (3.6 (2)) < Lancé (3.6 (3)) < Warrenton (3.7 (1)) < Isna (3.7 (2)). For most metamorphosed objects, the peak metamorphic temperature can be estimated using a geothermometer calibrated with terrestrial metasediments [Beyssac O., Goffe B., Chopin C., and Rouzaud J. N. (2002) Raman spectrum of carbonaceous material in metasediments: a new geothermometer. J. Metamorph. Geol., 20, 859-871]. A value of 330 °C was obtained for Allende (CV chondrite), Warrenton and Isna, consistent with temperatures estimated from Fe diffusion [Weinbruch S., Armstrong J., and Palme H. (1994). Constraints on the thermal history of the Allende parent body as derive from olivine-spinel thermometry and Fe/Mg interdiffusion in olivine. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta58(2), 1019-1030.], from the Ni content in sulfide-metal assemblages [Zanda B., Bourot-Denise M., and Hewins R. (1995) Condensate sulfide and its metamorphic transformations in primitive chondrites. Meteorit. Planet. Sci.30, A605.] and from the d002 interlayer spacing in poorly

  20. The Thermal History of Enstatite Chondrites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Y.; Benoit, P. H.; Sears, D. W. G.

    1992-07-01

    the sulfides, suggesting major differences in the thermal history of the EL and EH chondrites. Two points may be made from the data in Table 1. The EH3 and EL3 chondrites have similar En-CaS equilibration temperatures to those of the higher petrologic types which we suspect reflect pre-metamorphic equilibria. Second, both the cubic sulfides and the phosphides yield metamorphic temperatures for the EH chondrites which are similar to those for ordinary chondrites, while EL chondrites yield very low temperatures. The EL chondrite parent body must have cooled at especially slow rates, perhaps because it was much larger than the EH parent body, or maybe the cooling rate on EL body was governed by the attenuation of the heat source rather than burial depth. Chang Y., Benoit P.H. and Sears D.W.G. (1992) Lunar and Planet. Sci. 23, 217-218. Doan A.S. and Goldstein J.I. (1970) Met. Trans. 1, 1759-1767. El Goresy A. and Ehlers K (1989) Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 53, 1657-1668. Fogel R.A., Hess P.C. and Rutherford M.C. (1989) Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 53, 2735-2746. Kissin S.A.(1989) Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 53, 1649-1655. Larimer J.W. and Buseck P.R. (1974) Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 38, 471-477. Skinner B.J. and Luce F.D. (1971) Amer. Min. 56, 1269-1296. Figure 1, which in the hard copy appears here, shows isotherm from the Fe-Ni-P phase diagram with data for enstatite chondrites superimposed.

  1. Evolution of Indarch (EH4 Chondrite) at 1 GPa and High Temperature

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Berthet, S.; Malavergne, V.; Righter, K.

    2008-01-01

    The chondritic meteorites are materials that are as old as the solar system itself characterized by variations in bulk chemical and oxidation state, and have long been considered possible building blocks that accreted to form the terrestrial inner planets. Enstatite chondrites contain nearly FeO free enstatite, silicon-rich kamacite and various sulfides indicating formation under highly reducing conditions. These materials could have participated in the formation of the Earth. However, "fingerprinting" of meteoritic materials has shown that no known meteoritic class corresponds to a hypothetical bulk Earth composition in every aspect. To derive constraints on early accretion and differentiation processes and possibly resolve the debate on the formation of the Earth, it is required to study experimentally a variety of chondritic materials and investigate their melting relations and elemental partitioning behavior at variable pressure (P), temperature (T) and oxygen fugacities (fO2). Variations in fO2 can indeed change chemical features and phase equilibria dramatically. The P-T phase diagrams of peridotites and carbonaceous chondrites have been extensively studied experimentally up to pressures and temperatures corresponding to the transition zone and lower mantle. Even though partial melting experiments have been conducted at ambient pressure on the enstatite chondrite Indarch, enstatite meteorites have never been experimentally investigated at high PT. The following investigation focuses on the effect of the fO2 on the phase relations of Indarch, an EH4 chondrite.

  2. Shock metamorphism of ordinary chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Stoeffler, Dieter; Keil, Klaus; Scott, Edward R. D.

    1991-01-01

    This study proposes a revised petrographic classification of progressive stages of shock metamorphism of 26 ordinary chondrites. Six stages of shock (S1 to S6) are defined on the basis of shock effects in olivine and plagioclase as recognized by thin section microscopy, and the characteristic shock effects of each shock stage are described. It is concluded that shock effects and the sequence of progressively increasing degrees of shock metamorphosis are very similar in H, L, and LL groups. Differences in the frequency distribution of shock stages are relatively minor. It is suggested that the collisional histories of the H, L, and LL parent bodies were similar. Petrologic type-3 chondrites are deficient in stages S4 and S6 and, with increasing petrologic type, the frequency of stages S4 to S6 increases. It is suggested that the more porous and volatile-rich Type-3 chondrites are subject to melting at a lower shock pressure than the nonporous chondrites of higher petrologic type. Stage S3 is the most abundant in nearly all petrologic types.

  3. Osmium Isotope Systematics of Ureilites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Rankenburg, K.; Brandon, A. d.; Humayun, M.

    2007-01-01

    The Os-187/Os-188 for twenty-two ureilite whole rock samples, including monomict, augite-bearing, and polymict lithologies, were examined in order to constrain the provenance and subsequent magmatic processing of the ureilite parent body (or bodies). The Re/Os ratios of most ureilites show evidence for a recent disturbance, probably related to Re mobility during weathering, and no meaningful chronological information can be extracted from the present data set. The ureilite Os-187/Os-188 ratios span a range from 0.11739 to 0.13018, with an average of 0.1258+/-0.0023 (1(sigma)), similar to typical carbonaceous chondrites, and distinct from ordinary or enstatite chondrites. The similar mean of Os-187/Os-188 measured for the ureilites and carbonaceous chondrites suggests that the ureilite parent body probably formed within the same region of the solar nebula as carbonaceous chondrites. From the narrow range of the 187Os/188Os distribution in ureilite meteorites it is further concluded that Re was not significantly fractionated from Os during planetary differentiation and was not lost along with the missing ureilitic melt component. The lack of large Re/Os fractionations requires that Re/Os partitioning was controlled by a metal phase, and thus metal had to be stable throughout the interval of magmatic processing on the ureilite parent body.

  4. (40)Ar/(39)Ar Age of Hornblende-Bearing R Chondrite LAP 04840

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Righter, K.; Cosca, M.

    2015-01-01

    Chondrites have a complex chronology due to several variables affecting and operating on chondritic parent bodies such as radiogenic heating, pressure and temperature variation with depth, aqueous alteration, and shock or impact heating. Unbrecciated chondrites can record ages from 4.56 to 4.4 Ga that represent cooling in small parent bodies. Some brecciated chondrites exhibit younger ages (much less than 4 to 4.4 Ga) that may reflect the age of brecciation, disturbance, or shock and impact events (much less than 4 Ga). A unique R chondrite was recently found in the LaPaz Icefield of Antarctica - LAP 04840. This chondrite contains approximately 15% hornblende and trace amounts of biotite, making it the first of its kind. Studies have revealed an equigranular texture, mineral equilibria yielding equilibration near 650-700 C and 250-500 bars, hornblende that is dominantly OH-bearing (very little Cl or F), and high D/H ratios. To help gain a better understanding of the origin of this unique sample, we have measured the (40)Ar/(39)Ar age (LAP 04840 split 39).

  5. Scanning electron microscopical and cross-sectional analysis of extraterrestrial carbonaceous nanoglobules

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Garvie, Laurence A. J.; Baumgardner, Grant; Buseck, Peter R.

    2008-05-01

    Carbonaceous nanoglobules are ubiquitous in carbonaceous chondrite (CC) meteorites. The Tagish Lake (C2) meteorite is particularly intriguing in containing an abundance of nanoglobules, with a wider range of forms and sizes than encountered in other CC meteorites. Previous studies by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) have provided a wealth of information on chemistry and structure. In this study low voltage scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to characterize the globule forms and external structures. The internal structure of the globules was investigated after sectioning by focused ion beam (FIB) milling. The FIB-SEM analysis shows that the globules range from solid to hollow. Some hollow globules show a central open core, with adjoining smaller cores. The FIB with an SEM is a valuable tool for the analysis of extraterrestrial materials, even of sub-micron-sized "soft" carbonaceous particles. The rapid site-specific cross-sectioning capabilities of the FIB allow the preservation of the internal morphology of the nanoglobules, with minimal damage or alteration of the unsectioned areas.

  6. Differentiated meteorites and the components of chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Wasson, J. T.

    1984-01-01

    Findings are summarized from research conducted to develop a detailed classification of all kinds of meteorites in an effort to determine the conditions in the solar nebula, the processes that produced chemical fractionations in chondrites and formed chondrules, as well as ascertain the processes that occurred in the parent bodies of differentiated meteorites (which preserve a partial record of the chondritic materials from which they formed). Fractionation patterns within iron meteorite groups are analyzed.

  7. What predictions can be made on the nature of carbon and carbon-bearing compounds (hydrocarbons) in the interstellar medium based on studies of interplanetary dust particles?

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Rietmeijer, F. J. M.

    1986-01-01

    The nature of hydrocarbons and properties of elemental carbon in circumstellar, interstellar, and interplanetary dust is a long standing problem in astronomy and meteorite research. The textures and crystallographical properties of poorly graphitized carbon (PGC) from carbonaceous chondrites and Chondritic Porous Aggregates (CPAs) are comparable with PGCs formed by dehydrogenation and carbonization of hydrocarbon precursors under natural terrestrial and experimental conditions. A multistage model of hydrocarbon diagenesis in CPA and carbonaceous chondrite (proto-) planetary parent bodies was proposed in which hydrocarbons are subjected to low temperature hydrous pyrolysis. Continued efforts to recognize hydrocarbons and elemental phases in CPAs may allow understanding of the multistage hydrocarbon/elemental carbon model.

  8. The CR (Renazzo-type) carbonaceous chondrite group and its implications

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Weisberg, Michael K.; Prinz, Martin; Clayton, Robert N.; Mayeda, Toshiko K.

    1993-01-01

    A petrologic, geochemical, and oxygen isotropic study of the CR chondrites including Renazzo, Al Rais, El Djouf 001 and the paired Acfer meteorites, EET87770 and the paired samples, MAC87320, Y790112, Y793495, and Y791498 is presented. It is concluded that the CR group is characterized by abundant large multilayered, Fe, Ni metal-rich, type I chondrules; abundant matrix and dark inclusions; unique assemblages of serpentine and chlorite-rich phyllosilicates and Ca-carbonates; Ca-carbonate rims on chondrules; abundant Fe, Ni metal with a positive Ni vs. Co trend and a solar Ni:Co ratio; and amoeboid olivine aggregates with Mn-rich and Mn-poor forsterite.

  9. Characterization of carbonaceous matter in xenolithic clasts from the Sharps (H3.4) meteorite: Constraints on the origin and thermal processing

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kebukawa, Yoko; Zolensky, Michael E.; Chan, Queenie H. S.

    residue is almost identical with some material reported in carbonaceous chondrites, i.e., heavily enriched in the Q-gas component as well as HL-gas from presolar diamonds and Ne-E(H) from presolar SiC. These results indicate that the C-rich aggregates in the Sharps clasts formed under relatively high temperature conditions, up to 800 °C, and were subsequently mixed with lower temperature matrix, probably in a different parent body, before they were incorporated into the final Sharps lithology by collision.« less

  10. Characterization of carbonaceous matter in xenolithic clasts from the Sharps (H3.4) meteorite: Constraints on the origin and thermal processing

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kebukawa, Yoko; Zolensky, Michael E.; Chan, Queenie H. S.; Nagao, Keisuke; Kilcoyne, A. L. David; Bodnar, Robert J.; Farley, Charles; Rahman, Zia; Le, Loan; Cody, George D.

    2017-01-01

    with some material reported in carbonaceous chondrites, i.e., heavily enriched in the Q-gas component as well as HL-gas from presolar diamonds and Ne-E(H) from presolar SiC. These results indicate that the C-rich aggregates in the Sharps clasts formed under relatively high temperature conditions, up to 800 °C, and were subsequently mixed with lower temperature matrix, probably in a different parent body, before they were incorporated into the final Sharps lithology by collision.

  11. Everyone Wins: A Mars-Impact Origin for Carbonaceous Phobos and Deimos

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Fries, M.; Welzenbach, L.; Steele, A.

    2016-01-01

    Discussions of Phobos' and Deimos' origin(s) tend to feature an orthogonally opposed pair of observations: dynamical studies which favor coalescence of the moons from an orbital debris ring arising from a large impact on Mars; and reflectance spectroscopy of the moons that indicate a carbonaceous composition that is not consistent with Martian surface materials. One way to reconcile this discrepancy is to consider the option of a Mars-impact origin for Phobos and Deimos, followed by surficial decoration of carbon-rich materials by interplanetary dust particles (IDP). The moons experience a high IDP flux because of their location in Mars' gravity well. Calculations show that accreted carbon is sufficient to produce a surface with reflectance spectra resembling carbonaceous chondrites.

  12. Shock effects on hydrous minerals and implications for carbonaceous meteorites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Lange, M. A.; Ahrens, T. J.; Lambert, P.

    1985-01-01

    The effect of shock loading over the pressure range of 29-59 GPa on the shock-recovered specimens of antigorite serpentine, Mg3Si2O5(OH)4, were investigated employing infrared (IR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and optical and scanning electron microscopy. With increasing shock pressure, there was an increase in H2O IR absorption peaks at the expense of OH peaks, while the changes in SiO bond vibration modes were identical to those seen for other, nonhydrous minerals. Thermogravimetric results on vented assembly samples showed linear relationships between the shock pressure and both the length of dehydration interval and the effective activation energy for releasing post-shock structural water. Optical and scanning electron microscopy revealed gas bubbles, which appeared to be injected into zones of partial melting, and vesicular dark veins distributed throughout the shocked samples. It is suggested that shock loading of hydrous minerals would release and redistribute free water in the regoliths of carbonaceous chondrite parent bodies, giving rise to observed hydrous alterations.

  13. Actinide abundances in ordinary chondrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hagee, B.; Bernatowicz, T. J.; Podosek, F. A.; Johnson, M. L.; Burnett, D. S.

    1990-01-01

    Measurements of actinide and light REE (LREE) abundances and of phosphate abundances in equilibrated ordinary chondrites were obtained and were used to define the Pu abundance in the solar system and to determine the degree of variation of actinide and LREE abundances. The results were also used to compare directly the Pu/U ratio with the earlier obtained ratio determined indirectly, as (Pu/Nd)x(Nd/U), assuming that Pu behaves chemically as a LREE. The data, combined with high-accuracy isotope-dilution data from the literature, show that the degree of gram-scale variability of the Th, U, and LREE abundances for equilibrated ordinary chondrites is a factor of 2-3 for absolute abundances and up to 50 percent for relative abundances. The observed variations are interpreted as reflecting the differences in the compositions and/or proportions of solar nebula components accreted to ordinary chondrite parent bodies.

  14. Mixing and Transport of Dust in the Early Solar Nebula as Inferred from Titanium Isotope Variations among Chondrules

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Gerber, Simone; Burkhardt, Christoph; Budde, Gerrit

    2017-05-20

    Chondrules formed by the melting of dust aggregates in the solar protoplanetary disk and as such provide unique insights into how solid material was transported and mixed within the disk. Here, we show that chondrules from enstatite and ordinary chondrites show only small {sup 50}Ti variations and scatter closely around the {sup 50}Ti composition of their host chondrites. By contrast, chondrules from carbonaceous chondrites have highly variable {sup 50}Ti compositions, which, relative to the terrestrial standard, range from the small {sup 50}Ti deficits measured for enstatite and ordinary chondrite chondrules to the large {sup 50}Ti excesses known from Ca–Al-rich inclusionsmore » (CAIs). These {sup 50}Ti variations can be attributed to the addition of isotopically heterogeneous CAI-like material to enstatite and ordinary chondrite-like chondrule precursors. The new Ti isotopic data demonstrate that isotopic variations among carbonaceous chondrite chondrules do not require formation over a wide range of orbital distances, but can instead be fully accounted for by the incorporation of isotopically anomalous “nuggets” into chondrule precursors. As such, these data obviate the need for disk-wide transport of chondrules prior to chondrite parent body accretion and are consistent with formation of chondrules from a given chondrite group in localized regions of the disk. Finally, the ubiquitous presence of {sup 50}Ti-enriched material in carbonaceous chondrites and the lack of this material in the non-carbonaceous chondrites support the idea that these two meteorite groups derive from areas of the disk that remained isolated from each other, probably through the formation of Jupiter.« less

  15. Deducing Wild 2 Components with a Statistical Dataset of Olivine in Chondrite Matrix

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Frank, D. R.; Zolensky, M. E.; Le, L.

    2012-01-01

    Introduction: A preliminary exam of the Wild 2 olivine yielded a major element distribution that is strikingly similar to those for aqueously altered carbonaceous chondrites (CI, CM, and CR) [1], in which FeO-rich olivine is preferentially altered. With evidence lacking for large-scale alteration in Wild 2, the mechanism for this apparent selectivity is poorly understood. We use a statistical approach to explain this distribution in terms of relative contributions from different chondrite forming regions. Samples and Analyses: We have made a particular effort to obtain the best possible analyses of both major and minor elements in Wild 2 olivine and the 5-30 micrometer population in chondrite matrix. Previous studies of chondrite matrix either include larger isolated grains (not found in the Wild 2 collection) or lack minor element abundances. To overcome this gap in the existing data, we have now compiled greater than 10(exp 3) EPMA analyses of matrix olivine in CI, CM, CR, CH, Kakangari, C2-ungrouped, and the least equilibrated CO, CV, LL, and EH chondrites. Also, we are acquiring TEM/EDXS analyses of the Wild 2 olivine with 500s count times, to reduce relative errors of minor elements with respect to those otherwise available. Results: Using our Wild 2 analyses and those from [2], the revised major element distribution is more similar to anhydrous IDPs than previous results, which were based on more limited statistics (see figure below). However, a large frequency peak at Fa(sub 0-1) still persists. All but one of these grains has no detectable Cr, which is dissimilar to the Fa(sub 0-1) found in the CI and CM matrices. In fact, Fa(sub 0-1) with strongly depleted Cr content is a composition that appears to be unique to Kakangari and enstatite (highly reduced) chondrites. We also note the paucity of Fa(sub greater than 58), which would typically indicate crystallization in a more oxidizing environment [3]. We conclude that, relative to the bulk of anhydrous IDPs

  16. Brachinite-Like Clast in the Kaidun Meteorite: First Report of Primitive Achondrite Material

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Higashi, K.; Hasegawa, H.; Mikouchi, T.; Zolensky, M. E.

    2017-01-01

    Kaidun is a brecciated meteorite containing many different types of meteorites. It is composed of carbonaceous, enstatite, ordinary and R chondrites with smaller amounts of basaltic achondrites, impact melt products and unknown [1, 2]. Because of the multiple components and high abundance of carbonaceous chondrites, the Kaidun parent body was probably a large C-type asteroid in order to have accumulated clasts of many unrelated asteroids, and thus Kaidun contains previously unknown materials[1]. It has been suggested that the Kaidun parent body trawled through different regions of the solar system [3], but the formation of Kaidun meteorite is still uncertain. In this abstract, we report the first discovery of a brachinite-like clast in Kaidun.

  17. Relationship Between Iron Valence States of Serpentine in CM Chondrites and Their Aqueous Alteration Degrees

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Mikouchi, T.; Zolensky, M.; Satake, W.; Le, L.

    2012-01-01

    The 0.6-0.7 micron absorption band observed for C-type asteroids is caused by the presence of Fe(3+) in phyllosilicates . Because Fe-bearing phyllosilicates, especially serpentine, are the most dominant product of aqueous alteration in the most abundant carbonaceous chondrites, CM chondrites, it is important to understand the crystal chemistry of serpentine in CM chondrites to better understand spectral features of C-type asteroids. CM chondrites show variable degrees of aqueous alteration, which should be related to iron valences in serpentine. It is predicted that the Fe(3+)/Sum of (Fe) ratios of serpentine in CM chondrites decrease as alteration proceeds by Si and Fe(3+) substitutions from end-member cronstedtite to serpentine, which should be apparent in the absorption intensity of the 0.6-0.7 micron band from C-type asteroids. In fact, the JAXA Hayabusa 2 target (C-type asteroid: 1993 JU3) exhibits heterogeneous spectral features (0.7 micron absorption band disappears by rotation). From these points of view, we have analyzed iron valences of matrix serpentine in several CM chondrites which span the entire observed range of aqueous alteration using Synchrotron Radiation X-ray Absorption Near-Edge Structure (SR-XANES). In this abstract we discuss the relationship between obtained Fe(3+)/Sum of (Fe) ratios and alteration degrees by adding new data to our previous studies

  18. Assemblage of Presolar Materials and Early Solar System Condensates in Chondritic Porous Interplanetary Dust Particles

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Nguyen, A. N.; Nakamura-Messenger, K.; Messenger, S.; Keller, L. P.; Kloeck, W.

    2015-01-01

    Anhydrous chondritic porous inter-planetary dust particles (CP IDPs) contain an assortment of highly primitive solar system components, molecular cloud matter, and presolar grains. These IDPs have largely escaped parent body processing that has affected meteorites, advocating cometary origins. Though the stardust abundance in CP IDPs is generally greater than in primitive meteorites, it can vary widely among individual CP IDPs. The average abundance of silicate stardust among isotopically primitive IDPs is approx. 375 ppm while some have extreme abundances up to approx. 1.5%. H and N isotopic anomalies are common in CP IDPs and the carrier of these anomalies has been traced to organic matter that has experienced chemical reactions in cold molecular clouds or the outer protosolar disk. Significant variations in these anomalies may reflect different degrees of nebular processing. Refractory inclusions are commonly observed in carbonaceous chondrites. These inclusions are among the first solar system condensates and display 16O-rich isotopic compositions. Refractory grains have also been observed in the comet 81P/Wild-2 samples re-turned from the Stardust Mission and in CP IDPs, but they occur with much less frequency. Here we conduct coordinated mineralogical and isotopic analyses of CP IDPs that were characterized for their bulk chemistry by to study the distribution of primitive components and the degree of nebular alteration incurred.

  19. Size scales over which ordinary chondrites and their parent asteroids are homogeneous in oxidation state and oxygen-isotopic composition

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rubin, Alan E.; Ziegler, Karen; Young, Edward D.

    2008-02-01

    Literature data demonstrate that on a global, asteroid-wide scale (plausibly on the order of 100 km), ordinary chondrites (OC) have heterogeneous oxidation states and O-isotopic compositions (represented, respectively, by the mean olivine Fa and bulk Δ 17O compositions of equilibrated samples). Samples analyzed here include: (a) two H5 chondrite Antarctic finds (ALHA79046 and TIL 82415) that have the same cosmic-ray exposure age (7.6 Ma) and were probably within ˜1 km of each other when they were excavated from the H-chondrite parent body, (b) different individual stones from the Holbrook L/LL6 fall that were probably within ˜1 m of each other when their parent meteoroid penetrated the Earth's atmosphere, and (c) drill cores from a large slab of the Estacado H6 find located within a few tens of centimeters of each other. Our results indicate that OC are heterogeneous in their bulk oxidation state and O-isotopic composition on 100-km-size scales, but homogeneous on meter-, decimeter- and centimeter-size scales. (On kilometer size scales, oxidation state is heterogeneous, but O isotopes appear to be homogeneous.) The asteroid-wide heterogeneity in oxidation state and O-isotopic composition was inherited from the solar nebula. The homogeneity on small size scales was probably caused in part by fluid-assisted metamorphism and mainly by impact-gardening processes (which are most effective at mixing target materials on scales of ⩽1 m).

  20. Crystallography of refractory metal nuggets in carbonaceous chondrites: A transmission Kikuchi diffraction approach

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Daly, Luke; Bland, Phil A.; Dyl, Kathryn A.; Forman, Lucy V.; Saxey, David W.; Reddy, Steven M.; Fougerouse, Denis; Rickard, William D. A.; Trimby, Patrick W.; Moody, Steve; Yang, Limei; Liu, Hongwei; Ringer, Simon P.; Saunders, Martin; Piazolo, Sandra

    2017-11-01

    Transmission Kikuchi diffraction (TKD) is a relatively new technique that is currently being developed for geological sample analysis. This technique utilises the transmission capabilities of a scanning electron microscope (SEM) to rapidly and accurately map the crystallographic and geochemical features of an electron transparent sample. TKD uses a similar methodology to traditional electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), but is capable of achieving a much higher spatial resolution (5-10 nm) (Trimby, 2012; Trimby et al., 2014). Here we apply TKD to refractory metal nuggets (RMNs) which are micrometre to sub-micrometre metal alloys composed of highly siderophile elements (HSEs) found in primitive carbonaceous chondrite meteorites. TKD allows us to analyse RMNs in situ, enabling the characterisation of nanometre-scale variations in chemistry and crystallography, whilst preserving their spatial and crystallographic context. This provides a complete representation of each RMN, permitting detailed interpretation of their formation history. We present TKD analysis of five transmission electron microscopy (TEM) lamellae containing RMNs coupled with EBSD and TEM analyses. These analyses revealed textures and relationships not previously observed in RMNs. These textures indicate some RMNs experienced annealing, forming twins. Some RMNs also acted as nucleation centres, and formed immiscible metal-silicate fluids. In fact, each RMN analysed in this study had different crystallographic textures. These RMNs also had heterogeneous compositions, even between RMNs contained within the same inclusion, host phase and even separated by only a few nanometres. Some RMNs are also affected by secondary processes at low temperature causing exsolution of molybdenite. However, most RMNs had crystallographic textures indicating that the RMN formed prior to their host inclusion. TKD analyses reveal most RMNs have been affected by processing in the protoplanetary disk. Despite this

  1. Do L chondrites come from the Gefion family?

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    McGraw, Allison M.; Reddy, Vishnu; Sanchez, Juan A.

    2018-05-01

    Ordinary chondrites (H, L, and LL chondrites) are the most common type of meteorites comprising 80 per cent of the meteorites that fall on Earth. The source region of these meteorites in the main asteroid belt has been a basis of considerable debate in the small bodies community. L chondrites have been proposed to come from the Gefion asteroid family, based on dynamical models. We present results from our observational campaign to verify a link between the Gefion asteroid family and L chondrite meteorites. Near-infrared spectra of Gefion family asteroids (1839) Ragazza, (2373) Immo, (2386) Nikonov, (2521) Heidi, and (3860) Plovdiv were obtained at the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF). Spectral band parameters including band centres and the band area ratio were measured from each spectrum and used to constrain the composition of these asteroids. Based on our results, we found that some members of the Gefion family have surface composition similar to that of H chondrites, primitive achondrites, and basaltic achondrites. No evidence was found for L chondrites among the Gefion family members in our small sample study. The diversity of compositional types observed in the Gefion asteroid family suggests that the original parent body might be partially differentiated or that the three asteroids with non-ordinary chondrite compositions might be interlopers.

  2. Chemical and physical studies of type 3 chondrites 12: The metamorphic history of CV chondrites and their components

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Guimon, R. Kyle; Symes, Steven J. K.; Sears, Derek W. G.

    1995-01-01

    The induced thermoluminescence (TL) properties of 16 CV and CV-related chondrites, four CK chondrites and Renazzo (CR2) have been measured in order to investigate their metamorphic history. The petrographic, mineralogical and bulk compositional differences among the CV chondrites indicate that the TL sensitivity of the approximately 130 C TL peak is reflecting the abundance of ordered feldspar, especially in chondrule mesostasis, which in turn reflects parent-body metamorphism. The TL properties of 18 samples of homogenized Allende powder heated at a variety of times and temperatures, and cathodoluminescence mosaics of Axtell and Coolidge, showed results consistent with this conclusion. Five refractory inclusions from Allende, and separates from those inclusions, were also examined and yielded trends reflecting variations in mineralogy indicative of high peak temperatures (either metamorphic or igneous) and fairly rapid cooling. The CK chondrites are unique among metamorphosed chondrites in showing no detectable induced TL, which is consistent with literature data that suggests very unusual feldspar in these meteorites. Using TL sensitivity and several mineral systems and allowing for the differences in the oxidized and reduced subgroups, the CV and CV-related meteorites can be divided into petrologic types analogous to those of the ordinary and CO type 3 chondrites. Axtell, Kaba, Leoville, Bali, Arch and ALHA81003 are type 3.0-3.1, while ALH84018, Efremovka, Grosnaja, Allende and Vigarano are type 3.2-3.3 and Coolidge and Loongana 001 are type 3.8. Mokoia is probably a breccia with regions ranging in petrologic type from 3.0 to 3.2. Renazzo often plots at the end of the reduced and oxidized CV chondrite trends, even when those trends diverge, suggesting that in many respects it resembles the unmetamorphosed precursors of the CV chondrites. The low-petrographic types and low-TL peak temperatures of all samples, including the CV3.8 chondrites, indicates metamorphism

  3. Effect of Tube-Based X-Ray Microtomography Imaging on the Amino Acid and Amine Content of the Murchison CM2 Chondrite

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Glavin, D. P.; Friedrich, J. M.; Aponte, J. C.; Dworkin, J. P.; Ebel, D. S.; Elsila, J. E.; Hill, M.; McLain, H. L.; Towbin, W. H.

    2017-01-01

    X-ray and synchrotron X-ray micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) are increasingly being used for three dimensional reconnaissance imaging of chondrites and returned extraterrestrial material prior to detailed chemical and mineralogical analyses. Although micro-CT imaging is generally considered to be a non-destructive technique since silicate and metallic minerals in chondrites are not affected by X-ray exposures at the intensities and wavelengths typically used, there are concerns that the use of micro-CT could be detrimental to the organics in carbonaceous chondrites. We recently conducted a synchrotron micro-CT experiment on a powdered sample of the Murchison CM2 carbonaceous chondrite exposed to a monochromatic high energy (approximately 48 kiloelectronvolts) total X-ray radiation dose of approximately 1 kilogray (kGy) using the Advanced Photon Source beamline 13-BMD (13-Bending Magnet-D Beamline) at Argonne National Laboratory and found that there were no detectable changes in the amino acid abundances or enantiomeric compositions in the chondrite after exposure relative to a Murchison control sample that was not exposed. However, lower energy bremsstrahlung X-rays could interact more with amino acids and other lower molecular weight amines in meteorites. To test for this possibility, three separate micro-CT imaging experiments of the Murchison meteorite using the GE Phoenix v/tome/x s 240 kilovolt microfocus high resolution tungsten target X-ray tube instrument at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) were conducted and the amino acid abundances and enantiomeric compositions were determined. We also investigated the abundances of the C1-C5 amines in Murchison which were not analyzed in the first study.

  4. Chemical variations among L-chondrites. IV - Analyses, with petrographic notes, of 13 L-group and 3 LL-group chondrites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jarosewich, E.; Dodd, R. T.

    1985-03-01

    Procedures are reviewed for selecting, preparing and analyzing meteorite samples, present new analyses of 16 ordinary chondrites, and discuss variations of Fe, S and Si in the L-group. A tendency for Fe/Mg, S/Mg and Si/Mg to be low in L chondrites of facies d to f testifies that post-metamorphic shock melting played a significant role in the chemical diversification of the L-group. However, these ratios also vary widely and sympathetically in melt-free chondrites, indicating that much of the L-group's chemical variation arose prior to thermal metamorphism and is in that sense primary. If all L chondrites come from one parent body, type-correlated chemical trends suggest: (1) that the body had a tradiational 'onion skin' structure, with metamorphic intensity increasing with depth; and (2) that it formed from material that became more homogeneous, slightly poorer in iron, and significantly richer in sulfur as accretion proceeded.

  5. Chemical Variations Among L-Chondrites--IV. Analyses, with Petrographic Notes, of 13 L-group and 3 LL-group Chondrites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jarosewich, E.; Dodd, R. T.

    1985-03-01

    We review our procedures for selecting, preparing and analyzing meteorite samples, present new analyses of 16 ordinary chondrites, and discuss variations of Fe, S and Si in the L-group. A tendency for Fe/Mg, S/Mg and Si/Mg to be low in L chondrites of facies d to f testifies that post-metamorphic shock melting played a significant role in the chemical diversification of the L-group. However, these ratios also vary widely and sympathetically in melt-free chondrites, indicating that much of the L-group's chemical variation arose prior to thermal metamorphism and is in that sense primary. If all L chondrites come from one parent body, type-correlated chemical trends suggest: 1) that the body had a traditional "onion skin" structure, with metamorphic intensity increasing with depth; and 2) that it formed from material that became more homogeneous, slightly poorer in iron, and significantly richer in sulfur as accretion proceeded.

  6. Compositions and microstructures of CB sulfides: Implications for the thermal history of the CB chondrite parent body

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Srinivasan, Poorna; Jones, Rhian H.; Brearley, Adrian J.

    2017-10-01

    We studied textures and compositions of sulfide inclusions in unzoned Fe,Ni metal particles within CBa Gujba, CBa Weatherford, CBb HH 237, and CBb QUE 94411 in order to constrain formation conditions and secondary thermal histories on the CB parent body. Unzoned metal particles in all four chondrites have very similar metal and sulfide compositions. Metal particles contain different types of sulfides, which we categorize as: homogeneous low-Cr sulfides composed of troilite, troilite-containing exsolved daubreelite lamellae, arcuate sulfides that occur along metal grain boundaries, and shock-melted sulfides composed of a mixture of troilite and Fe, Ni metal. Our model for formation proposes that the unzoned metal particles were initially metal droplets that formed from splashing by a partially molten impacting body. Sulfide inclusions later formed as a result of precipitation of excess S from solid metal at low temperatures, either during single stage cooling or during a reheating event by impacts. Sulfides containing exsolution lamellae record temperatures of ≪600 °C, and irregular Fe-FeS intergrowth textures suggest localized shock melting, both of which are indicative of heterogeneous heating by impact processes on the CB parent body. Our study shows that CBa and CBb chondrites formed in a similar environment, and also experienced similar secondary impact processing.

  7. The amino acid and hydrocarbon contents of the Paris meteorite, the most primitive CM chondrite

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Martins, Zita; Modica, Paola; Zanda, Brigitte; Le Sergeant d'Hendecourt, Louis

    2015-04-01

    The Paris meteorite is reported to be the least aqueously altered CM chondrite [1,2], and to have experienced only weak thermal metamorphism [2-5]. The IR spectra of some of Paris' fragments suggest a primitive origin for the organic matter in this meteorite, similar to the spectra from solid-state materials in molecular clouds [6]. Most of the micron-sized organic particles present in the Paris matrix exhibit 0 < δD <2000‰ [7,8]. In order to understand the effect of aqueous alteration and thermal metamorphism on the abundance and distribution of meteoritic soluble organic matter, we have analyzed for the first time the amino acid and hydrocarbon contents of the Paris meteorite [9]. Extensive aqueous alteration in the parent body of carbonaceous meteorites may result in the decomposition of α-amino acids and the synthesis of β- and γ-amino acids. When plotted with several CM chondrites, Paris has the lowest relative abundance of β-alanine/glycine (0.15) for a CM chondrite, which fits with the relative abundance of β-alanine/glycine increasing with increasing aqueous alteration [10,11]. In addition, our results show that the isovaline detected in this meteorite is racemic (D/L= 0.99 ± 0.08; L-enantiomer excess (%) = 0.35 ± 0.5; corrected D/L = 1.03; corrected L-enantiomer excess (%) = -1.4 ± 2.6). Although aqueous alteration does not create by itself an isovaline asymmetry, it may amplify a small enantiomeric excess. Therefore, our data may support the hypothesis that aqueous alteration is responsible for the high L-enantiomer excess of isovaline observed in the most aqueously altered carbonaceous meteorites [12,13]. Paris has n-alkanes ranging from C16 to C25 and 3- to 5-ring non-alkylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The lack of alkylated PAHs in Paris seems to be related to the low degree of aqueous alteration on its parent body [9,14]. The extra-terrestrial aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbon content of Paris may have an interstellar origin

  8. Calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions recycled during formation of porphyritic chondrules from CH carbonaceous chondrites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Krot, Alexander N.; Nagashima, Kazuhide; van Kooten, Elishevah M. M.; Bizzarro, Martin

    2017-03-01

    We report on the mineralogy, petrography, and O-isotope compositions of ∼60 Ca, Al-rich inclusions (CAIs) incompletely melted during formation of porphyritic chondrules from the CH metal-rich carbonaceous chondrites and Isheyevo (CH/CB). These include (i) relict polymineralic CAIs in porphyritic chondrules, (ii) CAIs surrounded by chondrule-like igneous rims, (iii) igneous pyroxene-rich and Type C-like CAIs, and (iv) plagioclase-rich chondrules with clusters of relict spinel grains. 26Al-26Mg systematics were measured in 10 relict CAIs and 11 CAI-bearing plagioclase-rich chondrules. Based on the mineralogy, the CH CAIs incompletely melted during chondrule formation can be divided into grossite-rich (n = 13), hibonite-rich (n = 11), spinel ± melilite-rich (n = 33; these include plagioclase-rich chondrules with clusters of relict spinel grains) types. Mineralogical observations indicate that these CAIs were mixed with different proportions of ferromagnesian silicates and experienced incomplete melting and gas-melt interaction during chondrule formation. These processes resulted in partial or complete destruction of the CAI Wark-Lovering rims, replacement of melilite by Na-bearing plagioclase, and dissolution and overgrowth of nearly end-member spinel by chromium- and iron-bearing spinel. Only two relict CAIs and two CAI-bearing chondrules show resolvable excess of radiogenic 26Mg; the inferred initial 26Al/27Al ratios are (1.7 ± 1.3) × 10-6, (3.7 ± 3.1) × 10-7, (1.9 ± 0.9) × 10-6 and (4.9 ± 2.6) × 10-6. There is a large range of Δ17O among the CH CAIs incompletely melted during chondrule formation, from ∼-37‰ to ∼-5‰; the unmelted minerals in individual CAIs, however, are isotopically uniform and systematically 16O-enriched relative to the host chondrules and chondrule-like igneous rims, which have Δ17O ranging from ∼-7‰ to ∼+4‰. Most of the CH CAIs incompletely melted during chondrule formation are mineralogically and isotopically

  9. Short-lived chlorine-36 in a Ca- and Al-rich inclusion from the Ningqiang carbonaceous chondrite

    PubMed Central

    Lin, Yangting; Guan, Yunbin; Leshin, Laurie A.; Ouyang, Ziyuan; Wang, Daode

    2005-01-01

    Excesses of sulfur-36 in sodalite, a chlorine-rich mineral, in a calcium- and aluminum-rich inclusion from the Ningqiang carbonaceous chondrite linearly correlate with chorine/sulfur ratios, providing direct evidence for the presence of short-lived chlorine-36 (with a half-life of 0.3 million years) in the early solar system. The best inferred (36Cl/35Cl)o ratios of the sodalite are ≈5 × 10-6. Different from other short-lived radionuclides, chlorine-36 was introduced into the inclusion by solid-gas reaction during secondary alteration. The alteration reaction probably took place at least 1.5 million years after the first formation of the inclusion, based on the correlated study of the 26Al-26Mg systems of the relict primary minerals and the alteration assemblages, from which we inferred an initial ratio of (36Cl/35Cl)o > 1.6 × 10-4 at the time when calcium- and aluminum-rich inclusions formed. This discovery supports a supernova origin of short-lived nuclides [Cameron, A. G. W., Hoeflich, P., Myers, P. C. & Clayton, D. D. (1995) Astrophys. J. 447, L53; Wasserburg, G. J., Gallino, R. & Busso, M. (1998) Astrophys. J. 500, L189–L193], but presents a serious challenge for local irradiation models [Shu, F. H., Shang, H., Glassgold, A. E. & Lee, T. (1997) Science 277, 1475–1479; Gounelle, M., Shu, F. H., Shang, H., Glassgold, A. E., Rehm, K. E. & Lee, T. (2001) Astrophys. J. 548, 1051–1070]. Furthermore, the short-lived 36Cl may serve as a unique fine-scale chronometer for volatile-rock interaction in the early solar system because of its close association with aqueous and/or anhydrous alteration processes. PMID:15671168

  10. Primitive Liquid Water of the Solar System in an Aqueous Altered Carbonaceous Chondrite

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Tsuchiyama, A.; Miyake, A.; Kitayama, A.; Matsuno, J.; Takeuchi, A.; Uesugi, K.; Suzuki, Y.; Nakano, T.; Zolensky, M. E.

    2016-01-01

    Non-destructive 3D observations of the aqueous altered CM chondrite Sutter's Mill using scanning imaging x-ray microscopy (SIXM) showed that some of calcite and enstatite grains contain two-phase inclusion, which is most probably composed of liquid water and bubbles. This water should be primitive water responsible for aqueous alteration in an asteroid in the early solar system.

  11. Ordinary chondrites - Multivariate statistical analysis of trace element contents

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Lipschutz, Michael E.; Samuels, Stephen M.

    1991-01-01

    The contents of mobile trace elements (Co, Au, Sb, Ga, Se, Rb, Cs, Te, Bi, Ag, In, Tl, Zn, and Cd) in Antarctic and non-Antarctic populations of H4-6 and L4-6 chondrites, were compared using standard multivariate discriminant functions borrowed from linear discriminant analysis and logistic regression. A nonstandard randomization-simulation method was developed, making it possible to carry out probability assignments on a distribution-free basis. Compositional differences were found both between the Antarctic and non-Antarctic H4-6 chondrite populations and between two L4-6 chondrite populations. It is shown that, for various types of meteorites (in particular, for the H4-6 chondrites), the Antarctic/non-Antarctic compositional difference is due to preterrestrial differences in the genesis of their parent materials.

  12. Chromium on Eros: Further Evidence of Ordinary Chondrite Composition

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Foley, C. N.; Nittler, L. R.; Brown, M. R. M.; McCoy, T. J.; Lim, L. F.

    2005-01-01

    The surface major element composition of the near-earth asteroid 433-Eros has been determined by x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRS) on the NEAR-Shoemaker spacecraft [1]. The abundances of Mg, Al, Si, Ca and Fe match those of ordinary chondrites [1]. However, the observation that Eros appears to have a sulfur abundance at least a factor of two lower than ordinary chondrites, suggests either sulfur loss from the surface of Eros by impact and/or radiation processes (space weathering) or that its surface is comprised of a somewhat more differentiated type of material than an ordinary chondrite [1]. A definitive match for an ordinary chondrite parent body has very rarely been made, despite the conundrum that ordinary chondrites are the most prevalent type of meteorite found on Earth. Furthermore, Eros is classified as an S(IV) type asteroid [2] and being an S, it is the second most prevalent type of asteroid in the asteroid belt [3].

  13. Petrologic evolution of CM chondrites: The difficulty of discriminating between nebular and parent-body effects

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kerridge, J. F.; McSween, H. Y., Jr.; Bunch, T. E.

    1994-07-01

    We wish to draw attention to a major controversy that has arisen in the area of CM-chondrite petrology. The problem is important because its resolution will have profound implications for ideas concerning nebular dynamics, gas-solid interactions in the nebula, and accretionary processes in the nebula, among other issues. On the one hand, cogent arguments have been presented that 'accretionary dust mantles,' were formed in the solar nebula prior to accretion of the CM parent asteroid(s). On the other hand, no-less-powerful arguments have been advanced that a significant fraction of the CM lithology is secondary, produced by aqueous alteration in the near-surface regions of an asteroid-sized object. Because most, if not all, CM chondrites are breccias, these two views could coexist harmoniously, were it not for the fact that some of the coarse-grained lithologies surrounded by 'accretion dust mantles' are themselves of apparently secondary origin. Such an observation must clearly force a reassessment of one or both of the present schools of thought. Our objective here is to stimulate such a reassessment. Four possible resolutions of this conflict may be postulated. First, perhaps nature found a way of permitting such secondary alteration to take place in the nebula. Second, maybe dust mantles could form in a regolith, rather than a nebular, environment. Third, it is possible that dust mantles around secondary lithologies are different from those around primary lithologies. Finally, perhaps formation of CM chondrites involved a more complex sequence of events than visualized so far, so that some apparently 'primary' processes postdated certain 'secondary' processes.

  14. Laboratory mid-IR spectra of equilibrated and igneous meteorites. Searching for observables of planetesimal debris

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    de Vries, B. L.; Skogby, H.; Waters, L. B. F. M.; Min, M.

    2018-06-01

    Meteorites contain minerals from Solar System asteroids with different properties (like size, presence of water, core formation). We provide new mid-IR transmission spectra of powdered meteorites to obtain templates of how mid-IR spectra of asteroidal debris would look like. This is essential for interpreting mid-IR spectra of past and future space observatories, like the James Webb Space Telescope. First we present new transmission spectra of powdered ordinary chondrite, pallasite and HED meteorites and then we combine them with already available transmission spectra of chondrites in the literature, giving a total set of 64 transmission spectra. In detail we study the spectral features of minerals in these spectra to obtain measurables used to spectroscopically distinguish between meteorite groups. Being able to differentiate between dust from different meteorite types means we can probe properties of parent bodies, like their size, if they were wet or dry and if they are differentiated (core formation) or not. We show that the transmission spectra of wet and dry chondrites, carbonaceous and ordinary chondrites and achondrite and chondrite meteorites are distinctly different in a way one can distinguish in astronomical mid-IR spectra. Carbonaceous chondrites type < 3 (aqueously altered) show distinct features of hydrated silicates (hydrosilicates) compared to the olivine and pyroxene rich ordinary chondrites (dry and equilibrated meteorites). Also the iron concentration of the olivine in carbonaceous chondrites differs from ordinary chondrites, which can be probed by the wavelength peak position of the olivine spectral features. The transmission spectra of chondrites (not differentiated) are also strongly different from the achondrite HED meteorites (meteorites from differentiated bodies like 4 Vesta), where the latter show much stronger pyroxene signatures. The two observables that spectroscopically separate the different meteorites groups (and thus the different

  15. The appearance of Carbonaceous Chondrites on (1) Ceres from observations by the Dawn Framing Camera

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Schäfer, Tanja; Schäfer, Michael; Mengel, Kurt; Cloutis, Edward A.; Izawa, Matthew R. M.; Thangjam, Guneshwar; Hoffmann, Martin; Platz, Thomas; Nathues, Andreas; Kallisch, Jan; Ripken, Joachim; Russel, Christopher T.

    2016-04-01

    NASA's Dawn spacecraft reached dwarf planet Ceres in March 2015 and started data acquisition using three different instruments. These are the Framing Camera (FC; [1]), the Visible & Infrared Spectrometer (VIR; [2]), and the Gamma Ray and Neutron Detector (GRaND; [3]). In our work we focus on the potential appearance of carbonaceous chondritic (CC) material on the cerean surface using Dawn FC color mosaics covering the VIS/NIR wavelength region. In preparation of the Dawn arrival at Ceres, a discrimination scheme for CC groups using FC color ratios was developed by [4] and is based on 121 CC laboratory spectra compiled from RELAB. As the cerean surface material mainly differs by its spectral slope over the whole FC wavelength range (0.44-0.97 μm), we classified the color mosaics by this parameter. We applied the CC discrimination scheme only to those regions on the cerean surface (more than 90 %) which exhibit spectral slopes ≥ -1 % reflectance per μm to exclude the strongly negative sloped regions of large young craters such as Occator, Haulani, and Oxo. These are not likely to be similar to pure CC material as can be seen by their brightness and their bluish spectral slope [5]. We found that the surface material of Ceres is, among the suite of CCs, most similar to Ivuna samples artificially heated to 200 and 300°C [6] and unusual CCs, which naturally experienced heating. The latter ones comprise Dhofar 225, Y-86789 and Y-82162, which have been determined to have undergone aqueous alteration and subsequent thermal metamorphism (e.g. [7,8]).Our comparison with VIR data shows, that the spectra of Ivuna heated to 200°C and 300°C match well the OH-absorption at 2.7 μm but do not show the smaller 3.05-3.1 μm absorption observed on Ceres [9,10,11]. Nevertheless, the remarkably flat UV drop-off detected on the cerean surface may, at least spectrally, correspond to highly aqueously altered and subsequently thermally metamorphosed CC material. Further alteration of

  16. Sahara 99555 and D'Orbigny: Possible Pristine Parent Magma of Quenched Angrites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Mikouchi, T.; McKay, G. A.; Jones, J. H.

    2004-01-01

    Angrites constitute a small, but important group of basaltic achondrites showing unusual mineralogy and old crystallization ages. The currently known angrites are divided into two subgroups. Angra dos Reis (ADOR) and LEW86010 show slow cooling histories ("slowly-cooled" angrites) and differ from the later found angrites (LEW87051, Asuka 881371, Sahara 99555, D Orbigny, NWA1670, NWA1298). This second group has textures that suggest rapid cooling histories ("quenched" angrites). The petrogenesis of angrites has been controversial, partly due to the small number of available samples. In this abstract, we suggest a possible parent melt composition for the quenched angrites and its relationship to the partial melts of carbonaceous chondrites.

  17. The ungrouped chondrite El Médano 301 and its comparison with other reduced ordinary chondrites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pourkhorsandi, Hamed; Gattacceca, Jérôme; Devouard, Bertrand; D'Orazio, Massimo; Rochette, Pierre; Beck, Pierre; Sonzogni, Corinne; Valenzuela, Millarca

    2017-12-01

    El Médano 301 (EM 301) is an ungrouped chondrite with overall texture and trace-element distribution similar to those of ordinary chondrites (OCs), but with silicate (olivine and low-Ca pyroxene) compositions that are more reduced than those in OCs, with average olivine and low-Ca pyroxene of Fa3.9±0.3 and Fs12.8±4.9, respectively. These values are far lower than the values for OCs and even for chondrites designed as ;reduced; chondrites. Low-Ca pyroxene is the dominant mineral phase and shows zoning with higher MgO contents along the crystal rims and cracks (reverse zoning). The Co content of kamacite is also much lower than the concentrations observed in OCs (below detection limit of 0.18 wt% versus 0.44-37 wt%). Oxygen isotopic composition is Δ17O = +0.79,+0.78‰ and slightly different from that of OCs. The lower modal olivine/pyroxene ratio, different Infrared (IR) spectra, lower Co content of kamacite, lower mean FeO contents of olivine and pyroxene, different kamacite texture, and different oxygen-isotopic composition show that EM 301 does not belong to a known OC group. EM 301 shows similarities with chondritic clasts in Cumberland Falls aubrite, and with Northwest Africa 7135 (NWA 7135) and Acfer 370 ungrouped chondrites. However, dissimilar to NWA 7135 and the clasts, it does not contain highly reduced mineral phases like daubréelite. Our observations suggest the formation of EM 301 in a nebular region compositionally similar to OCs but with a different redox state, with oxygen fugacity (ƒO2) in this region lower than that of OCs and higher than that of enstatite chondrites condensation region. A second, possibly nebular, phase of reduction by the production of reducing gas phases (e.g., C-rich) could be responsible for the subsequent reduction of the primary material and the occurrence of reverse zoning in the low-Ca pyroxene and lower average Fa/Fs ratio. Based on the IR spectra of EM 301 we suggest the possibility that the parent body of this

  18. Chondrules and Opaque Phases in Unequilibrated R Chondrites: A Comprehensive Assessment of Their Formation

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Miller, K. E.; Lauretta, D. S.; Connolly, H. C., Jr.; Berger, E. L.; Domanik, K.

    2016-01-01

    Equilibrated Rumuruti (R) chondrites record an oxygen fugacity between 0 and 3.5 log units below the fayalite-magnetite-quartz buffer, and a sulfur fugacity (fS2) 2 log units above the iron-troilite buffer. They are more than an order of magnitude more oxidized than the ordinary chondrites [1], and orders of magnitude more sulfidized than solar values. Although the R chondrites have the highest (delta)O-17 value of any meteorites, analyses of unequilibrated R chondrites indicate chondrule formation in an oxygen isotope reservoir similar to that of the ordinary chondrite chondrules. We present the relationship of the R chondrite parent body to pre-accretionary volatiles O and S based on our analyses of unequilibrated R chondrite material in two thin sections from the meteorite Mount Prestrud (PRE) 95404.

  19. Ar-40/Ar-39 Age of Hornblende-bearing R Chondrite LAP 04840

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Righter, K.; Cosca, M.

    2014-01-01

    Chondrites have a complex chronology due to several variables affecting and operating on chondritic parent bodies such as radiogenic heating, pressure and temperature variation with depth, aqueous alteration, and shock or impact heating [1]. Unbrecciated chondrites can record ages from 4.56 to 4.4 Ga that represent cooling in small parent bodies. Some brecciated chondrites exhibit younger ages (<<4 to 4.4 Ga) that may reflect the age of brecciation, disturbance, or shock and impact events (<< 4 Ga). A unique R chondrite was recently found in the LaPaz Icefield of Antarctica - LAP 04840 [2]. This chondrite contains approx.15% hornblende and trace amounts of biotite, making it the first of its kind. Studies have revealed an equigranular texture, mineral equilibria yielding equilibration near 650-700 C and 250-500 bars, hornblende that is dominantly OH-bearing (very little Cl or F), and high D/H ratios [8,9,10]. To help gain a better understanding of the origin of this unique sample, we have measured the Ar-40/Ar-39 age. Age of 4.290 +/- 0.030 Ga is younger than one would expect for a sample that has cooled within a small body [4], and one might instead attribute the age to a younger shock event, On the other hand, there is no evidence for extensive shock in this meteorite (shock stage S2; [3]), so this sample may have been reannealed after the shock event. This age is similar to Ar-Ar ages determined for some other R chondrites

  20. Bleached chondrules: Evidence for widespread aqueous processes on the parent asteroids of ordinary chondrites

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Grossman, J.N.; Alexander, C.M. O'D.; Wang, Jingyuan; Brearley, A.J.

    2000-01-01

    We present the first detailed study of a population of texturally distinct chondrules previously described by Kurat (1969), Christophe Michel-Levy (1976), and Skinner et al. (1989) that are sharply depleted in alkalis and Al in their outer portions. These 'bleached' chondrules, which are exclusively radial pyroxene and cryptocrystalline in texture, have porous outer zones where mesostasis has been lost. Bleached chondrules are present in all type 3 ordinary chondrites and are present in lower abundances in types 4-6. They are most abundant in the L and LL groups, apparently less common in H chondrites, and absent in enstatite chondrites. We used x-ray mapping and traditional electron microprobe techniques to characterize bleached chondrules in a cross section of ordinary chondrites. We studied bleached chondrules from Semarkona by ion microprobe for trace elements and H isotopes, and by transmission electron microscopy. Chondrule bleaching was the result of low-temperature alteration by aqueous fluids flowing through fine-grained chondrite matrix prior to thermal metamorphism. During aqueous alteration, interstitial glass dissolved and was partially replaced by phyllosilicates, troilite was altered to pentlandite, but pyroxene was completely unaffected. Calcium-rich zones formed at the inner margins of the bleached zones, either as the result of the early stages of metamorphism or because of fluid-chondrule reaction. The mineralogy of bleached chondrules is extremely sensitive to thermal metamorphism in type 3 ordinary chondrites, and bleached zones provide a favorable location for the growth of metamorphic minerals in higher petrologic types. The ubiquitous presence of bleached chondrules in ordinary chondrites implies that they all experienced aqueous alteration early in their asteroidal histories, but there is no relationship between the degree of alteration and metamorphic grade. A correlation between the oxidation state of chondrite groups and their degree of

  1. The redox state of iron in the matrix of CI, CM and metamorphosed CM chondrites by XANES spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Beck, P.; De Andrade, V.; Orthous-Daunay, F.-R.; Veronesi, G.; Cotte, M.; Quirico, E.; Schmitt, B.

    2012-12-01

    Carbonaceous chondrites record the action of water at some point of their petrological history. These meteorites are usually connected to low albedo asteroid, which present visible/near-IR absorption explained by iron related absorption within phyllosilicates and oxides. In order to obtain quantitative insight into the mineralogy of iron-bearing phases, we have measured X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy at the iron K-edge of matrix from carbonaceous chondrites. This method enables to constrain the redox state and environment of iron in these meteorites. For this study, we selected seven CM chondrites and the CI Orgueil, expected to span a range of aqueous alteration degrees. Our analysis of the pre-edge features show that the redox state of Orgueil (CI) is dominated by octahedral Fe and that the Fe3+/(Fe3++Fe2+) atomic ratio is above 80%. Full-inversion of the spectra suggests that the iron budget is dominated by iron oxides, with additional contributions from phyllosilicate. In the case of the CM, the iron speciation appears different that in the case of Orgueil. Cronstedtite is identified from the inversion of the spectra, and suggested by the presence of significant amount of tetrahedral Fe3+. Within the CM chondrites, a trend of aqueous alteration appears presents, and which is roughly correlated to the scheme defined by Rubin et al. (2007). This trend is characterized by an increase in the amount of iron oxides. Two shock metamorphosed CM are present in our dataset (PCA 91008, WIS 91600). If WIS 91600 does not appear distinguishable, from the CM trend, in the case of PCA 91008, shock metamorphism did impact the pre-edge intensity and an increased amount of anhydrous silicates is found. Although the matrix was dehydrated, significant amount of Fe3+ is still present, providing a memory of the aqueous alteration.

  2. FORMING CHONDRITES IN A SOLAR NEBULA WITH MAGNETICALLY INDUCED TURBULENCE

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Hasegawa, Yasuhiro; Turner, Neal J.; Masiero, Joseph

    Chondritic meteorites provide valuable opportunities to investigate the origins of the solar system. We explore impact jetting as a mechanism of chondrule formation and subsequent pebble accretion as a mechanism of accreting chondrules onto parent bodies of chondrites, and investigate how these two processes can account for the currently available meteoritic data. We find that when the solar nebula is ≤5 times more massive than the minimum-mass solar nebula at a ≃ 2–3 au and parent bodies of chondrites are ≤10{sup 24} g (≤500 km in radius) in the solar nebula, impact jetting and subsequent pebble accretion can reproduce a number ofmore » properties of the meteoritic data. The properties include the present asteroid belt mass, the formation timescale of chondrules, and the magnetic field strength of the nebula derived from chondrules in Semarkona. Since this scenario requires a first generation of planetesimals that trigger impact jetting and serve as parent bodies to accrete chondrules, the upper limit of parent bodies’ masses leads to the following implications: primordial asteroids that were originally ≥10{sup 24} g in mass were unlikely to contain chondrules, while less massive primordial asteroids likely had a chondrule-rich surface layer. The scenario developed from impact jetting and pebble accretion can therefore provide new insights into the origins of the solar system.« less

  3. Identification of a Compound Spinel and Silicate Presolar Grain in a Chondritic Interplanetary Dust Particle

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Nguyen, A. N.; Nakamura-Messenger, K.; Messenger, S.; Keller, L. P.; Kloeck, W.

    2014-01-01

    Anhydrous chondritic porous interplanetary dust particles (CP IDPs) have undergone minimal parent body alteration and contain an assemblage of highly primitive materials, including molecular cloud material, presolar grains, and material that formed in the early solar nebula [1-3]. The exact parent bodies of individual IDPs are not known, but IDPs that have extremely high abundances of presolar silicates (up to 1.5%) most likely have cometary origins [1, 4]. The presolar grain abundance among these minimally altered CP IDPs varies widely. "Isotopically primitive" IDPs distinguished by anomalous bulk N isotopic compositions, numerous 15N-rich hotspots, and some C isotopic anomalies have higher average abundances of presolar grains (375 ppm) than IDPs with isotopically normal bulk N (<10 ppm) [5]. Some D and N isotopic anomalies have been linked to carbonaceous matter, though this material is only rarely isotopically anomalous in C [1, 5, 6]. Previous studies of the bulk chemistry and, in some samples, the mineralogy of select anhydrous CP IDPs indicate a link between high C abundance and pyroxene-dominated mineralogy [7]. In this study, we conduct coordinated mineralogical and isotopic analyses of samples that were analyzed by [7] to characterize isotopically anomalous materials and to establish possible correlations with C abundance.

  4. The extent of aqueous alteration in C-class asteroids, and the survival of presolar isotopic signatures in chondrites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Trigo-Rodriguez, J. M.

    2011-05-01

    Several sample return missions are being planned by different space agencies for in situ sampling of undifferentiated bodies. Such missions wish to bring back to Earth pristine samples from C-class asteroids and comets to obtain clues on solar system formation conditions. A careful selection of targeted areas is required as many C-class asteroids and periodic comets have been subjected to collisional and space weathering processing since their formation. Their surfaces have been reworked by impacts as pointed out by the brecciated nature of many chondrites arrived to Earth, exhibiting different levels of thermal and aqueous alteration. It is not surprising that pristine chondrites can be considered quite rare in meteorite collections because they were naturally sampled in collisions, but several groups of carbonaceous chondrites contain a few members with promising unaltered properties. The CI and CM groups suffered extensive aqueous alteration [1], but for the most part escaped thermal metamorphism (only a few CMs evidence heating temperature over several hundred K). Both chondrite groups are water-rich, containing secondary minerals as consequence of the pervasive alteration of their primary mineral phases [2]. CO, CV, and CR chondrite groups suffered much less severe aqueous alteration, but some CRs are moderately aqueously altered. All five groups are good candidates to find unequilibrated materials between samples unaffected by aqueous alteration or metamorphism. The water was incorporated during accretion, and was released as consequence of shock after impact compaction, and/or by mild radiogenic heating. Primary minerals were transformed by water into secondary ones. Water soaking the bodies participated in chemical homogenization of the different components [1]. Hydrothermal alteration and collisional metamorphism changed the abundances of isotopically distinguishable presolar silicates [3]. Additional instruments in the landers to identify aqueous

  5. Evidence for interstellar SiC in the Murray carbonaceous meteorite

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Bernatowicz, Thomas; Wopenka, Brigitte; Fraundorf, Gail; Ming, Tang; Anders, Edward

    1987-01-01

    Silicon carbide has been identified in two separates from the Murray carbonaceous chondrite that are enriched 20,000-fold in isotopically anomalous neon and xenon. The SiC is present in the form of crystalline grains 0.1-1 micron in size. Cubic and 111-plane-twinned cubic are the most common ordered polytypes observed so far. The anomalous isotopic composition of its carbon, nitrogen, and silicon indicates a presolar origin, probably in the atmospheres of red giants. An additional silicon- and oxygen-rich phase shows large isotropic anomalies in nitrogen and silicon, also associated with a presolar origin.

  6. Oxygen Isotope Evidence for the Relationship between CM and CO Chondrites: Could they Both Coexist on a Single Asteroid

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Greenwood, R. C.; Howard, K. T.; Franchi, I. A.; Zolensky, M. E.; Buchanan, P. C.; Gibson, J. M.

    2014-01-01

    Water played a critical role in the early evolution of asteroids and planets, as well as being an essential ingredient for life on Earth. However, despite its importance, the source of water in the inner solar system remains controversial. Delivery of water to Earth via comets is inconsistent with their relatively elevated D/H ratios, whereas carbonaceous chondrites (CCs) have more terrestrial-like D/H ratios [1]. Of the eight groups into which the CCs are divided, only three (CI, CM, CR) show evidence of extensive aqueous alteration. Of these, the CMs form the single most important group, representing 34% of all CC falls and a similar percentage of finds (Met. Bull. Database). CM material also dominates the population of CC clasts in extraterrestrial samples [2, 3]. The Antarctic micrometeorites population is also dominated by CM and CI-like material and similar particles may have transported water and volatiles to the early Earth [4]. CCs, and CMs in particular, offer the best opportunity for investigating the evolution of water reservoirs in the early solar system. An important aspect of this problem involves identifying the anhydrous silicate component which co-accreted with ice in the CM parent body. A genetic relationship between the essentially anhydrous CO group and the CMs was proposed on the basis of oxygen isotope evidence [5]. However, previous CM whole-rock oxygen isotope data scattered about a line of approximately 0.5 that did not intersect the field of CO chondrites [5]. Here we discuss new oxygen isotope data which provides additional constraints on the relationship between CO and CM chondrites.

  7. Porphyritic Olivine-Pyroxene Clast in Kaidun: First Discovery of an Ordinary Chondrite Clast?

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Mikouchi, T.; Makishima, J.; Koizumi, E.; Zolensky, M. E.

    2005-01-01

    Kaidun is an enigmatic meteorite showing a micro-brecciated texture composed of variable kinds of lithic clasts and mineral fragments. The constituent components range from primitive chondritic materials to differentiated achondritic materials, and thus believed to have originated from a large parent body accumulating materials from many different bodies in the asteroid belt. One of the interesting observations is that no ordinary chondrite component has been found yet, although C and E chondrites components are abundant. In this abstract, we report mineralogy of the clast (Kaidun #15415- 01.3.13a) showing a porphyritic olivine-pyroxene chondrule-like texture similar to those found in unequilibrated ordinary chondrites.

  8. Young chondrules in CB chondrites from a giant impact in the early Solar System.

    PubMed

    Krot, Alexander N; Amelin, Yuri; Cassen, Patrick; Meibom, Anders

    2005-08-18

    Chondrules, which are the major constituent of chondritic meteorites, are believed to have formed during brief, localized, repetitive melting of dust (probably caused by shock waves) in the protoplanetary disk around the early Sun. The ages of primitive chondrules in chondritic meteorites indicate that their formation started shortly after that of the calcium-aluminium-rich inclusions (4,567.2 +/- 0.7 Myr ago) and lasted for about 3 Myr, which is consistent with the dissipation timescale for protoplanetary disks around young solar-mass stars. Here we report the 207Pb-206Pb ages of chondrules in the metal-rich CB (Bencubbin-like) carbonaceous chondrites Gujba (4,562.7 +/- 0.5 Myr) and Hammadah al Hamra 237 (4,562.8 +/- 0.9 Myr), which formed during a single-stage, highly energetic event. Both the relatively young ages and the single-stage formation of the CB chondrules are inconsistent with formation during a nebular shock wave. We conclude that chondrules and metal grains in the CB chondrites formed from a vapour-melt plume produced by a giant impact between planetary embryos after dust in the protoplanetary disk had largely dissipated. These findings therefore provide evidence for planet-sized objects in the earliest asteroid belt, as required by current numerical simulations of planet formation in the inner Solar System.

  9. Lithium isotopes as indicators of meteorite parent body alteration

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sephton, Mark A.; James, Rachael H.; Fehr, Manuela A.; Bland, Philip A.; Gounelle, Matthieu

    2013-05-01

    Hydrothermal processing on planetesimals in the early solar system produced new mineral phases, including those generated by the transformation of anhydrous silicates into their hydrated counterparts. Carbonaceous chondrites represent tangible remnants of such alteration products. Lithium isotopes are known to be responsive to aqueous alteration, yet previously recognized variability within whole rock samples from the same meteorite appears to complicate the use of these isotopes as indicators of processing by water. We demonstrate a new way to use lithium isotopes that reflects aqueous alteration in carbonaceous chondrites. Temperature appears to exert a control on the production of acetic acid-soluble phases, such as carbonates and poorly crystalline Fe-oxyhydroxides. Temperature and degree of water-rock interaction determines the amount of lithium isotope fractionation expressed as the difference between whole rock and acetic acid-leachable fractions. Using these features, the type 1 chondrite Orgueil (δ7Li(whole rock) = 4.3‰; Δ7Li(acetic-whole) = 1.2‰) can be distinguished from the type 2 chondrites Murchison (δ7Li(whole rock) = 3.8; Δ7Li(acetic-whole) = 8.8‰) and carbonate-poor Tagish Lake (δ7Li(whole rock) = 4.3; Δ7Li(acetic-whole) = 9.4‰). This initial study suggests that lithium isotopes have the potential to reveal the role of liquid water in the early solar system.

  10. Compound ultrarefractory CAI-bearing inclusions from CV3 carbonaceous chondrites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ivanova, Marina A.; Krot, Alexander N.; Nagashima, Kazuhide; MacPherson, Glenn J.

    2012-12-01

    Abstract-Two compound calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions (CAIs), 3N from the oxidized CV <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> Northwest Africa (NWA) 3118 and 33E from the reduced CV <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> Efremovka, contain ultrarefractory (UR) inclusions. 3N is a forsterite-bearing type B (FoB) CAI that encloses UR inclusion 3N-24 composed of Zr,Sc,Y-rich oxides, Y-rich perovskite, and Zr,Sc-rich Al,Ti-diopside. 33E contains a fluffy type A (FTA) CAI and UR CAI 33E-1, surrounded by Wark-Lovering rim layers of spinel, Al-diopside, and forsterite, and a common forsterite-rich accretionary rim. 33E-1 is composed of Zr,Sc,Y-rich oxides, Y-rich perovskite, Zr,Sc,Y-rich pyroxenes (Al,Ti-diopside, Sc-rich pyroxene), and gehlenite. 3N-24's UR oxides and Zr,Sc-rich Al,Ti-diopsides are 16O-poor (Δ17O approximately -2‰ to -5‰). Spinel in 3N-24 and spinel and Al-diopside in the FoB CAI are 16O-rich (Δ17O approximately -23 ± 2‰). 33E-1's UR oxides and Zr,Sc-rich Al,Ti-diopsides are 16O-depleted (Δ17O approximately -2‰ to -5‰) vs. Al,Ti-diopside of the FTA CAI and spinel (Δ17O approximately -23 ± 2‰), and Wark-Lovering rim Al,Ti-diopside (Δ17O approximately -7‰ to -19‰). We infer that the inclusions experienced multistage formation in nebular regions with different oxygen-isotope compositions. 3N-24 and 33E-1's precursors formed by evaporation/condensation above 1600 °C. 3N and 33E's precursors formed by condensation and melting (3N only) at significantly lower temperatures. 3N-24 and 3N's precursors aggregated into a compound object and experienced partial melting and thermal annealing. 33E-1 and 33E avoided melting prior to and after aggregation. They acquired Wark-Lovering and common forsterite-rich accretionary rims, probably by condensation, followed by thermal annealing. We suggest 3N-24 and 33E-1 originated in a 16O-rich gaseous reservoir and subsequently experienced isotope exchange in a 16O-poor gaseous reservoir. Mechanism and timing of oxygen-isotope exchange remain</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19870052297&hterms=History+Genetics&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D90%26Ntt%3DHistory%2BGenetics','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19870052297&hterms=History+Genetics&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D90%26Ntt%3DHistory%2BGenetics"><span>Chemical studies of H <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>. I - Mobile trace elements and gas retention ages</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Lingner, David W.; Huston, Ted J.; Hutson, Melinda; Lipschutz, Michael E.</p> <p>1987-01-01</p> <p>Trends for 16 trace elements (Ag, As, Au, Bi, Cd, Co, Cs, Ga, In, K, Rb, Sb, Se, Te, Tl, and Zn), chosen to span a broad geochemical and thermal response range, in 44 H4-6 <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, differ widely from those in L4-6 <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>. In particular, H <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> classified as heavily shocked petrologically do not necessarily exhibit Ar-40 loss and vice versa. The clear-cut causal relationship between siderophile and mobile element loss with increasing late shock seen in L <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> is not generally evident in the H group. H <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> <span class="hlt">parent</span> material experienced an early high temperature genetic episode that mobilized a substantial proportion of these trace elements so that later thermal episodes resulted in more subtle, collateral fractionations. Mildly shocked L <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> escaped this early high temperature event, indicating that the two most numerous meteorite groups differ fundamentally in genetic history.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20140012868','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20140012868"><span>Primitive Fine-Grained Matrix in the Unequilbrated Enstatite <span class="hlt">Chondrites</span></span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Weisberg, M. K.; Zolensky, M. E.; Kimura, M.; Ebel, D. S.</p> <p>2014-01-01</p> <p>Enstatite <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> (EC) have important implications for constraining conditions in the early solar system and for understanding the evolution of the Earth and other inner planets. They are among the most reduced solar system materials as reflected in their mineral compositions and assemblage. They are the only <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> with oxygen as well as Cr, Ti, Ni and Zn stable isotope compositions similar to the earth and moon and most are completely dry, lacking any evidence of hydrous alteration; the only exception are EC clasts in the Kaidun breccia which have hydrous minerals. Thus, ECs likely formed within the snow line and are good candidates to be building blocks of the inner planets. Our goals are to provide a more detailed characterization the fine-grained matrix in E3 <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, understand its origin and relationship to chondrules, decipher the relationship between EH and EL <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> and compare E3 matrix to matrices in C and O <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> as well as other fine-grained solar system materials. Is E3 matrix the dust remaining from chondrule formation or a product of <span class="hlt">parent</span> body processing or both?</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2010GeCoA..74.1122Q','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2010GeCoA..74.1122Q"><span>Contributors to chromium isotope variation of meteorites</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>Qin, Liping; Alexander, Conel M. O.'D.; Carlson, Richard W.; Horan, Mary F.; Yokoyama, Tetsuya</p> <p>2010-02-01</p> <p>We report the results of a comprehensive, high precision survey of the Cr isotopic compositions of primitive <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, along with some differentiated meteorites. To ensure complete dissolution of our samples, they were first fused with lithium borate-tetraborate at 1050-1000 °C. Relative to the NIST Cr standard SRM 3112a, <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> exhibit excesses in 54Cr/ 52Cr from 0.4 to 1.6 ɛ (1 ɛ = 1 part in 10,000), and ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> display a common 54Cr/ 52Cr deficit of ˜0.4 ɛ. Analyses of acid-digestion residues of <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> show that <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> and ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> share a common 54Cr-enriched carrier, which is characterized by a large excess in 54Cr/ 52Cr (up to 200 ɛ) associated with a very small deficit in 53Cr/ 52Cr (<2 ɛ). We did not find 54Cr anomalies in either bulk enstatite <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> or in leachates of their acid-digestion residues. This either requires that the enstatite <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies did not incorporate the 54Cr anomaly carrier phase during their accretion, or the phase was destroyed by <span class="hlt">parent</span> body metamorphism. Chromium in the terrestrial rocks and lunar samples analyzed here show no deviation from the NIST SRM 3112a Cr standard. The eucrite and Martian meteorites studied exhibit small deficits in 54Cr/ 52Cr. The 54Cr/ 52Cr variations among different meteorite classes suggest that there was a spatial and/or temporal heterogeneity in the distribution of a 54Cr-rich component in the inner Solar System. We confirm the correlated excesses in 54Cr/ 52Cr and 53Cr/ 52Cr for bulk <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, but the new data yield a steeper slope (˜6.6) than that reported in Shukolyukov and Lugmair (2006). The correlated excesses may affect the use of the Mn-Cr chronometer in <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>. We could not confirm the bulk <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> Mn-Cr isochron reported by Shukolyukov and Lugmair (2006) and Moynier et al. (2007), mostly because we find much smaller total variations in ɛ53Cr (˜0.2). All bulk <span class="hlt">chondrites</span></p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20030111617&hterms=separation+parents&qs=N%3D0%26Ntk%3DAll%26Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntt%3Dseparation%2Bparents','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20030111617&hterms=separation+parents&qs=N%3D0%26Ntk%3DAll%26Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntt%3Dseparation%2Bparents"><span>The Origin of <span class="hlt">Chondrites</span>: Metal-Silicate Separation Experiments Under Microgravity Conditions, Experiment 2</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Moore, S. R.; Franzen, M.; Benoit, P. H.; Sears, D. W. G.; Holley, A.; Myers, M.; Godsey, R.; Czlapinski, J.</p> <p>2003-01-01</p> <p><span class="hlt">Chondrites</span> are categorized into different groups by several properties, including the metal-to-silicate ratio. Various processes have been suggested to produce distinct metal/silicate ratios, some based on sorting in the early solar nebular and others occurring after accretion on the <span class="hlt">parent</span> body. Huang et al. suggested that a weak gravitational field accompanied by degassing, could result in metal/silicate separation on <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies. We suggest that asteroids were volatile-rich, at least early in their histories. Spectroscopic evidence from asteroid surfaces indicates that one-third of all asteroids maybe rich in clays and hydrated minerals, similar to <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>. Internal and/or external heating could have caused volatiles to evaporate and pass through a surface dust layer. Spacecraft images of asteroids show they have a thick regoliths. Housen, and Asphaug and Nolan proposed that even a 10 km diameter asteroid could potentially have a significant regolith. Grain size and grain density sorting could occur in the unconsolidated layer by the process known as fluidization. This process occurs when an upward stream of gas is passed through a bed of particles which are lifted against a gravitational force. Fluidization is commonly used commercially to sort particulates. This type of behavior is based upon the bed, as a whole, and differs from aerodynamic sorting. Two sets of reduced gravity experiments were conducted during parabolic flights aboard NASA's KC-135 aircraft. The first experiment employed 310 tubes of 2.5 cm diameter, containing mixtures of sand and metal grains. A gas source was used to fluidize the mixture at reduced gravity conditions and mixtures were analyzed after the flight. However, this experiment did not allow a description of the fluidization as a function of gravity. A second experiment was conducted on the KC-135 aircraft in the summer of 2001, consisting of two Plexiglas cylinders containing a metal/silicate mixture, and video</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20040140824&hterms=NAA&qs=N%3D0%26Ntk%3DAll%26Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntt%3DNAA','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20040140824&hterms=NAA&qs=N%3D0%26Ntk%3DAll%26Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntt%3DNAA"><span>Mercury Abundances and Isotopic Compositions in the Murchison (CM) and Allende (CV)<span class="hlt">Carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">Chondrites</span></span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Lauretta, D. S.; Klaue, B.; Blum, J. D.; Buseck, P. R.</p> <p>2001-01-01</p> <p>The abundance and isotopic composition of Hg was determined in bulk samples of both the Murchison (CM) and Allende (CV) <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> using single- and multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The bulk abundances of Hg are 294 6 15 ng/g in Murchison and 30.0 6 1.5 ng/g in Allende. These values are within the range of previous measurements of bulk Hg abundances by neutron activation analysis (NAA). Prior studies suggested that both meteorites contain isotopically anomalous Hg, with d l 96/202Hg values for the anomalous, thermal-release components from bulk samples ranging from 2260 %o to 1440 9/00 in Murchison and from 2620 9/00 to 1540 9/00 in Allende (Jovanovic and Reed, 1976a; 1976b; Kumar and Goel, 1992). Our multi-collector ICP-MS measurements suggest that the relative abundances of all seven stable Hg isotopes in both meteorites are identical to terrestrial values within 0.2 to 0.5 9/00m. On-line thermal-release experiments were performed by coupling a programmable oven with the singlecollector ICP-MS. Powdered aliquots of each meteorite were linearly heated from room temperature to 900 C over twenty-five minutes under an Ar atmosphere to measure the isotopic composition of Hg released fiom the meteorites as a h c t i o n of temperature. In separate experiments, the release profiles of S and Se were determined simultaneously with Hg to constrain the Hg distribution within the meteorites and to evaluate the possibility of Se interferences in previous NAA studies. The Hg-release patterns differ between Allende and Murchison. The Hg-release profile for Allende contains two distinct peaks, at 225" and 343"C, whereas the profile for Murchison has only one peak, at 344 C. No isotopically anomalous Hg was detected in the thermal-release experiments at a precision level of 5 to 30 9/00, depending on the isotope ratio. In both meteorites the Hg peak at ;340"C correlates with a peak in the S-release profile. This correlation</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28345041','PUBMED'); return false;" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28345041"><span>One-pot synthesis of amino acid precursors with insoluble organic matter in planetesimals with aqueous activity.</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?DB=pubmed">PubMed</a></p> <p>Kebukawa, Yoko; Chan, Queenie H S; Tachibana, Shogo; Kobayashi, Kensei; Zolensky, Michael E</p> <p>2017-03-01</p> <p>The exogenous delivery of organic molecules could have played an important role in the emergence of life on the early Earth. <span class="hlt">Carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> are known to contain indigenous amino acids as well as various organic compounds and complex macromolecular materials, such as the so-called insoluble organic matter (IOM), but the origins of the organic matter are still subject to debate. We report that the water-soluble amino acid precursors are synthesized from formaldehyde, glycolaldehyde, and ammonia with the presence of liquid water, simultaneously with macromolecular organic solids similar to the <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> IOM. Amino acid products from hydrothermal experiments after acid hydrolysis include α-, β-, and γ-amino acids up to five carbons, for which relative abundances are similar to those extracted from <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>. One-pot aqueous processing from simple ubiquitous molecules can thus produce a wide variety of meteoritic organic matter from amino acid precursors to macromolecular IOM in <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1343143-relationships-among-physical-properties-indicators-high-temperature-deformation-post-shock-thermal-annealing-ordinary-chondrites','SCIGOV-STC'); return false;" href="https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1343143-relationships-among-physical-properties-indicators-high-temperature-deformation-post-shock-thermal-annealing-ordinary-chondrites"><span>Relationships among physical properties as indicators of high temperature deformation or post-shock thermal annealing in ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span></span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.osti.gov/search">DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)</a></p> <p>Friedrich, Jon M.; Ruzicka, Alex; Macke, Robert J.</p> <p></p> <p>Collisions and attendant shock compaction must have been important for the accretion and lithification of planetesimals, including the <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies of <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, but the conditions under which these occurred are not well constrained. A simple model for the compaction of <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> predicts that shock intensity as recorded by shock stage should be related to porosity and grain fabric. To test this model, we studied sixteen ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> of different groups (H, L, LL) using X-ray computed microtomography (μCT) to measure porosity and metal fabric, ideal gas pycnometry and 3D laser scanning to determine porosity, and optical microscopy (OM) to determinemore » shock stage. These included a subsample of six <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> previously studied using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to characterize microstructures in olivine. Combining with previous data, results support the simple model in general, but not for <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> with low shock-porosity-foliation (low-SPF <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>). These include Kernouvé (H6), Portales Valley (H6/7), Butsura (H6), Park (L6), GRO 85209 (L6), Estacado (H6), MIL 99301 (LL6), Spade (H6), and Queen’s Mercy (H6), among others. The data for these meteorites are best explained by high ambient heat during or after shock. Low-SPF <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> tend to have older 40Ar/39Ar ages (~4435–4526 Ma) than other, non-low-SPF type 6 <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> in this study. We conclude that the H, L, and LL asteroids all were shock-compacted at an early stage while warm, with collisions occurring during metamorphic heating of the <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies. Results ultimately bear on whether <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies have internal structures more akin to a metamorphosed onion shell or metamorphosed rubble pile, and on the nature of accretion and lithification processes for planetesimals.« less</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017GeCoA.203..157F','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017GeCoA.203..157F"><span>Relationships among physical properties as indicators of high temperature deformation or post-shock thermal annealing in ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span></span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>Friedrich, Jon M.; Ruzicka, Alex; Macke, Robert J.; Thostenson, James O.; Rudolph, Rebecca A.; Rivers, Mark L.; Ebel, Denton S.</p> <p>2017-04-01</p> <p>Collisions and attendant shock compaction must have been important for the accretion and lithification of planetesimals, including the <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies of <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, but the conditions under which these occurred are not well constrained. A simple model for the compaction of <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> predicts that shock intensity as recorded by shock stage should be related to porosity and grain fabric. To test this model, we studied sixteen ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> of different groups (H, L, LL) using X-ray computed microtomography (μCT) to measure porosity and metal fabric, ideal gas pycnometry and 3D laser scanning to determine porosity, and optical microscopy (OM) to determine shock stage. These included a subsample of six <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> previously studied using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to characterize microstructures in olivine. Combining with previous data, results support the simple model in general, but not for <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> with low shock-porosity-foliation (low-SPF <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>). These include Kernouvé (H6), Portales Valley (H6/7), Butsura (H6), Park (L6), GRO 85209 (L6), Estacado (H6), MIL 99301 (LL6), Spade (H6), and Queen's Mercy (H6), among others. The data for these meteorites are best explained by high ambient heat during or after shock. Low-SPF <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> tend to have older 40Ar/39Ar ages (∼4435-4526 Ma) than other, non-low-SPF type 6 <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> in this study. We conclude that the H, L, and LL asteroids all were shock-compacted at an early stage while warm, with collisions occurring during metamorphic heating of the <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies. Results ultimately bear on whether <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies have internal structures more akin to a metamorphosed onion shell or metamorphosed rubble pile, and on the nature of accretion and lithification processes for planetesimals.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017M%26PS...52.2412D','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017M%26PS...52.2412D"><span>Reclassification of Hart and Northwest Africa 6047: Criteria for distinguishing between CV and CK3 <span class="hlt">chondrites</span></span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>Dunn, Tasha L.; Gross, Juliane</p> <p>2017-11-01</p> <p>The single <span class="hlt">parent</span> body model for the CV and CK <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> (Greenwood et al.) was challenged by Dunn et al., who argued that magnetite compositions could not be reconciled by a single metamorphic sequence (i.e., CV3 → CK3 → CK4-6). Cr isotopic compositions, which are distinguishable between the CV and CK <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, also support two different <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies (Yin et al.). Despite this, there are many petrographic and mineralogical similarities between the unequilibrated (petrologic type 3) CK <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> and the CV <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> (also type 3), which may result in misclassification of samples. Hart and Northwest Africa 6047 (NWA 6047) are an excellent example of this. In this study, we revisit the classification of Hart and NWA 6047 using magnetite compositions, petrography, and compositions of olivine, the most ubiquitous mineral in both CV and CK <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>. Not only do our results suggest that NWA 6047 and Hart were misclassified, but our assessment of CV and CK3 <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> has also led to the development of criteria that can be used to distinguish between CV and CK3 <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>. These criteria include: abundances of Cr2O3, TiO2, NiO, and Al2O3 in magnetite; Fa content and NiO abundance of matrix olivine; FeO content of chondrules; and the chondrule:matrix ratio. Classification as a CV <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> is also supported by the presence of igneous chondrule rims, calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions, and an elongated petrofabric. However, none of these petrographic characteristics can be used conclusively to distinguish between CV and CK3 <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=5148210','PMC'); return false;" href="https://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=5148210"><span>Timing of the formation and migration of giant planets as constrained by CB <span class="hlt">chondrites</span></span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?DB=pmc">PubMed Central</a></p> <p>Johnson, Brandon C.; Walsh, Kevin J.; Minton, David A.; Krot, Alexander N.; Levison, Harold F.</p> <p>2016-01-01</p> <p>The presence, formation, and migration of giant planets fundamentally shape planetary systems. However, the timing of the formation and migration of giant planets in our solar system remains largely unconstrained. Simulating planetary accretion, we find that giant planet migration produces a relatively short-lived spike in impact velocities lasting ~0.5 My. These high-impact velocities are required to vaporize a significant fraction of Fe,Ni metal and silicates and produce the CB (Bencubbin-like) metal-rich <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, a unique class of meteorites that were created in an impact vapor-melt plume ~5 My after the first solar system solids. This indicates that the region where the CB <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> formed was dynamically excited at this early time by the direct interference of the giant planets. Furthermore, this suggests that the formation of the giant planet cores was protracted and the solar nebula persisted until ~5 My. PMID:27957541</p> </li> </ol> <div class="pull-right"> <ul class="pagination"> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_1");'>«</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_17");'>17</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_18");'>18</a></li> <li class="active"><span>19</span></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_20");'>20</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_21");'>21</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_25");'>»</a></li> </ul> </div> </div><!-- col-sm-12 --> </div><!-- row --> </div><!-- page_19 --> <div id="page_20" class="hiddenDiv"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-12"> <div class="pull-right"> <ul class="pagination"> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_1");'>«</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_18");'>18</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_19");'>19</a></li> <li class="active"><span>20</span></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_21");'>21</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_22");'>22</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_25");'>»</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-12"> <ol class="result-class" start="381"> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27957541','PUBMED'); return false;" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27957541"><span>Timing of the formation and migration of giant planets as constrained by CB <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>.</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?DB=pubmed">PubMed</a></p> <p>Johnson, Brandon C; Walsh, Kevin J; Minton, David A; Krot, Alexander N; Levison, Harold F</p> <p>2016-12-01</p> <p>The presence, formation, and migration of giant planets fundamentally shape planetary systems. However, the timing of the formation and migration of giant planets in our solar system remains largely unconstrained. Simulating planetary accretion, we find that giant planet migration produces a relatively short-lived spike in impact velocities lasting ~0.5 My. These high-impact velocities are required to vaporize a significant fraction of Fe,Ni metal and silicates and produce the CB (Bencubbin-like) metal-rich <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, a unique class of meteorites that were created in an impact vapor-melt plume ~5 My after the first solar system solids. This indicates that the region where the CB <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> formed was dynamically excited at this early time by the direct interference of the giant planets. Furthermore, this suggests that the formation of the giant planet cores was protracted and the solar nebula persisted until ~5 My.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2011SPIE.8152E..0ZW','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2011SPIE.8152E..0ZW"><span>Comets as <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies of CI1 <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> meteorites and possible habitats of ice-microbes</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>Wickramasinghe, N. Chandra; Wickramasinghe, Janaki T.; Wallis, Jamie; Hoover, Richard B.; Rozanov, Alexei Y.</p> <p>2011-10-01</p> <p>Recent studies of comets and cometary dust have confirmed the presence of biologically relevant organic molecules along with clay minerals and water ice. It is also now well established by deuterium/hydrogen ratios that the CI1 <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> meteorites contain indigenous extraterrestrial water. The evidence of extensive aqueous alteration of the minerals in these meteorites led to the hypothesis that water-bearing asteroids or comets represent the <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies of the CI1 (and perhaps CM2) <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> meteorites. These meteorites have also been shown to possess a diverse array of complex organics and chiral and morphological biomarkers. Stable isotope studies by numerous independent investigators have conclusively established that the complex organics found in these meteorites are both indigenous and extraterrestrial in nature. Although the origin of these organics is still unknown, some researchers have suggested that they originated by unknown abiotic mechanisms and may have played a role in the delivery of chiral biomolecules and the origin of life on Early Earth. In this paper we review these results and investigate the thermal history of comets. We show that permanent as well as transient domains of liquid water can be maintained on a comet under a plausible set of assumptions. With each perihelion passage of a comet volatiles are preferentially released, and during millions of such passages the comet could shed crustal debris that may survive transit through the Earth's atmosphere as a <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> meteorite. We review the current state of knowledge of comets and <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> meteorites. We also present the results of recent studies on the long-term viability of terrestrial ice-microbiota encased in ancient glacial ice and permafrost. We suggest that the conditions which have been observed to prevail on many comets do not preclude either survivability (or even the active metabolism and growth) of many types of eukaryotic and prokaryotic microbial</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20110015737','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20110015737"><span>Comets as <span class="hlt">Parent</span> Bodies of CI1 <span class="hlt">Carbonaceous</span> Meteorites and Possible Habitats of Ice-Microbiota</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Wickramasinghe, N. Chandra; Wallis, Daryl H.; Rozanov, Alexei Yu.; Hoover, Richard B.</p> <p>2011-01-01</p> <p>Recent studies of comets and cometary dust have confirmed the presence of biologically relevant organic molecules along with clay minerals and water ice. It is also now well established by deuterium/hydrogen ratios that the CI1 <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> meteorites contain indigenous extraterrestrial water. The evidence of extensive aqueous alteration of the minerals in these meteorites led to the hypothesis that water-bearing asteroids or comets represent the <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies of the CI1 (and perhaps CM2) <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> meteorites. These meteorites have also been shown to possess a diverse array of complex organics and chiral and morphological biomarkers. Stable isotope studies by numerous independent investigators have conclusively established that the complex organics found in these meteorites are both indigenous and extraterrestrial in nature. Although the origin of these organics is still unknown, some researchers have suggested that they originated by unknown abiotic mechanisms and may have played a role in the delivery of chiral biomolecules and the origin of life on Early Earth. In this paper we review these results and investigate the thermal history of comets. We show that permanent as well as transient domains of liquid water can be maintained on a comet under a plausible set of assumptions. With each perihelion passage of a comet volatiles are preferentially released, and during millions of such passages the comet could shed crustal debris that may survive transit through the Earth s atmosphere as a <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> meteorite. We review the current state of knowledge of comets and <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> meteorites. We also present the results of recent studies on the long-term viability of terrestrial ice-microbiota encased in ancient glacial ice and permafrost. We suggest that the conditions which have been observed to prevail on many comets do not preclude either survivability (or even the active metabolism and growth) of many types of eukaryotic and prokaryotic microbial</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20140012467','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20140012467"><span>Water Transport and the Evolution of CM <span class="hlt">Parent</span> Bodies</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Coker, R.; Cohen, B.</p> <p>2014-01-01</p> <p>Extraterrestrial water-bearing minerals are of great importance both for understanding the formation and evolution of the solar system and for supporting future human activities in space. Asteroids are the primary source of meteorites, many of which show evidence of an early heating episode and varying degrees of aqueous alteration. The origin and characterization of hydrated minerals (minerals containing H2O or OH) among both the main-belt and near-earth asteroids is important for understanding a wide range of solar system formation and evolutionary processes, as well as for planning for human exploration. Current hypotheses postulate asteroids began as mixtures of water ice and anhydrous silicates. A heating event early in solar system history was then responsible for melting the ice and driving aqueous alteration. The link between asteroids and meteorites is forged by reflectance spectra, which show 3-µm bands indicative of bound OH or H2O on the C-class asteroids, which are believed to be the <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies of the <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> in our collections. The conditions at which aqueous alteration occurred in the <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies of <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> are thought to be well-constrained: at 0-25 C for less than 15 Myr after asteroid formation. In previous models, many scenarios exhibit peak temperatures of the rock and co-existing liquid water in more than 75 percent of the asteroid's volume rising to 150 C and higher, due to the exothermic hydration reactions triggering a thermal runaway effect. However, even in a high porosity, water-saturated asteroid very limited liquid water flow is predicted (distances of 100's nm at most). This contradiction has yet to be resolved. Still, it may be possible for water to become liquid even in the near-surface environment, for a long enough time to drive aqueous alteration before vaporizing or freezing then subliming. Thus, we are using physics- and chemistry-based models that include thermal and fluid transport as well</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19950042141&hterms=conflict+nature&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D70%26Ntt%3Dconflict%2Bnature','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19950042141&hterms=conflict+nature&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D70%26Ntt%3Dconflict%2Bnature"><span>Petrologic evolution of CM <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>: The difficulty of discriminating between nebular and <span class="hlt">parent</span>-body effects. [Abstract only</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Kerridge, J. F.; Mcsween, H. Y., Jr.; Bunch, T. E.</p> <p>1994-01-01</p> <p>We wish to draw attention to a major controversy that has arisen in the area of CM-<span class="hlt">chondrite</span> petrology. The problem is important because its resolution will have profound implications for ideas concerning nebular dynamics, gas-solid interactions in the nebula, and accretionary processes in the nebula, among other issues. On the one hand, cogent arguments have been presented that 'accretionary dust mantles,' were formed in the solar nebula prior to accretion of the CM <span class="hlt">parent</span> asteroid(s). On the other hand, no-less-powerful arguments have been advanced that a significant fraction of the CM lithology is secondary, produced by aqueous alteration in the near-surface regions of an asteroid-sized object. Because most, if not all, CM <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> are breccias, these two views could coexist harmoniously, were it not for the fact that some of the coarse-grained lithologies surrounded by 'accretion dust mantles' are themselves of apparently secondary origin. Such an observation must clearly force a reassessment of one or both of the present schools of thought. Our objective here is to stimulate such a reassessment. Four possible resolutions of this conflict may be postulated. First, perhaps nature found a way of permitting such secondary alteration to take place in the nebula. Second, maybe dust mantles could form in a regolith, rather than a nebular, environment. Third, it is possible that dust mantles around secondary lithologies are different from those around primary lithologies. Finally, perhaps formation of CM <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> involved a more complex sequence of events than visualized so far, so that some apparently 'primary' processes postdated certain 'secondary' processes.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2018E%26PSL.481..372C','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2018E%26PSL.481..372C"><span>Old formation ages of igneous clasts on the L <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> <span class="hlt">parent</span> body reflect an early generation of planetesimals or chondrule formation</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>Crowther, Sarah A.; Filtness, Michal J.; Jones, Rhian H.; Gilmour, Jamie D.</p> <p>2018-01-01</p> <p>The Barwell meteorite contains large, abundant clasts that are igneous in nature. We report iodine-xenon ages of five clasts and one sample of host <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> material. The fragment of host <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> material yielded the oldest age determined: 4567.8 ± 1.2 Ma. Two clasts produced old, well defined ages of 4564.96 ± 0.33 Ma and 4565.60 ± 0.33 Ma. These, and a third clast having a less precise old age of 4566.0 ± 3.2 Ma, are interpreted as recording the timing of crystallisation of the samples. They were incorporated into the Barwell <span class="hlt">parent</span> body before it underwent thermal metamorphism, but the I-Xe ages survived secondary processing on the <span class="hlt">parent</span> body and were not reset by metamorphism, metasomatism or shock. Two further clasts record younger ages of 4560.96 ± 0.45 Ma and 4554.22 ± 0.38 Ma. These samples contain a high abundance of albitic mesostasis, and the most likely explanation of the ages is that they record the timing of metasomatism on the <span class="hlt">parent</span> body. We also analysed four host <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> samples that do not give I-Xe ages: in these samples, the system appears to have been disturbed by shock. It has been suggested previously that the igneous clasts are derived from an early generation of partially melted asteroids. We do not have direct evidence that the clasts we examined were necessarily derived from a partially differentiated body, only that they were derived from cooling of a silicate melt; the clasts could thus be the products of any one of several proposed models for chondrule formation. Our results indicate that processes akin to chondrule formation, in that they involve rapid cooling of a silicate melt, were ongoing at the same time as CAI formation, lending support to the suggestion that Al-Mg chondrule ages indicate either heterogeneous distribution of 26Al or resetting of the Al-Mg system after chondrule formation.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1993PhDT........27W','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1993PhDT........27W"><span>Trace Element Study of H <span class="hlt">Chondrites</span>: Evidence for Meteoroid Streams.</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>Wolf, Stephen Frederic</p> <p>1993-01-01</p> <p> group classification, a test validation experiment verifies that group classification is the more significant cause of compositional difference between Cluster 1 and non-Cluster 1 modern H4-6 <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> falls. Thermoluminescence properties of these populations parallels the results of volatile trace element comparisons. This suggests that these meteorites are fragments of a co-orbital meteorite stream derived from a single <span class="hlt">parent</span> body.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19930060251&hterms=Mg+Ca&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D40%26Ntt%3DMg%2BCa','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19930060251&hterms=Mg+Ca&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D40%26Ntt%3DMg%2BCa"><span>Ca-,Al-rich inclusions in the unique <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> ALH85085 - Petrology, chemistry, and isotopic compositions</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Kimura, Makoto; El-Goresy, Ahmed; Palme, Herbert; Zinner, Ernst</p> <p>1993-01-01</p> <p>A comprehensive study is performed for the Ca-,Al-rich inclusions (CAIs) in the unique <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> ALH85085. The ALH85085 inclusions are smaller (5-80 microns) and more refractory than their counterparts in <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>. The study includes 42 inclusions for petrography and mineralogy, 15 for bulk major and minor element chemical composition, six for Mg-Al isotopic systematics, 10 for Ca isotopes, nine for Ti isotopes, and six for trace element abundances. In addition, oxygen-isotopic compositions were determined in minerals from a single inclusion. No correlation is found between mineralogy, major element chemistry, and trace element abundances. It is further shown that the high-temperature geochemical behavior of ultrarefractory trace elements is decoupled from that of the major elements Ca and Ti (Ti is correlated with the relatively volatile elements Nb and Yb) implying that perovskite is of only minor importance as carrier of ultrarefractories.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19910046582&hterms=group+differences&qs=N%3D0%26Ntk%3DAll%26Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntt%3Dgroup%2Bdifferences','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19910046582&hterms=group+differences&qs=N%3D0%26Ntk%3DAll%26Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntt%3Dgroup%2Bdifferences"><span>Chromite and olivine in type II chondrules in <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> and ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> - Implications for thermal histories and group differences</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Johnson, Craig A.; Prinz, Martin</p> <p>1991-01-01</p> <p>Unequilibrated chromite and olivine margin compositions in type II chondrules are noted to differ systematically among three of the <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> groups, suggesting that type II liquids differed in composition among the groups. These differences may be interpreted as indicators of different chemical compositions of the precursor solids which underwent melting, or, perhaps, as differences in the extent to which immiscible metal sulfide droplets were lost during chondrule formation. Because zinc is detectable only in type II chromites which have undergone reequilibration, the high zinc contents reported for <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> chromites in other studies probably reflect redistribution during thermal metamorphism.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20070025209','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20070025209"><span>Experimental Impacts into <span class="hlt">Chondritic</span> Targets. Part 1; Disruption of an L6 <span class="hlt">Chondrite</span> by Multiple Impacts</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Cintala, Mark J.; Horz, Friedrich</p> <p>2007-01-01</p> <p> nine-impact series than those from any of the terrestrial targets, a testament to the control over comminution apparently exerted by pre-existing fractures and other, microscopic damage in the meteorite. The enhancement in the finer fraction of debris from ALH 85017 indicates that ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> in solar orbit would be very efficient contributors to the cosmic-dust complex. At the same time, the greater resistance to disruption displayed by ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> relative to that exhibited by igneous rocks indicates that a selection effect could be operative between the annealed, ordinary-<span class="hlt">chondritic</span> breccias and relatively weaker, differentiated meteorites. Preferential survival from their time in the regoliths of their <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies through their transit to Earth and passage through the atmosphere suggests that meteorite collections could be biased in favor of the ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20030111603&hterms=Loan&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D20%26Ntt%3DLoan','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20030111603&hterms=Loan&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D20%26Ntt%3DLoan"><span>Iron-Nickel Sulfide Compositional Ranges in CM <span class="hlt">Chondrites</span>: No Simple Plan</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Zolensky, Michael; Le, Loan</p> <p>2003-01-01</p> <p>Iron-nickel sulfides are found in most or all solar system environments, and are probably the only minerals found in all extraterrestrial materials on hand. Despite this ubiquity, they have only just begun the attention they deserve. The most common Fe-Ni sulfides in <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> are troilite (FeS), pyrrhotite (Fe(1-x)S) and pentlandite (Fe,Ni)9S8. Troilite is believed to have resulted from sulfidation of metal (Fe-Ni) grains in an H2S-containing environment. Pyrrhotite is produced when friable troilite grains, which are exfoliated from the metal nucleus, are submitted to continued sulfidation. Some asteroids are known to have experienced aqueous alteration, forming products including new generations of sulfides (pyrrhotite and pentlandite). Pentlandite in particular is known to form during such alteration. However, experimental work by Lauretta has indicated that pentlandite may also have been formed during the initial sulfidation process, due to the faster diffusion rate of nickel into the forming sulfide, as compared to iron. Finally, there is considerable evidence for a family of phases intermediate between pyrrhotite and pentlandite, following the trend of the high temperature monosulfide solid solution, something not encountered in terrestrial rocks. Each sulfide has its own particular stability conditions, which have been determined for most phases. The long-term objective of our research is to characterize sulfides in <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> materials in order to better establish the conditions under which they formed, and the subsequent processes they experienced. Ultimately, it will be possible to infer whether the sulfides in the <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> were formed in the solar nebula or on asteroids, and if formed on the asteroids, deduce how much alteration has occurred there. Here we explore the relationships between the finest grain size portions of <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, these being matrix and chondrule rims; fine-grained materials are the most sensitive to their environment</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2018GeCoA.221..318K','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2018GeCoA.221..318K"><span>Crystal growth and disequilibrium distribution of oxygen isotopes in an igneous Ca-Al-rich inclusion from the Allende <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrite</span></span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>Kawasaki, Noriyuki; Simon, Steven B.; Grossman, Lawrence; Sakamoto, Naoya; Yurimoto, Hisayoshi</p> <p>2018-01-01</p> <p>TS34 is a Type B1 Ca-Al-rich inclusion (CAI) from the Allende CV3 <span class="hlt">chondrite</span>, consisting of spinel, melilite, Ti-Al-rich clinopyroxene (fassaite) and minor anorthite in an igneous texture. Oxygen and magnesium isotopic compositions were measured by secondary ion mass spectrometry in spots of known chemical composition in all major minerals in TS34. Using the sequence of formation from dynamic crystallization experiments and from chemical compositions of melilite and fassaite, the oxygen isotopic evolution of the CAI melt was established. Oxygen isotopic compositions of the constituent minerals plot along the <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> anhydrous mineral line. The spinel grains are uniformly 16O-rich (Δ17O = -22.7 ± 1.7‰, 2SD), while the melilite grains are uniformly 16O-poor (Δ17O = -2.8 ± 1.8‰) irrespective of their åkermanite content and thus their relative time of crystallization. The fassaite crystals exhibit growth zoning overprinting poorly-developed sector zoning; they generally grow from Ti-rich to Ti-poor compositions. The fassaite crystals also show continuous variations in Δ17O along the inferred directions of crystal growth, from 16O-poor (Δ17O ∼ -3‰) to 16O-rich (Δ17O ∼ -23‰), covering the full range of oxygen isotopic compositions observed in TS34. The early-crystallized 16O-poor fassaite and the melilite are in oxygen isotope equilibrium and formed simultaneously. The correlation of oxygen isotopic compositions with Ti content in the fassaite imply that the oxygen isotopic composition of the CAI melt evolved from 16O-poor to 16O-rich during fassaite crystallization, presumably due to oxygen isotope exchange with a surrounding 16O-rich nebular gas. Formation of spinel, the liquidus phase in melts of this composition, predates crystallization of all other phases, so its 16O-rich composition is a relic of an earlier stage. Anorthite exhibits oxygen isotopic compositions between Δ17O ∼ -2‰ and -9‰, within the range of those of</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017Icar..292...36G','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017Icar..292...36G"><span>Sedimentary laminations in the Isheyevo (CH/CBb) <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> formed by gentle impact-plume sweep-up</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>Garvie, Laurence A. J.; Knauth, L. Paul; Morris, Melissa A.</p> <p>2017-08-01</p> <p>Prominent macroscopic sedimentary laminations, consisting of mm- to cm-thick alternating well-sorted but poorly mixed silicate and metal-rich layers cut by faults and downward penetrating load structures, are prevalent in the Isheyevo (CH/CBb) <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrite</span>. The load structures give the up direction of this sedimentary rock that accumulated from in-falling metal- and silicate-rich grains under near vacuum conditions onto the surface of an accreting planetesimal. The Isheyevo meteorite is the end result of a combination of events and processes that we suggest was initiated by the glancing blow impact of two planetesimals. The smaller impactor was disrupted forming an impact plume downrange of the impact. The components within the plume were aerodynamically size sorted by the nebular gas and swept up by the impacted planetesimal before turbulent mixing within the plume could blur the effects of the sorting. This plume would have contained a range of materials including elementally zoned Fe-Ni metal grains that condensed in the plume to disrupted unaltered material from the crust of the impactor, such as the hydrated matrix lumps. The juxtaposition of hydrated matrix lumps, some of which have not been heated above 150 °C, together with components that formed above 1000 °C, is compelling evidence that they were swept up together. Sweep-up would have occurred as the rotating impactor moved through the plume producing layers of material: the Isheyevo sample thus represents material accumulated while that part of the rotating planetesimal moved into the plume. Vibrations from subsequent impacts helped to form the load structures and induced weak grading within the layers via kinetic sieving. Following sweep-up, the particles were compacted under low static temperatures as evidenced by the preservation of elementally zoned Fe-Ni metal grains with preserved martensite α2 cores, distinct metal-metal grain boundaries, and metal-deformation microstructures. This</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2016E%26PSL.450..372V','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2016E%26PSL.450..372V"><span>The isotope composition of selenium in <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> constrains the depletion mechanism of volatile elements in solar system materials</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>Vollstaedt, Hauke; Mezger, Klaus; Leya, Ingo</p> <p>2016-09-01</p> <p>Solar nebula processes led to a depletion of volatile elements in different <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> groups when compared to the bulk chemical composition of the solar system deduced from the Sun's photosphere. For moderately-volatile elements, this depletion primarily correlates with the element condensation temperature and is possibly caused by incomplete condensation from a hot solar nebula, evaporative loss from the precursor dust, and/or inherited from the interstellar medium. Element concentrations and interelement ratios of volatile elements do not provide a clear picture about responsible mechanisms. Here, the abundance and stable isotope composition of the moderately- to highly-volatile element Se are investigated in <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span>, ordinary, and enstatite <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> to constrain the mechanism responsible for the depletion of volatile elements in planetary bodies of the inner solar system and to define a δ 82 / 78 Se value for the bulk solar system. The δ 82 / 78 Se of the studied <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> falls are identical within their measurement uncertainties with a mean of - 0.20 ± 0.26 ‰ (2 s.d., n = 14, relative to NIST SRM 3149) despite Se abundance depletions of up to a factor of 2.5 with respect to the CI group. The absence of resolvable Se isotope fractionation rules out a kinetic Rayleigh-type incomplete condensation of Se from the hot solar nebula or partial kinetic evaporative loss on the precursor material and/or the <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies. The Se depletion, if acquired during partial condensation or evaporative loss, therefore must have occurred under near equilibrium conditions to prevent measurable isotope fractionation. Alternatively, the depletion and cooling of the nebula could have occurred simultaneously due to the continuous removal of gas and fine particles by the solar wind accompanied by the quantitative condensation of elements from the pre-depleted gas. In this scenario the condensation of elements does not require equilibrium conditions to avoid isotope</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20120001947','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20120001947"><span>Using the Fe/Mn Ratio of FeO-Rich Olivine In WILD 2, <span class="hlt">Chondrite</span> Matrix, and Type IIA Chondrules to Disentangle Their Histories</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Frank, David R.; Le, L.; Zolensky, M. E.</p> <p>2012-01-01</p> <p>The Stardust Mission returned a large abundance of impactors from Comet 81P/Wild2 in the 5-30 m range. The preliminary examination of just a limited number of these particles showed that the collection captured abundant crystalline grains with a diverse mineralogy [1,2]. Many of these grains resemble those found in <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> matrix and even contain fragments of chondrules and CAIs [1-3]. In particular, the olivine found in Wild 2 exhibits a wide compositional range (Fa0-97) with minor element abundances similar to the matrix olivine found in many <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> (CCs) and unequilibrated ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> (UOCs). Despite the wide distribution of Fa content, the olivine found in the matrices of CCs, UOCs, and Wild 2 can be roughly lumped into two types based solely on fayalite content. In fact, in some cases, a distinct bi-modal distribution is observed.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1995Metic..30..507G','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1995Metic..30..507G"><span>The S(IV)-type Asteroids as Ordinary <span class="hlt">Chondrite</span> <span class="hlt">Parent</span> Body Candidates: Implications for the Completeness of the Meteorite Sample of Asteroids</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>Gaffey, M. J.</p> <p>1995-09-01</p> <p>The discrepancy between the abundance of ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> (OCs) among the meteorites and the rarity of unambiguously similar assemblages in the asteroid belt has been a major point of discussion within and between the asteroid and meteorite communities. Various resolutions to this apparent paradox have been proposed [e.g., 1-5], including: 1) interpretations of S-type asteroid spectra are incorrect due to space weathering effects; 2) ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> derive from a few rare but favorably situated <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies; 3) OCs come from a residual population of small unheated mainbelt asteroids; 4) shock effects darken OC <span class="hlt">parent</span> body surfaces disguising them as C-type asteroids, and 5) OCs come from inner solar system planetesimals ejected to the Oort cloud which have been recently perturbed into Earth-crossing orbits. Although none of these possibilities has yet been rigorously excluded, recent investigations suggest that the resolution of the apparent paradox lies in some combination of the first three options. For option 3, the discovery of a small mainbelt asteroid with an OC-like spectrum indicates OC-assemblages among the smaller mainbelt asteroids [6], although their abundance is still low in the current sample [7]. For option 2, the mineralogical survey indicated that while most S-asteroids could be rigorously excluded on mineralogical criteria, the S(IV) subtype of this class has silicate compositions within the OC range [8]. The S(IV)-objects are concentrated near the 3:1 secular resonance at 2.5 AU providing an efficient escape into Earth-crossing orbits. Unfortunately for a simple resolution of the OC <span class="hlt">parent</span> body question, S(IV) spectra still exhibit weaker silicate features and redder spectral slopes than OC assemblages. Although significant uncertainties remain, optical alteration of asteroid surfaces interpreted from the Galileo images of Ida and Gaspra may reconcile the mismatch between OC and S(IV) spectra [option 1]. Although only a subset of the S</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20170006049&hterms=history&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D20%26Ntt%3Dhistory','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20170006049&hterms=history&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D20%26Ntt%3Dhistory"><span>Meteoritic Amino Acids: Diversity in Compositions Reflects <span class="hlt">Parent</span> Body Histories</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Elsila, Jamie E.; Aponte, Jose C.; Blackmond, Donna G.; Burton, Aaron S.; Dworkin, Jason P.; Glavin, Daniel P.</p> <p>2016-01-01</p> <p>The analysis of amino acids in meteorites dates back over 50 years; however, it is only in recent years that research has expanded beyond investigations of a narrow set of meteorite groups (exemplied by the Murchison meteorite) into meteorites of other types and classes. These new studies have shown a wide diversity in the abundance and distribution of amino acids across <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> groups, highlighting the role of <span class="hlt">parent</span> body processes and composition in the creation, preservation, or alteration of amino acids. Although most chiral amino acids are racemic in meteorites, the enantiomeric distribution of some amino acids, particularly of the nonprotein amino acid isovaline, has also been shown to vary both within certain meteorites and across <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> meteorite groups. Large -enantiomeric excesses of some extraterrestrial protein amino acids (up to 60) have also been observed in rare cases and point to nonbiological enantiomeric enrichment processes prior to the emergence of life. In this Outlook, we review these recent meteoritic analyses, focusing on variations in abundance, structural distributions, and enantiomeric distributions of amino acids and discussing possible explanations for these observations and the potential for future work.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=4919777','PMC'); return false;" href="https://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=4919777"><span>Meteoritic Amino Acids: Diversity in Compositions Reflects <span class="hlt">Parent</span> Body Histories</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?DB=pmc">PubMed Central</a></p> <p></p> <p>2016-01-01</p> <p>The analysis of amino acids in meteorites dates back over 50 years; however, it is only in recent years that research has expanded beyond investigations of a narrow set of meteorite groups (exemplified by the Murchison meteorite) into meteorites of other types and classes. These new studies have shown a wide diversity in the abundance and distribution of amino acids across <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> groups, highlighting the role of <span class="hlt">parent</span> body processes and composition in the creation, preservation, or alteration of amino acids. Although most chiral amino acids are racemic in meteorites, the enantiomeric distribution of some amino acids, particularly of the nonprotein amino acid isovaline, has also been shown to vary both within certain meteorites and across <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> meteorite groups. Large l-enantiomeric excesses of some extraterrestrial protein amino acids (up to ∼60%) have also been observed in rare cases and point to nonbiological enantiomeric enrichment processes prior to the emergence of life. In this Outlook, we review these recent meteoritic analyses, focusing on variations in abundance, structural distributions, and enantiomeric distributions of amino acids and discussing possible explanations for these observations and the potential for future work. PMID:27413780</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19790046634&hterms=shaw&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D40%26Ntt%3Dshaw','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19790046634&hterms=shaw&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D40%26Ntt%3Dshaw"><span>The Shaw meteorite - History of a <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> consisting of impact-melted and metamorphic lithologies</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Taylor, G. J.; Keil, K.; Berkley, J. L.; Lange, D. E.; Fodor, R. V.</p> <p>1979-01-01</p> <p>Three intermingled lithologies are identified in the Shaw L-group <span class="hlt">chondrite</span>: a light-colored lithology with a poikilitic texture, consisting of olivine and augite crystals surrounded by larger orthopyroxene grains; a dark-colored lithology containing remnant chondrules and exhibiting a microgranular texture; and a gray lithology which appears to be intermediate between the other two. Contrary to published opinions, the Shaw meteorite contains normal L-group <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> abundances of metal and troilite, though these phases are irregularly distributed. The lithological analyses suggest that 4.52 Byr ago an impact took place on the L-group <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> <span class="hlt">parent</span> object of Shaw.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20050182071','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20050182071"><span>Aqueous Alteration and Hydrogen Generation on <span class="hlt">Parent</span> Bodies of Unequilibrated Ordinary <span class="hlt">Chondrites</span>: Thermodynamic Modeling for the Semarkona Composition</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Zolotov, M. Y.; Mironenko, M. V.; Shock, E. L.</p> <p>2005-01-01</p> <p>Ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> are the most abundant class of meteorites that could represent rocky parts of solar system bodies. However, even the most primitive unequilibrated ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> (UOC) reveal signs of mild alteration that affected the matrix and peripheral zones of chondrules. Major chemical changes include oxidation of kamacite, alteration of glass, removal of alkalis, Al, and Si from chondrules, and formation of phases enriched in halogens, alkalis, and hydrogen. Secondary mineralogical changes include formation of magnetite, ferrous olivine, fayalite, pentlandite, awaruite, smectites, phosphates, carbonates, and carbides. Aqueous alteration is consistent with the oxygen isotope data for magnetite. The presence of secondary magnetite, Ni-rich metal alloys, and ferrous silicates in UOC implies that H2O was the oxidizing agent. However, oxidation by H2O means that H2 is produced in each oxidative pathway. In turn, production of H2, and its redistribution and possible escape should have affected total pressure, as well as the oxidation state of gas, aqueous and mineral phases in the <span class="hlt">parent</span> body. Here we use equilibrium thermodynamic modeling to explore water-rock reactions in UOC. The chemical composition of gas, aqueous, and mineral phases is considered.</p> </li> </ol> <div class="pull-right"> <ul class="pagination"> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_1");'>«</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_18");'>18</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_19");'>19</a></li> <li class="active"><span>20</span></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_21");'>21</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_22");'>22</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_25");'>»</a></li> </ul> </div> </div><!-- col-sm-12 --> </div><!-- row --> </div><!-- page_20 --> <div id="page_21" class="hiddenDiv"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-12"> <div class="pull-right"> <ul class="pagination"> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_1");'>«</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_19");'>19</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_20");'>20</a></li> <li class="active"><span>21</span></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_22");'>22</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_23");'>23</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_25");'>»</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-12"> <ol class="result-class" start="401"> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017M%26PS...52.2289G','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017M%26PS...52.2289G"><span>Young asteroid mixing revealed in ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>: The case of NWA 5764, a polymict LL breccia with L clasts</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>Gattacceca, Jérome; Krzesińska, Agata M.; Marrocchi, Yves; Meier, Matthias M. M.; Bourot-Denise, Michèle; Lenssen, Rob</p> <p>2017-11-01</p> <p>Polymict <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> breccias—rocks composed of fragments originating from different <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies—are of particular interest because they give insights into the mixing of asteroids in the main asteroid belt (occurrence, encounter velocity, transfer time). We describe Northwest Africa (NWA) 5764, a brecciated LL6 <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> that contains a >16 cm3 L4 clast. The L clast was incorporated in the breccia through a nondestructive, low-velocity impact. Identical cosmic-ray exposure ages of the L clast and the LL host (36.6 ± 5.8 Myr), suggest a short transfer time of the L meteoroid to the LL <span class="hlt">parent</span> body of 0.1 ± 8.1 Myr, if that meteoroid was no larger than a few meters. NWA 5764 (together with St. Mesmin, Dimmitt, and Glanerbrug) shows that effective mixing is possible between ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies. In NWA 5764 this mixing occurred after the peak of thermal metamorphism on the LL <span class="hlt">parent</span> body, i.e., at least several tens of Myr after the formation of the solar system. The U,Th-He ages of the L clast and LL host, identical at about 2.9 Ga, might date the final assembly of the breccia, indicating relatively young mixing in the main asteroid belt as previously evidenced in St. Mesmin.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/70185050','USGSPUBS'); return false;" href="https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/70185050"><span>Preservation of ancient impact ages on the R <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> <span class="hlt">parent</span> body: 40Ar/39Ar age of hornblende-bearing R <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> LAP 04840</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/pubs/index.jsp?view=adv">USGS Publications Warehouse</a></p> <p>Righter, Kevin; Cosca, Michael A.; Morgan, Leah</p> <p>2016-01-01</p> <p>The hornblende- and biotite-bearing R <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> LAP 04840 is a rare kind of meteorite possibly containing outer solar system water stored during metamorphism or postshock annealing deep within an asteroid. Because little is known regarding its age and origin, we determined 40Ar/39Ar ages on hornblende-rich separates of the meteorite, and obtained plateau ages of 4340(±40) to 4380(±30) Ma. These well-defined plateau ages, coupled with evidence for postshock annealing, indicate this meteorite records an ancient shock event and subsequent annealing. The age of 4340–4380 Ma (or 4.34–4.38 Ga) for this and other previously dated R <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> is much older than most impact events recorded by ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> and points to an ancient event or events that predated the late heavy bombardment that is recorded in so many meteorites and lunar samples.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2013EPSC....8..773T','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2013EPSC....8..773T"><span>Are 2P/Encke, the Taurid complex NEOs and CM <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> related?</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>Tubiana, C.; Snodgrass, C.; Michelsen, R.; Haack, H.; Fitzsimmons, A.; Williams, I.; Boehnhardt, H.</p> <p>2013-09-01</p> <p> indication of a common origin for small bodies in the solar system. Taxonomic properties are poorly known for cometary nuclei and only few comets have measurements in the visible wavelength range. The existing spectra of bare nuclei are generally featureless and display different reddening slopes. Given the poor S/N ratio that is usually obtained in observations, more subtle features, such as ones from hydrated minerals, are beyond the detection limit in most cases. If the Taurid complex NEOs are fragments of the same body as 2P/Encke, we expect them to have the same spectral properties as the comet nucleus. Furthermore, it would be reasonable to expect that these NEOs could show cometary activity. Maribo is a type CM <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> that fell in Denmark on 17 January 2009 [5]. The preatmospheric orbit of the object places it in the middle of the Taurid meteor stream [4], which raises the intriguing possibility that comet 2P/Encke could be the <span class="hlt">parent</span> body of CM <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, meaning that these meteorites are potentially samples of cometary material we can study in the laboratory. CM <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> show signs of extensive aqueous alteration, which suggest that the <span class="hlt">parent</span> body was an icy body that was at least partially molten at some point. It is therefore possible that the <span class="hlt">parent</span> body of the CM <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> is a comet [7]. In order to investigate whether a relationship between comet 2P/Encke, the Taurid complex associated NEOs and CM <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> exists, spectroscopic studies of these objects were performed. Here we present ground-based observations, in the visible wavelength range, of 2P/Encke and 12 candidate Taurid NEOs obtained on 2 August 2011 at the ESO-VLT in Chile, using the FORS2 instrument. We obtained the first optical spectrum of the inactive nucleus of comet 2P/Encke and optical spectra of the selected candidate Taurid NEOs. In addition we obtained deep images in the R filter of each NEO to search for activity and of 2P/Encke to confirm that the comet was not</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20130010347&hterms=tics&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D40%26Ntt%3Dtics','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20130010347&hterms=tics&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D40%26Ntt%3Dtics"><span>The Halite-Bearing Zag and Monahans (1998) Meteorite Breccias: Shock Metamorphism, Thermal Metamorphism and Aqueous Alteration on the H-<span class="hlt">Chondrite</span> <span class="hlt">Parent</span> Body</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Rubin, Alan E.; Zolensky, Michael E.; Bodnar, Robert J.</p> <p>2002-01-01</p> <p>Zag and Monahans (1998) are H-<span class="hlt">chondrite</span> regolith breccias comprised mainly of lightcolored metamorphosed clasts, dark clasts that exhibit extensive silicate darkening, and a halite-bearing clastic matrix. These meteorites reflect a complex set of modification processes that occurred on the H-<span class="hlt">chondrite</span> <span class="hlt">parent</span> body. The light-colored clasts are thermally metamorphosed H5 and H6 rocks that were fragmented and deposited in the regolith. The dark clasts formed from light-colored clasts during shock events that melted and mobilized a significant fraction of their metallic Fe-Ni and troilite grains. The clastic matrices of these meteorites are rich in solar-wind gases. <span class="hlt">Parent</span>-body water was required to cause leaching of chondri tic minerals and chondrule glass; the fluids became enriched in Na, K, CI, Br, AI, Ca, Mg and Fe. Evaporation of the fluids caused them to become brines as halides and alkalies became supersaturated; grains of halite (and, in the case of Monahans (1998), halite with sylvite inclusions) precipitated at low temperatures (less than or equal to 100 C) in the porous regolith. In both meteorites fluid inclusions were trapped inside the halite crystals. Primary fluid inclusions were trapped in the growing crystals; secondary inclusions formed subsequently from fluid trapped within healed fractures.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19950043717&hterms=induction+melting&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D60%26Ntt%3Dinduction%2Bmelting','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19950043717&hterms=induction+melting&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D60%26Ntt%3Dinduction%2Bmelting"><span>Silica-rich orthopyroxenite in the Bovedy <span class="hlt">chondrite</span></span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Ruzicka, Alex; Kring, David A.; Hill, Dolores H.; Boynton, William V.; Clayton, Robert N.; Mayeda, Toshiko K.</p> <p>1995-01-01</p> <p>A large (greater than 4.5 x 7 x 4 mm), igneous-textured clast in the Bovedy (L3) <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> is notable for its high bulk SiO2 content (is approximately equal to 57.5 wt%). The clast consists of normally zoned orthopyroxene (83.8 vol%), tridymite (6.2%), an intergrowth of feldspar (5.8%) and sodic glass (3.1%), pigeonite (1.0%), and small amounts of chromite (0.2%), augite, and Fe,Ni-metal; it is best described as a silica-rich orthopyroxenite. The oxygen-isotopic composition of the clast is similar, but not identical, to Bovedy and other ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>. The clast has a superchondritic Si/Mg ratio, but has Mg/(Mg + Fe) and Fe/Mn ratios that are similar to ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> silicate. The closest chemical analogues to the clast are radial-pyroxene chondrules, diogenites, pyroxene-silica objects in ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, and silicates in the IIE iron meteorite Weekeroo Station. The clast crystallized from a siliceous melt that cooled fast enough to prevent complete attainment of equilibrium but slow enough to allow nearly complete crystallization. The texture, form, size and composition of the clast suggestion that it is an igneous differentiate from an asteroid or planetesimal that formed in the vicinity of ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>. The melt probably cooled in the near-surface region of the <span class="hlt">parent</span> object. It appears that in the source region of the clast, metallic and silicate partial melt were largely-to-completely lost during a relatively low degree of melting, and that during a higher degree of melting, olivine and low-Ca pyroxene separated from the remaining liquid, which ultimately solidified to form the clast. While these fractionation steps could not have all occurred at the same temperature, they could have been accomplished in a single melting episode, possibly as a result of heating by radionuclides or by electromagnetic induction. Fractionated magmas can also account for other Si-rich objects in <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2016GeCoA.175..282B','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2016GeCoA.175..282B"><span>Barium isotope abundances in meteorites and their implications for early Solar System evolution</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>Bermingham, K. R.; Mezger, K.; Scherer, E. E.; Horan, M. F.; Carlson, R. W.; Upadhyay, D.; Magna, T.; Pack, A.</p> <p>2016-02-01</p> <p>Several nucleosynthetic processes contributed material to the Solar System, but the relative contributions of each process, the timing of their input into the solar nebula, and how well these components were homogenized in the solar nebula remain only partially constrained. The Ba isotope system is particularly useful in addressing these issues because Ba isotopes are synthesized via three nucleosynthetic processes (s-, r-, p-process). In this study, high precision Ba isotope analyses of 22 different whole rock <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> and achondrites (<span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, enstatite <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, Martian meteorites, and eucrites) were performed to constrain the distribution of Ba isotopes on the regional scale in the Solar System. A melting method using aerodynamic levitation and CO2-laser heating was used to oxidize SiC, a primary carrier of Ba among presolar grains in <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>. Destruction of these grains during the fusion process enabled the complete digestion of these samples. The Ba isotope data presented here are thus the first for which complete dissolution of the bulk meteorite samples was certain. Enstatite <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, and all achondrites measured here possess Ba isotope compositions that are not resolved from the terrestrial composition. Barium isotope anomalies are evident in most of the <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> analyzed, but the 135Ba anomalies are generally smaller than previously reported for similarly sized splits of CM2 meteorites. Variation in the size of the 135Ba anomaly is also apparent in fused samples from the same <span class="hlt">parent</span> body (e.g., CM2 meteorites) and in different pieces from the same meteorite (e.g., Orgueil, CI). Here, we investigate the potential causes of variability in 135Ba, including the contribution of radiogenic 135Ba from the decay of 135Cs and incomplete homogenization of the presolar components on the <0.8 g sample scale.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2002M%26PS...37..281G','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2002M%26PS...37..281G"><span>Heavily-hydrated lithic clasts in CH <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> and the related, metal-rich <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> Queen Alexandra Range 94411 and Hammadah al Hamra 237</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>Greshake, A.; Krot, A. N.; Meibom, A.; Weisberg, M. K.; Zolensky, M. E.; Keil, K.</p> <p>2002-02-01</p> <p>Fine-grained, heavily-hydrated lithic clasts in the metal-rich (CB) <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> Queen Alexandra Range (QUE) 94411 and Hammadah al Hamra 237 and CH <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, such as Patuxent Range (PAT) 91546 and Allan Hills (ALH) 85085, are mineralogically similar suggesting genetic relationship between these meteorites. These clasts contain no anhydrous silicates and consist of framboidal and platelet magnetite, prismatic sulfides (pentlandite and pyrrhotite), and Fe-Mn-Mg-bearing Ca-carbonates set in a phyllosilicate-rich matrix. Two types of phyllosilicates were identified: serpentine, with basal spacing of ?0.73 nm, and saponite, with basal spacings of about 1.1-1.2 nm. Chondrules and FeNi-metal grains in CB and CH <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> are believed to have formed at high temperature (>1300 K) by condensation in a solar nebula region that experienced complete vaporization. The absence of aqueous alteration of chondrules and metal grains in CB and CH <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> indicates that the clasts experienced hydration in an asteroidal setting prior to incorporation into the CH and CB <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies. The hydrated clasts were either incorporated during regolith gardening or accreted together with chondrules and FeNi-metal grains after these high-temperature components had been transported from their hot formation region to a much colder region of the solar nebula.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017GeCoA.212..234V','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017GeCoA.212..234V"><span>Paris vs. Murchison: Impact of hydrothermal alteration on organic matter in CM <span class="hlt">chondrites</span></span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>Vinogradoff, V.; Le Guillou, C.; Bernard, S.; Binet, L.; Cartigny, P.; Brearley, A. J.; Remusat, L.</p> <p>2017-09-01</p> <p>Unravelling the origin of organic compounds that were accreted into asteroids requires better constraining the impact of asteroidal hydrothermal alteration on their isotopic signatures, molecular structures, and spatial distribution. Here, we conducted a multi-scale/multi-technique comparative study of the organic matter (OM) from two CM <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> (that originate from the same <span class="hlt">parent</span> body or from identical <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies that accreted the same mixture of precursors) and underwent a different degree of hydrothermal alteration: Paris (a weakly altered CM <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> - CM 2.8) and Murchison (a more altered one - CM 2.5). The Paris insoluble organic matter (IOM) shows a higher aliphatic/aromatic carbon ratio, a higher radical abundance and a lower oxygen content than the Murchison IOM. Analysis of the OM in situ shows that two texturally distinct populations of organic compounds are present within the Paris matrix: sub-micrometric individual OM particles and diffuse OM finely distributed within phyllosilicates and amorphous silicates. These results indicate that hydrothermal alteration on the CM <span class="hlt">parent</span> body induced aromatization and oxidation of the IOM, as well as a decrease in radical and nitrogen contents. Some of these observations were also reported by studies of variably altered fragment of Tagish Lake (C2), although the hydrothermal alteration of the OM in Tagish Lake was apparently much more severe. Finally, comparison with data available in the literature suggests that the <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies of other <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> petrologic groups could have accreted a mixture of organic precursors different from that accreted by the <span class="hlt">parent</span> body of CMs.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2014M%26PS...49..929T','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2014M%26PS...49..929T"><span>Revisiting 26Al-26Mg systematics of plagioclase in H4 <span class="hlt">chondrites</span></span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>Telus, M.; Huss, G. R.; Nagashima, K.; Ogliore, R. C.</p> <p>2014-06-01</p> <p>Zinner and Göpel found clear evidence for the former presence of 26Al in the H4 <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> Ste. Marguerite and Forest Vale. They assumed that the 26Al-26Mg systematics of these <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> date "metamorphic cooling of the H4 <span class="hlt">parent</span> body." Plagioclase in these <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> can have very high Al/Mg ratios and low Mg concentrations, making these ion probe analyses susceptible to ratio bias, which is inversely proportional to the number of counts of the denominator isotope (Ogliore et al.). Zinner and Göpel used the mean of the ratios to calculate the isotope ratios, which exacerbates this problem. We analyzed the Al/Mg ratios and Mg isotopic compositions of plagioclase grains in thin sections of Ste. Marguerite, Forest Vale, Beaver Creek, and Sena to evaluate the possible influence of ratio bias on the published initial 26Al/27Al ratios for these meteorites. We calculated the isotope ratios using total counts, a less biased method of calculating isotope ratios. The results from our analyses are consistent with those from Zinner and Göpel, indicating that ratio bias does not significantly affect 26Al-26Mg results for plagioclase in these <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>. Ste. Marguerite has a clear isochron with an initial 26Al/27Al ratio indicating that it cooled to below 450 °C 5.2 ± 0.2 Myr after CAIs. The isochrons for Forest Vale and Beaver Creek also show clear evidence that 26Al was alive when they cooled, but the initial 26Al/27Al ratios are not well constrained. Sena does not show evidence that 26Al was alive when it cooled to below the Al-Mg closure temperature. Given that metallographic cooling rates for Ste. Marguerite, Forest Vale, and Beaver Creek are atypical (>5000 °C/Myr at 500 °C) compared with most H4s, including Sena, which have cooling rates of 10-50 °C/Myr at 500 °C (Scott et al.), we conclude that the Al-Mg systematics for Ste. Marguerite, Forest Vale, and Beaver Creek are the result of impact excavation of these <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> and cooling at the surface of the</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017GeCoA.199...13H','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017GeCoA.199...13H"><span>A geochemical study of the winonaites: Evidence for limited partial melting and constraints on the precursor composition</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>Hunt, Alison C.; Benedix, Gretchen K.; Hammond, Samantha J.; Bland, Philip A.; Rehkämper, Mark; Kreissig, Katharina; Strekopytov, Stanislav</p> <p>2017-02-01</p> <p>The winonaites are primitive achondrites which are associated with the IAB iron meteorites. Textural evidence implies heating to at least the Fe, Ni-FeS cotectic, but previous geochemical studies are ambiguous about the extent of silicate melting in these samples. Oxygen isotope evidence indicates that the precursor material may be related to the <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>. Here we analysed a suite of winonaites for modal mineralogy and bulk major- and trace-element chemistry in order to assess the extent of thermal processing as well as constrain the precursor composition of the winonaite-IAB <span class="hlt">parent</span> asteroid. Modal mineralogy and geochemical data are presented for eight winonaites. Textural analysis reveals that, for our sub-set of samples, all except the most primitive winonaite (Northwest Africa 1463) reached the Fe, Ni-FeS cotectic. However, only one (Tierra Blanca) shows geochemical evidence for silicate melting processes. Tierra Blanca is interpreted as a residue of small-degree silicate melting. Our sample of Winona shows geochemical evidence for extensive terrestrial weathering. All other winonaites studied here (Fortuna, Queen Alexander Range 94535, Hammadah al Hamra 193, Pontlyfni and NWA 1463) have <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> major-element ratios and flat CI-normalised bulk rare-earth element patterns, suggesting that most of the winonaites did not reach the silicate melting temperature. The majority of winonaites were therefore heated to a narrow temperature range of between ∼1220 (the Fe, Ni-FeS cotectic temperature) and ∼1370 K (the basaltic partial melting temperature). Silicate inclusions in the IAB irons demonstrate partial melting did occur in some parts of the <span class="hlt">parent</span> body (Ruzicka and Hutson, 2010), thereby implying heterogeneous heat distribution within this asteroid. Together, this indicates that melting was the result of internal heating by short-lived radionuclides. The brecciated nature of the winonaites suggests that the <span class="hlt">parent</span> body was later disrupted by</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20160002395','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20160002395"><span>Organic Analysis in the Miller Range 090657 CR2 <span class="hlt">Chondrite</span>: Part 2 Amino Acid Analyses</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Burton, A. S.; Cao, T.; Nakamura-Messenger, K.; Berger, E. L.; Messenger, S.; Clemett, S. J.; Aponte, J. C.; Elsila, J. E.</p> <p>2016-01-01</p> <p>Primitive <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> contain a wide variety of organic material, ranging from soluble discrete molecules to insoluble, unstructured kerogen-like components, as well as structured nano-globules of macromolecular carbon. The relationship between the soluble organic molecules, macromolecular organic material, and host minerals are poorly understood. Due to the differences in extractability of soluble and insoluble organic materials, the analysis methods for each differ and are often performed independently. The combination of soluble and insoluble analyses, when performed concurrently, can provide a wider understanding of spatial distribution, and elemental, structural and isotopic composition of organic material in primitive meteorites. Using macroscale extraction and analysis techniques in combination with in situ microscale observation, we have been studying both insoluble and soluble organic material in the primitive CR2 <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> Miller Range (MIL) 090657. In accompanying abstracts (Cao et al. and Messenger et al.) we discuss insoluble organic material in the samples. By performing the consortium studies, we aim to improve our understanding of the relationship between the meteorite minerals and the soluble and insoluble organic phases and to delineate which species formed within the meteorite and those that formed in nebular or presolar environments. In this abstract, we present the results of amino acid analyses of MIL 090657 by ultra performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection and quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry. Amino acids are of interest because they are essential to life on Earth, and because they are present in sufficient structural, enantiomeric and isotopic diversity to allow insights into early solar system chemical processes. Furthermore, these are among the most isotopically anomalous species, yet at least some fraction are thought to have formed by aqueously-mediated processes during <span class="hlt">parent</span> body alteration.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017PhDT.......268M','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017PhDT.......268M"><span>Water in the Early Solar System: Infrared Studies of Aqueously Altered and Minimally Processed Asteroids</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>McAdam, Margaret M.</p> <p></p> <p>This thesis investigates connections between low albedo asteroids and <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> meteorites using spectroscopy. Meteorites and asteroids preserve information about the early solar system including accretion processes and <span class="hlt">parent</span> body processes active on asteroids at these early times. One process of interest is aqueous alteration. This is the chemical reaction between coaccreted water and silicates producing hydrated minerals. Some <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> have experienced extensive interactions with water through this process. Since these meteorites and their <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies formed close to the beginning of the Solar System, these asteroids and meteorites may provide clues to the distribution, abundance and timing of water in the Solar nebula at these times. Chapter 2 of this thesis investigates the relationships between extensively aqueously altered meteorites and their visible, near and mid-infrared spectral features in a coordinated spectral-mineralogical study. Aqueous alteration is a <span class="hlt">parent</span> body process where initially accreted anhydrous minerals are converted into hydrated minerals in the presence of coaccreted water. Using samples of meteorites with known bulk properties, it is possible to directly connect changes in mineralogy caused by aqueous alteration with spectral features. Spectral features in the mid-infrared are found to change continuously with increasing amount of hydrated minerals or degree of alteration. Building on this result, the degrees of alteration of asteroids are estimated in a survey of new asteroid data obtained from SOFIA and IRTF as well as archived the Spitzer Space Telescope data. 75 observations of 73 asteroids are analyzed and presented in Chapter 4. Asteroids with hydrated minerals are found throughout the main belt indicating that significant ice must have been present in the disk at the time of <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> asteroid accretion. Finally, some <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> meteorites preserve amorphous iron-bearing materials</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2015GeCoA.163..219R','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2015GeCoA.163..219R"><span>Deformation and thermal histories of ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>: Evidence for post-deformation annealing and syn-metamorphic shock</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>Ruzicka, Alex; Hugo, Richard; Hutson, Melinda</p> <p>2015-08-01</p> <p>We show that olivine microstructures in seven metamorphosed ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> of different groups studied with optical and transmission electron microscopy can be used to evaluate the post-deformation cooling setting of the meteorites, and to discriminate between collisions affecting cold and warm <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies. The L6 <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> Park (shock stage S1), Bruderheim (S4), Leedey (S4), and Morrow County (S5) were affected by variable shock deformation followed by relatively rapid cooling, and probably cooled as fragments liberated by impact in near-surface settings. In contrast, Kernouvé (H6 S1), Portales Valley (H6/7 S1), and MIL 99301 (LL6 S1) appear to have cooled slowly after shock, probably by deep burial in warm materials. In these <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, post-deformation annealing lowered apparent optical strain levels in olivine. Additionally, Kernouvé, Morrow County, Park, MIL 99301, and possibly Portales Valley, show evidence for having been deformed at an elevated temperature (⩾800-1000 °C). The high temperatures for Morrow County can be explained by dynamic heating during intense shock, but Kernouvé, Park, and MIL 99301 were probably shocked while the H, L and LL <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies were warm, during early, endogenically-driven thermal metamorphism. Thus, whereas the S4 and S5 <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> experienced purely shock-induced heating and cooling, all the S1 <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> examined show evidence for static heating consistent with either syn-metamorphic shock (Kernouvé, MIL 99301, Park), post-deformation burial in warm materials (Kernouvé, MIL 99301, Portales Valley), or both. The results show the pitfalls in relying on optical shock classification alone to infer an absence of shock and to construct cooling stratigraphy models for <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies. Moreover, they provide support for the idea that "secondary" metamorphic and "tertiary" shock processes overlapped in time shortly after the accretion of <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> planetesimals, and that impacts into warm asteroidal bodies were</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017AGUFMEP11B1560M','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017AGUFMEP11B1560M"><span>Silurian Micrometeorite Flux: The Demise of the Mid-Ordovician L-<span class="hlt">Chondrite</span> Reign.</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>Martin, E.; Schmitz, B.</p> <p>2017-12-01</p> <p>Earth's sedimentary record holds information about the micrometeorite flux through time, reflecting the collisional evolution of the asteroid belt. Around 466 Ma ago in the mid-Ordovician period the L-<span class="hlt">chondrite</span> <span class="hlt">parent</span> body breakup (LCPB) took place in the main asteroid belt causing a massive increase, up to two orders of magnitude, in the flux of meteorites to Earth (Schmitz, 2013). What did the meteorite flux look like after the breakup event? And when in time can we see a decrease in the fraction of L-<span class="hlt">chondritic</span> micrometeorites? We dissolved in acids condensed, marine limestone representing the mid-Ordovician and the late Silurian about 0.5 and 40 Ma, respectively after the LCPB, and searched the residues for spinel grains from equilibrated ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> (EC). We used 102 kg from the mid-Ordovician Komstad Limestone Formation, Killeröd quarry in Sweden, and 321 kg from the Silurian Kok Formation, Cellon section in Austria. Elemental analyses of the spinel grains were used to link the grains to different types of meteorites. In the large grain size fraction (63-355 µm) there are 4.5 EC grains/kg of rock in the mid-Ordovician sample and only 0.03 EC grains/kg in the Silurian sample. Because the two formations formed at about the same rate (a few mm per kyr) the results represent strong evidence for a major tailing off in the L-<span class="hlt">chondritic</span> meteorite contribution by the late Silurian. The EC grains have been divided into the H, L, and LL groups based on the TiO2 content. The results show that the fraction of L <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> compared to H and LL <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> had declined significantly by the late Silurian. In the study of Heck et al. (2016) it was shown that ≥99% of the ordinary <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> micrometeorites were L <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> right after the LCPB. Our data indicate that the L-<span class="hlt">chondrite</span> fraction had decreased to 60% by the Silurian, with the H and LL <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> making up 30% and 10% respectively of the flux.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19940007589&hterms=onion&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D50%26Ntt%3Donion','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19940007589&hterms=onion&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D50%26Ntt%3Donion"><span>Metallographic cooling rates of L-group ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span></span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Bennett, Marvin E.; Mcsween, Harry Y., Jr.</p> <p>1993-01-01</p> <p>Shock metamorphism appears to be a ubiquitous feature in L-group ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>. Brecciation and heterogeneous melting obscure much of the early history of this meteorite group and have caused confusion as to whether L <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> have undergone thermal metamorphism within onion-shell or rubble-pile <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies. Employing the most recent shock criteria, we have examined 55 Antarctic and 24 non-Antarctic L <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> in order to identify those which have been least affected by post-accretional shock. Six low-shock samples (those with shock grade less than S4) of petrographic types L3-L5 were selected from both populations and metallographic cooling rates were obtained following the technique of Willis and Goldstein. All non-Antarctic L6 <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> inspected were too heavily shocked to be included in this group. However, 4 shocked L6 <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> were analyzed in order to determine what effects shock may impose on metallographic cooling rates. Metallographic cooling rates were derived by analyzing the cores of taenite grains and then measuring the distance to the nearest grain edge. Taenites were identified using backscatter imaging on a Cameca SX-50 electron microprobe. Using backscatter we were able to locate homogeneous, rust-free, nearly spherical grains. M-shaped profiles taken from grain traverses were also used to help locate the central portions of selected grains. All points which contained phosphorus above detection limits were discarded. Plots of cooling-rate data are summarized and data from the high-shock samples are presented. The lack of coherency of cooling rates for individual samples is indicative of heterogeneous cooling following shock. The data confirms the statement expressed by numerous workers that extreme care must be taken when selecting samples of L <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> for cooling-rate studies. Data for the 6 non-Antarctic low-shock samples are also presented. The samples display a general trend in cooling rates. The lowest metamorphic grade</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://hdl.handle.net/2060/19940030926','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="http://hdl.handle.net/2060/19940030926"><span>Application of an alkylammonium method for characterization of phyllosilicates in CI <span class="hlt">chondrites</span></span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Golden, D. C.; Ming, D. W.; Zolensky, M. E.; Yang, S. V.</p> <p>1994-01-01</p> <p>Many meteorites and interplanetary dust particles (IDP's) with primitive compositions contain significant amounts of phyllosilicates, which are generally interpreted as evidence of protoplanetary aqueous alteration at an early period in the solar system. These meteorites are <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> of the <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> and ordinary varieties. Characterization of phyllosilicates in these materials is important because of the important physico-chemical information they hold, e.g., from well characterized phyllosilicates, thermodynamic stability relations and hence the conditions of formation of phyllosilicates in the <span class="hlt">parent</span> body of the meteorite can be predicted. Although we are at a rudimentary level of understanding of the minerals resulting from the aqueous alteration in the early solar nebula, we know that the most common phyllosilicates present in <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> extraterrestrial materials are serpentines, smectites, chlorites, and micas. The characterization of fine grained minerals in meteorites and IDP's rely heavily on electron beam instruments, especially transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Typically, phyllosilicates are identified by a combination of high resolution imaging of basal spacings, electron diffraction analysis, and chemical analysis. Smectites can be difficult to differentiate from micas because the smectites loose their interlayer water and the interlayers collapse to the same basal spacing as mica in the high vacuum of the TEM. In high-resolution TEM (HRTEM) images, smectite basal spacings vary from 1 nm up to 1.5 nm, while micas show 1 or 2 nm basal spacings. Not only is it difficult to differentiate smectites from micas, but there is no way of identifying different classes of smectites in meteorites and IDP's. To differentiate smectites from micas and also to recognize the charge differences among smectites, an alkylammonium method can be employed because the basal spacings of alkylammonium saturated smectites expand as a function of alkylamine chain</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2007M%26PS...42..913G','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2007M%26PS...42..913G"><span>Microstructure and thermal history of metal particles in CH <span class="hlt">chondrites</span></span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>Goldstein, J. I.; Jones, R. H.; Kotula, P. G.; Michael, J. R.</p> <p>2007-06-01</p> <p>We have studied metal microstructures in four CH <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, Patuxent Range (PAT) 91546, Allan Hills (ALH) 85085, Acfer 214, and Northwest Africa (NWA) 739, to examine details of the thermal histories of individual particles. Four types of metal particles are common in all of these <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>. Zoned and unzoned particles probably formed as condensates from a gas of <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> composition in a monotonic cooling regime, as has been shown previously. We have demonstrated that these particles were cooled rapidly to temperatures below 500 K after they formed, and that condensation effectively closed around 700 K. Zoned and unzoned particles with exsolution precipitates, predominantly high-Ni taenite, have considerably more complex thermal histories. Precipitates grew in reheating episodes, but the details of the heating events vary among individual grains. Reheating temperatures are typically in the range 800-1000 K. Reheating could have been the result of impact events on the CH <span class="hlt">parent</span> body. Some particles with precipitates may have been incorporated into chondrules, with further brief heating episodes taking place during chondrule formation. In addition to the four dominant types of metal particles, rare Ni-rich metal particles and Si-rich metal particles indicate that the metal assemblage in CH <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> was a mixture of material that formed at different redox conditions. Metal in CH <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> consists of a mechanical mixture of particles that underwent a variety of thermal histories prior to being assembled into the existing brecciated meteorites.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2015AGUFM.P13C..08M','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2015AGUFM.P13C..08M"><span>An Earth with affinities to Enstatite <span class="hlt">Chondrites</span></span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>McDonough, W. F.</p> <p>2015-12-01</p> <p> <span class="hlt">parent</span> body. The Earth accreted early in a reduced state, perhaps to the point of differentiating silicides into the core. Later accreted material was increasingly more oxidized. Stirring and mixing in the early solar system created opportunities for the Earth and enstatite <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> to share some, but not all chemical and isotopic characteristics.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2018E%26PSL.494...69S','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2018E%26PSL.494...69S"><span>Particle size distributions in <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> meteorites: Evidence for pre-planetesimal histories</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>Simon, J. I.; Cuzzi, J. N.; McCain, K. A.; Cato, M. J.; Christoffersen, P. A.; Fisher, K. R.; Srinivasan, P.; Tait, A. W.; Olson, D. M.; Scargle, J. D.</p> <p>2018-07-01</p> <p>Magnesium-rich silicate chondrules and calcium-, aluminum-rich refractory inclusions (CAIs) are fundamental components of primitive <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> meteorites. It has been suggested that concentration of these early-formed particles by nebular sorting processes may lead to accretion of planetesimals, the planetary bodies that represent the building blocks of the terrestrial planets. In this case, the size distributions of the particles may constrain the accretion process. Here we present new particle size distribution data for Northwest Africa 5717, a primitive ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> (ungrouped 3.05) and the well-known <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> Allende (CV3). Instead of the relatively narrow size distributions obtained in previous studies (Ebel et al., 2016; Friedrich et al., 2015; Paque and Cuzzi, 1997, and references therein), we observed broad size distributions for all particle types in both meteorites. Detailed microscopic image analysis of Allende shows differences in the size distributions of chondrule subtypes, but collectively these subpopulations comprise a composite "chondrule" size distribution that is similar to the broad size distribution found for CAIs. Also, we find accretionary 'dust' rims on only a subset (∼15-20%) of the chondrules contained in Allende, which indicates that subpopulations of chondrules experienced distinct histories prior to planetary accretion. For the rimmed subset, we find positive correlation between rim thickness and chondrule size. The remarkable similarity between the size distributions of various subgroups of particles, both with and without fine grained rims, implies a common size sorting process. <span class="hlt">Chondrite</span> classification schemes, astrophysical disk models that predict a narrow chondrule size population and/or a common localized formation event, and conventional particle analysis methods must all be critically reevaluated. We support the idea that distinct "lithologies" in NWA 5717 are nebular aggregates of chondrules. If </p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20180002448','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20180002448"><span>Particle Size Distributions in <span class="hlt">Chondritic</span> Meteorites: Evidence for Pre-Planetesimal Histories</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Simon, J. I.; Cuzzi, J. N.; McCain, K. A.; Cato, M. J.; Christoffersen, P. A.; Fisher, K. R.; Srinivasan, P.; Tait, A. W.; Olson, D. M.; Scargle, J. D.</p> <p>2018-01-01</p> <p>Magnesium-rich silicate chondrules and calcium-, aluminum-rich refractory inclusions (CAIs) are fundamental components of primitive <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> meteorites. It has been suggested that concentration of these early-formed particles by nebular sorting processes may lead to accretion of planetesimals, the planetary bodies that represent the building blocks of the terrestrial planets. In this case, the size distributions of the particles may constrain the accretion process. Here we present new particle size distribution data for Northwest Africa 5717, a primitive ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> (ungrouped 3.05) and the well-known <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> Allende (CV3). Instead of the relatively narrow size distributions obtained in previous studies (Ebel et al., 2016; Friedrich et al., 2015; Paque and Cuzzi, 1997, and references therein), we observed broad size distributions for all particle types in both meteorites. Detailed microscopic image analysis of Allende shows differences in the size distributions of chondrule subtypes, but collectively these subpopulations comprise a composite "chondrule" size distribution that is similar to the broad size distribution found for CAIs. Also, we find accretionary 'dust' rims on only a subset (approximately 15-20 percent) of the chondrules contained in Allende, which indicates that subpopulations of chondrules experienced distinct histories prior to planetary accretion. For the rimmed subset, we find positive correlation between rim thickness and chondrule size. The remarkable similarity between the size distributions of various subgroups of particles, both with and without fine grained rims, implies a common size sorting process. <span class="hlt">Chondrite</span> classification schemes, astrophysical disk models that predict a narrow chondrule size population and/or a common localized formation event, and conventional particle analysis methods must all be critically reevaluated. We support the idea that distinct "lithologies" in NWA 5717 are nebular aggregates of</p> </li> </ol> <div class="pull-right"> <ul class="pagination"> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_1");'>«</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_19");'>19</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_20");'>20</a></li> <li class="active"><span>21</span></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_22");'>22</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_23");'>23</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_25");'>»</a></li> </ul> </div> </div><!-- col-sm-12 --> </div><!-- row --> </div><!-- page_21 --> <div id="page_22" class="hiddenDiv"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-12"> <div class="pull-right"> <ul class="pagination"> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_1");'>«</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_20");'>20</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_21");'>21</a></li> <li class="active"><span>22</span></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_23");'>23</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_24");'>24</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_25");'>»</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-12"> <ol class="result-class" start="421"> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://hdl.handle.net/2060/19940011813','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="http://hdl.handle.net/2060/19940011813"><span>Partial melting of ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>: Lost City (H) and St. Severin (LL)</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Jurewicz, Amy J. G.; Jones, John H.; Weber, Egon T.; Mittlefehldt, David W.</p> <p>1993-01-01</p> <p>Eucrites and diogenites are examples of asteroidal basalts and orthopyroxenites, respectively. As they are found intermingled in howardites, which are inferred to be regolith breccias, eucrites and diogenites are thought to be genetically related. But the details of this relationship and of their individual origins remain controversial. Work by Jurewicz et al. showed that 1170-1180 C partial melts of the (anhydrous) Murchison (CM) <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> have major element compositions extremely similar to primitive eucrites, such as Sioux County. However, the MnO contents of these melts were about half that of Sioux County, a problem for the simple partial melting model. In addition, partial melting of Murchison could not produce diogenites, because residual pyroxenes in the Murchison experiments were too Fe- and Ca-rich and were minor phases at all but the lowest temperatures. A <span class="hlt">parent</span> magma for diogenites needs an expanded low-calcium pyroxene field. In their partial melting study of an L6 <span class="hlt">chondrite</span>, Kushiro and Mysen found that ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> did have an expanded low-Ca pyroxene field over that of CV <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> (i.e., Allende), probably because ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> have lower Mg/Si ratios. This study expands that of both Kushiro and Mysen and Jurewicz et al. to the Lost City (H) and St. Severin (LL) <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> at temperatures ranging from 1170 to 1325 C, at an fO2 of one log unit below the iron-wuestite buffer (IW-1).</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22047716-nucleosynthetic-tungsten-isotope-anomalies-acid-leachates-murchison-chondrite-implications-hafnium-tungsten-chronometry','SCIGOV-STC'); return false;" href="https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22047716-nucleosynthetic-tungsten-isotope-anomalies-acid-leachates-murchison-chondrite-implications-hafnium-tungsten-chronometry"><span>NUCLEOSYNTHETIC TUNGSTEN ISOTOPE ANOMALIES IN ACID LEACHATES OF THE MURCHISON <span class="hlt">CHONDRITE</span>: IMPLICATIONS FOR HAFNIUM-TUNGSTEN CHRONOMETRY</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.osti.gov/search">DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)</a></p> <p>Burkhardt, Christoph; Wieler, Rainer; Kleine, Thorsten</p> <p></p> <p>Progressive dissolution of the Murchison <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> with acids of increasing strengths reveals large internal W isotope variations that reflect a heterogeneous distribution of s- and r-process W isotopes among the components of primitive <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>. At least two distinct carriers of nucleosynthetic W isotope anomalies must be present, which were produced in different nucleosynthetic environments. The co-variation of {sup 182}W/{sup 184}W and {sup 183}W/{sup 184}W in the leachates follows a linear trend that is consistent with a mixing line between terrestrial W and a presumed s-process-enriched component. The composition of the s-enriched component agrees reasonably well with that predicted bymore » the stellar model of s-process nucleosynthesis. The co-variation of {sup 182}W/{sup 184}W and {sup 183}W/{sup 184}W in the leachates provides a means for correcting the measured {sup 182}W/{sup 184}W and {sup 182}W/{sup 183}W of Ca-Al-rich inclusions (CAI) for nucleosynthetic anomalies using the isotopic variations in {sup 183}W/{sup 184}W. This new correction procedure is different from that used previously, and results in a downward shift of the initial {epsilon}{sup 182}W of CAI to -3.51 {+-} 0.10 (where {epsilon}{sup 182}W is the variation in 0.01% of the {sup 182}W/{sup 183}W ratio relative to Earth's mantle). This revision leads to Hf-W model ages of core formation in iron meteorite <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies that are {approx}2 Myr younger than previously calculated. The revised Hf-W model ages are consistent with CAI being the oldest solids formed in the solar system, and indicate that core formation in some planetesimals occurred within {approx}2 Myr of the beginning of the solar system.« less</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19870035701&hterms=homogenization&qs=N%3D0%26Ntk%3DAll%26Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntt%3Dhomogenization','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19870035701&hterms=homogenization&qs=N%3D0%26Ntk%3DAll%26Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntt%3Dhomogenization"><span>Chemical zoning and homogenization of olivines in ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> and implications for thermal histories of chondrules</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Miyamoto, Masamichi; Mckay, David S.; Mckay, Gordon A.; Duke, Michael B.</p> <p>1986-01-01</p> <p>The extent and degree of homogenization of chemical zoning of olivines in type 3 ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> is studied in order to obtain some constraints on cooling histories of <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>. Based on Mg-Fe and CaO zoning, olivines in type 3 <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> are classified into four types. A single chondrule usually contains olivines with the same type of zoning. Microporphyritic olivines show all four zoning types. Barred olivines usually show almost homogenized chemical zoning. The cooling rates or burial depths needed to homogenize the chemical zoning are calculated by solving the diffusion equation, using the zoning profiles as an initial condition. Mg-Fe zoning of olivine may be altered during initial cooling, whereas CaO zoning is hardly changed. Barred olivines may be homogenized during initial cooling because their size is relatively small. To simulated microporphyritic olivine chondrules, cooling from just below the liquidus at moderately high rates is preferable to cooling from above the liquidus at low rates. For postaccumulation metamorphism of type 3 <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> to keep Mg-Fe zoning unaltered, the maximum metamorphic temperature must be less than about 400 C if cooling rates based on Fe-Ni data are assumed. Calculated cooling rates for both Fa and CaO homogenization are consistent with those by Fe-Ni data for type 4 <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>. A hot ejecta blanket several tens of meters thick on the surface of a <span class="hlt">parent</span> body is sufficient to homogenize Mg-Fe zoning if the temperature of the blanket is 600-700 C. Burial depths for petrologic types of ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> in a <span class="hlt">parent</span> body heated by Al-26 are broadly consistent with those previously proposed.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20160009351','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20160009351"><span>Noble Metal Arsenides and Gold Inclusions in Northwest Africa 8186</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Srinivasan, P.; McCubbin, F. M.; Rahman, Z.; Keller, L. P.; Agee, C. B.</p> <p>2016-01-01</p> <p>CK <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> are a highly thermally altered group of <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, experiencing temperatures ranging between approximately 576-867 degrees Centigrade. Additionally, the mineralogy of the CK <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> record the highest overall oxygen fugacity of all <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, above the fayalite-magnetite-quartz (FMQ) buffer. Me-tallic Fe-Ni is extremely rare in CK <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, but magnetite and Fe,Ni sulfides are commonly observed. Noble metal-rich inclusions have previously been found in some magnetite and sulfide grains. These arsenides, tellurides, and sulfides, which contain varying amounts of Pt, Ru, Os, Te, As, Ir, and S, are thought to form either by condensation from a solar gas, or by exsolution during metamorphism on the <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> <span class="hlt">parent</span> body. Northwest Africa (NWA) 8186 is a highly metamorphosed CK <span class="hlt">chondrite</span>. This meteorite is predominately composed of NiO-rich forsteritic olivine (Fo65), with lesser amounts of plagioclase (An52), augite (Fs11Wo49), magnetite (with exsolved titanomagnetite, hercynite, and titanohematite), monosulfide solid solution (with exsolved pentlandite), and the phosphate minerals Cl-apatite and merrillite. This meteorite contains coarse-grained, homogeneous silicates, and has 120-degree triple junctions between mineral phases, which indicates a high degree of thermal metamorphism. The presence of NiO-rich olivine, oxides phases all bearing Fe3 plus, and the absence of metal, are consistent with an oxygen fugacity above the FMQ buffer. We also observed noble metal-rich phases within sulfide grains in NWA 8186, which are the primary focus of the present study.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20160007867','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20160007867"><span>Noble Metal Arsenides and Gold Inclusions in Northwest Africa 8186</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Srinivasan, P.; McCubbin, F. M.; Rahman, Z.; Keller, L. P.; Agee, C. B.</p> <p>2016-01-01</p> <p>CK <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> are a highly thermally altered group of <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, experiencing temperatures ranging between approx.576-867 C. Additionally, the mineralogy of the CK <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> record the highest overall oxygen fugacity of all <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, above the fayalite-magnetite-quartz (FMQ) buffer. Metallic Fe-Ni is extremely rare in CK <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, but magnetite and Fe,Ni sulfides are commonly observed. Noble metal-rich inclusions have previously been found in some magnetite and sulfide grains. These arsenides, tellurides, and sulfides, which contain varying amounts of Pt, Ru, Os, Te, As, Ir, and S, are thought to form either by condensation from a solar gas, or by exsolution during metamorphism on the <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> <span class="hlt">parent</span> body. Northwest Africa (NWA) 8186 is a highly metamorphosed CK <span class="hlt">chondrite</span>. This meteorite is predominately composed of NiO-rich forsteritic olivine (Fo65), with lesser amounts of plagioclase (An52), augite (Fs11Wo49), magnetite (with exsolved titanomagnetite, hercynite, and titanohematite), monosulfide solid solution (with exsolved pentlandite), and the phosphate minerals Cl-apatite and merrillite. This meteorite contains coarse-grained, homogeneous silicates, and has 120deg triple junctions between mineral phases, which indicates a high degree of thermal metamorphism. The presence of NiO-rich olivine, oxides phases all bearing Fe3+, and the absence of metal, are consistent with an oxygen fugacity above the FMQ buffer. We also observed noble metal-rich phases within sulfide grains in NWA 8186, which are the primary focus of the present study.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2012E%26PSL.357..355N','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2012E%26PSL.357..355N"><span>Oxygen isotopes in crystalline silicates of comet Wild 2: A comparison of oxygen isotope systematics between Wild 2 particles and <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> materials</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>Nakashima, Daisuke; Ushikubo, Takayuki; Joswiak, David J.; Brownlee, Donald E.; Matrajt, Graciela; Weisberg, Michael K.; Zolensky, Michael E.; Kita, Noriko T.</p> <p>2012-12-01</p> <p>Oxygen three-isotope ratios of nine crystalline silicate particles from comet Wild 2 were measured to investigate oxygen isotope systematics of cometary materials. We are able to analyze particles as small as 4 μm using an ion microprobe with a˜1×2 μm beam by locating the analysis spots with an accuracy of ±0.4 μm. Three particles of Mn-rich forsterite, known as low-iron, manganese-enriched (LIME) olivine, showed extremely 16O-rich signatures (δ18O, δ17O˜-50‰), similar to refractory inclusions in <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>. The three Mn-rich forsterite particles may have formed by condensation from an 16O-rich solar nebula gas. Other particles consist of olivine and/or pyroxene with a wide range of Mg# [=molar MgO/(FeO+MgO) %] from 60 to 96. Their oxygen isotope ratios plot nearly along the <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> anhydrous mineral (CCAM) and Young and Russell lines with Δ17O(=δ17O-0.52×δ18O) values of -3.0‰ to +2.5‰. These data are similar to the range observed from previous analyses of Wild 2 crystalline silicates and those of chondrules in <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>. Six particles extracted from Stardust track 77 show diverse chemical compositions and isotope ratios; two Mn-rich forsterites, FeO-poor pigeonite, and three FeO-rich olivines with a wide range of Δ17O values from -24‰ to +1.6‰. These results confirmed that the original projectile that formed track 77 was an aggregate (>6 μm) of silicate particles that formed in various environments. The Δ17O values of ferromagnesian Wild 2 particles (including data from previous studies) increase from ˜-23‰ to+2.5‰ with decreasing Mg#: Δ17O values of Mn-rich forsterite particles (Mg#=98-99.8) cluster at -23‰, those of FeO-poor particles (Mg#=95-97) cluster at -2‰, and those of FeO-rich particles (Mg#≤90) scatter mainly from -1.5‰ to+2.5‰. Compared to chondrules in primitive <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, the systematic trend between Mg# and Δ17O among the Wild 2 particles is most similar to that reported for CR</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20040066075&hterms=planetary+science&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D90%26Ntt%3Dplanetary%2Bscience','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20040066075&hterms=planetary+science&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D90%26Ntt%3Dplanetary%2Bscience"><span>Lunar and Planetary Science XXXV: Asteroids, Meteors, Comets</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p></p> <p>2004-01-01</p> <p>The session Asteroids, Meteors, Comets includes the following topics: 1) Where Some Asteroid <span class="hlt">Parent</span> Bodies; 2) The Collisional Evolution of the Main Belt Population; 3) On Origin of Ecliptic Families of Periodic Comets; 4) Mineralogy and Petrology of Laser Irradiated <span class="hlt">Carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">Chondrite</span> Mighei; and 5) Interaction of the Gould Belt and the Earth.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20120009109','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20120009109"><span>A Propensity for n-omega-Amino Acids in Thermally-Altered Antarctic Meteorites</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Burton, Aaron S.; Elsila, Jamie E.; Callahan, Michael P.; Martin, Mildred G.; Glavin, Daniel P.; Johnson, Natasha M.; Dworkin, Jason P.</p> <p>2012-01-01</p> <p><span class="hlt">Carbonaceous</span> meteorites are known to contain a wealth of indigenous organic molecules, including amino acids, which suggests that these meteorites could have been an important source of prebiotic organic material during the origins of life on Earth and possibly elsewhere. We report the detection of extraterrestrial amino acids in thermally-altered type 3 CV and CO <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> and ureilites recovered from Antarctica. The amino acid concentrations of the thirteen Antarctic meteorites were generally less abundant than in more amino acid-rich CI, CM, and CR <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> that experienced much lower temperature aqueous alteration on their <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies. In contrast to low-temperature aqueously-altered meteorites that show complete structural diversity in amino acids formed predominantly by Strecker-cyanohydrin synthesis, the thermally-altered meteorites studied here are dominated by small, straight-chain, amine terminal (n-omega-amino) amino acids that are not consistent with Strecker formation. The carbon isotopic ratios of two extraterrestrial n-omega-amino acids measured in one of the CV <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> are consistent with C-13-depletions observed previously in hydrocarbons produced by Fischer-Tropsch type reactions. The predominance of n-omega-amino acid isomers in thermally-altered meteorites hints at cosmochemical mechanisms for the preferential formation and preservation of a small subset of the possible amino acids.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20040065963&hterms=parents&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D50%26Ntt%3Dparents','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20040065963&hterms=parents&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D50%26Ntt%3Dparents"><span>Petrology and Raman Spectroscopy of Shocked Phases in the Gujba CB <span class="hlt">Chondrite</span> and the Shock History of the CB <span class="hlt">Parent</span> Body</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Weisberg, M. K.; Kimura, M.</p> <p>2004-01-01</p> <p>The CB <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> are metal-rich <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> meteorites having characteristics that sharply distinguish them from other <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> [1], including (1) high metal abundances (60-80 vol.% metal), (2) most chondrules have cryptocrystalline or barred textures, (3) moderately volatile lithophile elements are highly depleted and (4) nitrogen is enriched in the heavy isotope. Similarities in mineral composition, as well as oxygen and nitrogen isotopic compositions of the CB to CR and CH <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> are consistent with derivation of these <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> groups from a common nebular reservoir, hence their grouping in the CR clan [1, 2, 3, 4]. CB <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> have been divided into CBa (Gujba, Bencubbin, Weatherford) and CBb (Hammadah al Hamra 237 and QUE 94411) subgroups based on petrologic characteristics.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19830040422&hterms=Dark+net&qs=N%3D0%26Ntk%3DAll%26Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntt%3DDark%2Bnet','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19830040422&hterms=Dark+net&qs=N%3D0%26Ntk%3DAll%26Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntt%3DDark%2Bnet"><span>Mineralogy and petrology of the Abee enstatite <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> breccia and its dark inclusions</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Rubin, A. E.; Keil, K.</p> <p>1983-01-01</p> <p>A model is proposed for the petrogenesis of the Abee E4 enstatite <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> breccia, which consists of clasts, dark inclusions and matrix, and whose dark inclusions are an unusual kind of enstatite <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> material. When the maximum metamorphic temperature of the breccia <span class="hlt">parent</span> material was greater than 840 C, euhedral enstatite crystals in metallic Fe, Ni, and sulfide-rich areas grew into pliable metal and sulfide. Breccia <span class="hlt">parent</span> material was impact-excavated, admixed with dark inclusions, and rapidly cooled. During this cooling, the clast and matrix material acquired thermal remanent magnetization. A subsequent ambient magnetic field imparted a uniform net magnetic orientation to the matrix and caused the magnetic orientation of the clasts to be less random. The Abee breccia was later consolidated by shock or by shallow burial and long period, low temperature metamorphism.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2011Icar..213..273A','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2011Icar..213..273A"><span>Abodes for life in <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> asteroids?</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>Abramov, Oleg; Mojzsis, Stephen J.</p> <p>2011-05-01</p> <p>Thermal evolution models for <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> asteroids that use new data for permeability, pore volume, and water circulation as input parameters provide a window into what are arguably the earliest habitable environments in the Solar System. Plausible models of the Murchison meteorite (CM) <span class="hlt">parent</span> body show that to first-order, conditions suitable for the stability of liquid water, and thus pre- or post-biotic chemistry, could have persisted within these asteroids for tens of Myr. In particular, our modeling results indicate that a 200-km <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> asteroid with a 40% initial ice content takes almost 60 Myr to cool completely, with habitable temperatures being maintained for ˜24 Myr in the center. Yet, there are a number of indications that even with the requisite liquid water, thermal energy sources to drive chemical gradients, and abundant organic "building blocks" deemed necessary criteria for life, <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> asteroids were intrinsically unfavorable sites for biopoesis. These controls include different degrees of exothermal mineral hydration reactions that boost internal warming but effectively remove liquid water from the system, rapid (1-10 mm yr -1) inward migration of internal habitable volumes in most models, and limitations imposed by low permeabilities and small pore sizes in primitive undifferentiated <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> asteroids. Our results do not preclude the existence of habitable conditions on larger, possibly differentiated objects such as Ceres and the Themis family asteroids due to presumed longer, more intense heating and possible long-lived water reservoirs.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2016AJ....152...54V','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2016AJ....152...54V"><span>Compositional Homogeneity of CM <span class="hlt">Parent</span> Bodies</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>Vernazza, P.; Marsset, M.; Beck, P.; Binzel, R. P.; Birlan, M.; Cloutis, E. A.; DeMeo, F. E.; Dumas, C.; Hiroi, T.</p> <p>2016-09-01</p> <p>CM <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> are the most common type of hydrated meteorites, making up ˜1.5% of all falls. Whereas most CM <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> experienced only low-temperature (˜0°C-120°C) aqueous alteration, the existence of a small fraction of CM <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> that suffered both hydration and heating complicates our understanding of the early thermal evolution of the CM <span class="hlt">parent</span> body(ies). Here, we provide new constraints on the collisional and thermal history of CM-like bodies from a comparison between newly acquired spectral measurements of main-belt Ch/Cgh-type asteroids (70 objects) and existing laboratory spectral measurements of CM <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>. It first appears that the spectral variation observed among CM-like bodies is essentially due to variations in the average regolith grain size. Second, the spectral properties of the vast majority (unheated) of CM <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> resemble both the surfaces and the interiors of CM-like bodies, implying a “low” temperature (<300°C) thermal evolution of the CM <span class="hlt">parent</span> body(ies). It follows that an impact origin is the likely explanation for the existence of heated CM <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>. Finally, similarly to S-type asteroids and (2) Pallas, the surfaces of large (D > 100 km)—supposedly primordial—Ch/Cgh-type main-belt asteroids likely expose the interiors of the primordial CM <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies, a possible consequence of impacts by small asteroids (D < 10 km) in the early solar system.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19940007642&hterms=browning&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D20%26Ntt%3Dbrowning','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19940007642&hterms=browning&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D20%26Ntt%3Dbrowning"><span>Determining the relative extent of alteration in CM <span class="hlt">chondrites</span></span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Browning, Lauren B.; Mcsween, Harry Y., Jr.; Zolensky, Michael</p> <p>1993-01-01</p> <p>The aqueous alteration of CM <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> provides a record of the processes attending the earliest stages of <span class="hlt">parent</span> body evolution. However, resolving the alteration pathways of <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> evolution requires a means for distinguishing the relative extent of alteration that individual samples have experienced. Three new indices for gauging the relative degree of alteration in CM <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> based on modal and compositional analyses of 7 CM falls were proposed. The proposed alteration parameters are consistent with the basic tenets of several previous models and correlate with additional indices to produce an integrated method for determining the relative extent of alteration. The model predicts the following order of progressive alteration: Murchison (MC) is less than or equal to Bells (BL) is less than Murray (MY) is less than Cochabamba (CC) is less than Mighei (MI) is less than Nogoya (NG) is less than or equal to Cold Bokkeveld (CB). The broad range of CM phyllosilicate compositions observed within individual meteorites is fundamental to the characterization of the aqueous alteration process. Chemical analyses of CM phyllosilicates suggest that these phases became systematically enriched in Mg and depleted in Fe with increasing alteration.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017E%26PSL.479..330K','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017E%26PSL.479..330K"><span>Gallium isotopic evidence for the fate of moderately volatile elements in planetary bodies and refractory inclusions</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>Kato, Chizu; Moynier, Frédéric</p> <p>2017-12-01</p> <p>The abundance of moderately volatile elements, such as Zn and Ga, show variable depletion relative to CI between the Earth and primitive meteorite (<span class="hlt">chondrites</span>) <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies. Furthermore, the first solar system solids, the calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions (CAIs), are surprisingly rich in volatile element considering that they formed under high temperatures. Here, we report the Ga elemental and isotopic composition of a wide variety of <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> along with five individual CAIs to understand the origin of the volatile elements and to further characterize the enrichment of the volatile elements in high temperature condensates. The δ71Ga (permil deviation of the 71Ga/69Ga ratio from the Ga IPGP standard) of <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> decreases in the order of CI >CM >CO >CV and is inversely correlated with the Al/Ga ratio. This implies that the Ga budget of the <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies were inherited from a two component mixing of a volatile rich reservoir enriched in heavy isotope of Ga and a volatile poor reservoir enriched in light isotope of Ga. Calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions are enriched in Ga and Zn compared to the bulk meteorite and are both highly isotopically fractionated with δ71Ga down to -3.56‰ and δ66Zn down to -0.74‰. The large enrichment in the light isotopes of Ga and Zn in the CAIs implies that the moderately volatile elements were introduced in the CAIs during condensation in the solar nebula as opposed to secondary processing in the meteorite <span class="hlt">parent</span> body and supports a change in gas composition in which CAIs were formed.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2014M%26PS...49.1323D','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2014M%26PS...49.1323D"><span>Widespread hydrothermal alteration minerals in the fine-grained matrices of the Tieschitz unequilibrated ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrite</span></span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>Dobricǎ, E.; Brearley, A. J.</p> <p>2014-08-01</p> <p>Mineralogic, textural, and compositional studies of black and white matrices in the unequilibrated ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> Tieschitz (H/L, 3.6) show, for the first time in an ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrite</span>, the presence of widespread, randomly distributed geode-like voids and veins. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) studies show that these voids and veins are partially or completely filled by sodic-calcic amphiboles (winchite and barroisite). The occurrence of amphiboles provides unequivocal evidence of the involvement of fluids in the metamorphic evolution of the <span class="hlt">parent</span> body of Tieschitz. The presence of amphiboles as the main hydrous phases, rather than phyllosilicates, indicates that aqueous fluids were present at or close to the peak of thermal metamorphism, rather than during the waning stages of the cooling history of the <span class="hlt">parent</span> body. In addition, ferrous olivine crystals, in association with the amphibole, also establish an important link between thermal metamorphism and hydrous phases formed at high temperatures. Mineralogic and textural evidence suggests that the white matrix and amphibole formed contemporaneously from the same hydrous fluid, prior to the formation of ferrous olivine crystals. Additionally, a dark inclusion identified in the host <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> has mineralogic, petrologic, and bulk chemical characteristics that are similar to the black matrix of host Tieschitz, suggesting that this dark inclusion was emplaced before or during <span class="hlt">parent</span> body metamorphism.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20180002011','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20180002011"><span>Indigenous Amino Acids in Iron Meteorites</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Elsila, J. E.; Dworkin, J. P.; Glavin, D. P.; Johnson, N. M.</p> <p>2018-01-01</p> <p>Understanding the organic content of meteorites and the potential delivery of molecules relevant to the origin of life on Earth is an important area of study in astrobiology. There have been many studies of meteoritic organics, with much focus on amino acids as monomers of proteins and enzymes essential to terrestrial life. The majority of these studies have involved analysis of <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, primitive meteorites containing approx. 3-5 wt% carbon. Amino acids have been observed in varying abundances and distributions in representatives of all eight <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> groups, as well as in ungrouped <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, ordinary and R <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, ureilites, and planetary achondrites [1 and references therein].</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20060049097&hterms=inclusion&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D60%26Ntt%3Dinclusion','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20060049097&hterms=inclusion&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D60%26Ntt%3Dinclusion"><span>Non-nebular Origin of Dark Mantles Around Chondrules and Inclusions in CM <span class="hlt">Chondrites</span></span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Trigo-Rodriquez, Josep M.; Rubin, Alan E.; Wasson, John T.</p> <p>2006-01-01</p> <p>Our examination of nine CM <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> that span the aqueous alteration sequence leads us to conclude that compact dark fine mantles surrounding chondrules and inclusions in CM <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> are not discrete fine-grained rims acquired in the solar nebula as modeled by Metzler et al. [Accretionary dust mantles in CM <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>: evidence for solar nebula processes. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 56, 1992, 2873-28971. Nebular processes that lead to agglomeration produce materials with porosities far higher than those in the dark mantles. We infer that the mantles were produced from porous nebular materials on the CM <span class="hlt">parent</span> asteroid by impact-compaction (a process that produces the lowest porosity adjacent to chondrules and inclusions). Compaction was followed by aqueous alteration that formed tochilinite, serpentine, Ni-bearing sulfide, and other secondary products in voids in the interchondrule regions. Metzler et al. reported a correlation between mantle thickness and the radius of the enclosed object. In Yamato 791 198 we find no correlation when all sizes of central objects and dark lumps are included but a significant correlation (r(sup 2) = 0.44) if we limit consideration to central objects with radii >35 microns; a moderate correlation is also found in QUE 97990. We suggest that impact-induced shear of a plum-pudding-like precursor produced the observed "mantles"; these were shielded from comminution during impact events by the adjacent stronger chondrules and inclusions. Some mantles in CM <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> with low degrees of alteration show distinct layers that may largely reflect differences in porosity. Typically, a gray, uniform inner layer is surrounded by an outer layer consisting of darker silicates with BSE-bright speckles. The CM-<span class="hlt">chondrite</span> objects characterized as "primary accretionary rocks" by Metzler et al. did not form in the nebula, but rather on the <span class="hlt">parent</span> body. The absence of solar-flare particle tracks and solar-wind-implanted rare gases in these clasts</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://hdl.handle.net/2060/19940031638','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="http://hdl.handle.net/2060/19940031638"><span>Textural constraints on the formation of alteration phases in CM <span class="hlt">chondrites</span></span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Joseph, L. H.; Browning, L. B.; Zolensky, M. E.</p> <p>1994-01-01</p> <p>Although it is generally believed that the secondary alteration phases observed in CM <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> resulted from <span class="hlt">parent</span> body reactions, the influence of nebular processing can not yet be dismissed. We have analyzed 5 CM falls using optical and electron microscopy to construct a comprehensive pictorial reference set of textural and mineralogical associations bearing on the origin of alteration products in these meteorites. Our analyses support pervasive aqueous alteration on the CM <span class="hlt">parent</span> body, but they do not exclude the possibility of minor nebular alteration.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20160002381','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20160002381"><span>Assessing the Formation of Ungrouped Achondrite Northwest Africa 8186: Residue, Crystallization Product, or Recrystallized <span class="hlt">Chondrite</span>?</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Srinivasan, P.; McCubbin, F. M.; Agee, C. B.</p> <p>2016-01-01</p> <p>The recent discoveries of primitive achondrites, metachondrites, and type 7 <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> challenge the long held idea that all <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> and achondrites form on separate <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies. These meteorites have experienced metamorphic temperatures above petrologic type 6 and have partially melted to various degrees. However, because of their isotopic and compositional similarities to both undifferentiated and differentiated groups, the provenance of these 'type 6+' meteorites remains largely unknown. CK and CV <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> have recently been linked to a few achondrites due to their strong compositional, mineralogical, and isotopic similarities], suggesting a common origin between these meteorites. Although CVs have generally undergone low degrees of alteration near petrologic type 3, CKs have experienced a wide range of thermal alteration from petrologic type 3 to 6. Thermal evolution models on early accreting bodies predict that an early forming body can partially differentiate due to radiogenic heating, and, as a result, form radial layers of material increasing in thermal grade (types 3 to 6+) from the unmelted <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> surface towards the differentiated core.Northwest Africa (NWA) 8186 is an ungrouped achondrite that provides compelling evidence for higher degrees of thermal processing and/or melting and differentiation on some CK/CV <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies. NWA 8186 plots on the CCAM line on a 3-oxygen isotope diagram directly with CK and CV <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> and also plots with the CKs in regards to Cr isotopes. This meteorite is dominated by Nickel(II)Oxygen-rich olivine (less than 80%), lacks iron metal, and contains four oxide phases, indicating a high fOxygen (above FMQ) similar to the CKs. Additionally, NWA 8186 does not contain chondrules. We have further investigated the origins of NWA 8186 by examining and comparing the bulk composition of this CK-like achondrite with CK and CV <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, allowing us to assess the various scenarios in which NWA 8186 may have formed from</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1994Metic..29Q.493L','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1994Metic..29Q.493L"><span>Looking for a correlation between terrestrial age and noble gas record of H <span class="hlt">chondrites</span></span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>Loeken, Th.; Schultz, L.</p> <p>1994-07-01</p> <p>On the basis of statistically significant concentration differences of some trace elements, it has been suggested that H <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> found in Antarctica and Modern Falls represent members of different extraterrestrial populations with different thermal histories. It was also concluded that H <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> found in Victoria Land (Allan Hills) differ chemically from those found in Queen Maud Land (Yamato Mountains), an effect that could be based on the different terrestrial age distribution of both groups. This would imply a change of the meteoroid flux hitting the Earth on a timescale that is comparable to typical terrestrial ages of Antarctic <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>. A comparison of the noble gas record of H <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> from the Allan Hills icefields and Modern Fall shows that the distributions of cosmic-ray exposure ages and the concentrations of radiogenic He-4 and Ar-40 are very similar. In an earlier paper we compared the noble gas measurements of 20 Yamato H contents with meteorites from the Allan Hills region and Modern Falls. Similar distributions were found. The distribution of cosmic-ray exposure ages and radiogenic He-4 and Ar-40 gas contents as a function of the terrestrial age is investigated in these <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>. The distribution shows the well-known 7-Ma-cluster indicating that about 40% of the H <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> were excavated from their <span class="hlt">parent</span> body in a single event. Both populations, Antarctic Meteorites and Modern Falls, exhibit the same characteristic feature: a major meteoroid-producing event about 7 Ma. This indicates that one H-group population delivers H <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> to Antarctica and the rest of the world. Cosmic-ray exposure ages and thermal-history indicaters like radiogenic noble gases show no evidence of a change in the H <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> meteoroid population during the last 200,000 years.</p> </li> </ol> <div class="pull-right"> <ul class="pagination"> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_1");'>«</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_20");'>20</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_21");'>21</a></li> <li class="active"><span>22</span></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_23");'>23</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_24");'>24</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_25");'>»</a></li> </ul> </div> </div><!-- col-sm-12 --> </div><!-- row --> </div><!-- page_22 --> <div id="page_23" class="hiddenDiv"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-12"> <div class="pull-right"> <ul class="pagination"> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_1");'>«</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_21");'>21</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_22");'>22</a></li> <li class="active"><span>23</span></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_24");'>24</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_25");'>25</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_25");'>»</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-12"> <ol class="result-class" start="441"> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19900051944&hterms=Ciencias&qs=N%3D0%26Ntk%3DAll%26Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntt%3DCiencias','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19900051944&hterms=Ciencias&qs=N%3D0%26Ntk%3DAll%26Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntt%3DCiencias"><span>Origin and history of <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> regolith, fragmental and impact-melt breccias from Spain</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Casanova, I.; Keil, K.; Wieler, R.; San Miguel, A.; King, E. A.</p> <p>1990-01-01</p> <p>Six ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> breccias from the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid (Spain), are described and classified as follows: the solar gas-rich regolith breccia Oviedo (H5); the premetamorphic fragmental breccias Cabezo de Mayo (type 6, L-LL), and Sevilla (LL4); the fragmental breccias Canellas (H4) and Gerona (H5); and the impact melt breccia, Madrid (L6). It is confirmed that <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> with typical light-dark structures and petrographic properties typical of regolith breccias may (Oviedo) or may not (Canellas) be solar gas-rich. Cabezo de Mayo and Sevilla show convincing evidence that they were assembled prior to peak metamorphism and were equilibrated during subsequent reheating. Compositions of olivine and low-Ca pyroxene in host <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> and breccia clasts in Cabezo de Mayo are transitional between groups L and LL. It is suggested, based on mineralogic and oxygen isotopic compositions of host and clasts, that the rock formed on the L <span class="hlt">parent</span> body by mixing, prior to peak metamorphism. This was followed by partial equilibrium of two different materials: the indigenous L <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> host and exotic LL melt rock clasts.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1990Metic..25..127C','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1990Metic..25..127C"><span>Origin and history of <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> regolith, fragmental and impact-melt breccias from Spain</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>Casanova, I.; Keil, K.; Wieler, R.; San Miguel, A.; King, E. A.</p> <p>1990-06-01</p> <p>Six ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> breccias from the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid (Spain), are described and classified as follows: the solar gas-rich regolith breccia Oviedo (H5); the premetamorphic fragmental breccias Cabezo de Mayo (type 6, L-LL), and Sevilla (LL4); the fragmental breccias Canellas (H4) and Gerona (H5); and the impact melt breccia, Madrid (L6). It is confirmed that <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> with typical light-dark structures and petrographic properties typical of regolith breccias may (Oviedo) or may not (Canellas) be solar gas-rich. Cabezo de Mayo and Sevilla show convincing evidence that they were assembled prior to peak metamorphism and were equilibrated during subsequent reheating. Compositions of olivine and low-Ca pyroxene in host <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> and breccia clasts in Cabezo de Mayo are transitional between groups L and LL. It is suggested, based on mineralogic and oxygen isotopic compositions of host and clasts, that the rock formed on the L <span class="hlt">parent</span> body by mixing, prior to peak metamorphism. This was followed by partial equilibrium of two different materials: the indigenous L <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> host and exotic LL melt rock clasts.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19810045995&hterms=322&qs=N%3D0%26Ntk%3DAll%26Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntt%3Dp%2526%2523322','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19810045995&hterms=322&qs=N%3D0%26Ntk%3DAll%26Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntt%3Dp%2526%2523322"><span>Graphitic carbon in the Allende meteorite - A microstructural study</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Smith, P. P. K.; Buseck, P. R.</p> <p>1981-01-01</p> <p>High-resolution transmission electron microscopy shows that carbon in the Allende <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> meteorite is predominantly a poorly crystalline graphite. Such material is of interest as an important carrier of the isotopically anomalous noble gases found in <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20020002022&hterms=Organic+matter&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D30%26Ntt%3DOrganic%2Bmatter','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20020002022&hterms=Organic+matter&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D30%26Ntt%3DOrganic%2Bmatter"><span>The Origin of Organic Matter in the Solar System: Evidence from Interplanetary Dust Particles</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Flynn, G. J.; Keller, L. P.; Jacobsen, C.; Wirick, S.</p> <p>2001-01-01</p> <p>The origin of the organic matter in interplanetary materials has not been established. A variety of mechanisms have been proposed, with two extreme cases being a Fisher-Tropsch type process operating in the gas phase of the solar nebula or a Miller-Urey type process, which requires interaction with an aqueous fluid, presumably occurring on an asteroid. In the Fisher-Tropsch case, we might expect similar organic matter in hydrated and anhydrous interplanetary materials. However, aqueous alteration is required in the case of the Miller-Urey process, and we would expect to see organic matter preferentially in interplanetary materials that exhibit evidence of aqueous activity, such as the presence of hydrated silicates. The types and abundance of organic matter in meteorites have been used as an indicator of the origin of organic matter in the Solar System. Indigenous complex organic matter, including amino acids, has been found in hydrated <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> meteorites, such as Murchison. Much lower amounts of complex organic matter, possibly only terrestrial contamination, have been found in anhydrous <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> meteorites, such as Allende, that contain most of their carbon in elemental form. These results seem to favor production of the bulk of the organic matter in the Solar System by aqueous processing on <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies such as asteroids, a Miller-Urey process. However, the hydrated <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> meteorites have approximately solar abundances of the moderately volatile elements, while all anhydrous <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> meteorites have significantly lower contents of these moderately volatile elements. Two mechanisms, incomplete condensation or evaporation, both of which involve processing at approx. 1200 C, have been suggested to explain the lower content of the moderately volatile elements in all anhydrous meteorites. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2003AGUFM.V41E..08X','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2003AGUFM.V41E..08X"><span>Shock Pressures, Temperatures and Durations in L <span class="hlt">Chondrites</span>: Constraints from Shock-Vein Mineralogy</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>Xie, Z.; Aramovish Weaver, C.; Decarli, P. S.; Sharp, T. G.</p> <p>2003-12-01</p> <p>Shock effects in meteorites provide a record of major impact events on meteorite <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies. Shock veins in <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, which result from local melting during shock loading, are the location of all high-pressure minerals. Shock veins contain igneous assemblages, produced by the crystallization of shock-induced melt, and metamorphic assemblages, produced by solid-state transformation in entrained host-rock clasts and wall rock. The mineralogy, distribution of high-pressure minerals and microstructures in shock veins provide a record of crystallization pressures and quench histories that can be used to constrain shock pressures and pulse duration. Here we report mineralogical and microstructural studies of shock-induced melt veins in L <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> that provide insight into the impact history of the L-<span class="hlt">chondrite</span> <span class="hlt">parent</span> body. Eight L6 <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> were investigated using FESEM and TEM and Raman spectroscopy: RC 106 (S6), Tenham (S6), Umbarger (S4-S6), Roy (S3-S5), Ramsdorf (S4), Kunashak (S4), Nakhon Pathon (S4) and La Lande (S4). Igneous melt-vein assemblages, combined with published phase equilibrium data (Agee et al. 1996), indicate crystallization pressures from less than 2.5 GPa for Kunashack and LaLande to approximately 25 GPa for Tenham. Because shock veins quench primarily by thermal conduction, crystallization starts at vein edges and progresses inward. Variation in the igneous assemblage across shock veins, combined with thermal modelling, provides constraints on quench times and pressure variation during quench. Most samples appear to have crystallized prior to shock release, whereas Kunashack and LaLande apparently crystallized after pressure release. RC 106 and Tenham (both S6), which have thick melt veins with uniform igneous assemblages, crystallized under equilibrium shock pressures of approximately 22-25 GPa during shock events that lasted at least 500 ms and 50ms, respectively. The fact that S6 samples do not appear to have crystallized at a pressures</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22460899','PUBMED'); return false;" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22460899"><span>Evidence against a <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> Earth.</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?DB=pubmed">PubMed</a></p> <p>Campbell, Ian H; O'Neill, Hugh St C</p> <p>2012-03-28</p> <p>The (142)Nd/(144)Nd ratio of the Earth is greater than the solar ratio as inferred from <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> meteorites, which challenges a fundamental assumption of modern geochemistry--that the composition of the silicate Earth is '<span class="hlt">chondritic</span>', meaning that it has refractory element ratios identical to those found in <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>. The popular explanation for this and other paradoxes of mantle geochemistry, a hidden layer deep in the mantle enriched in incompatible elements, is inconsistent with the heat flux carried by mantle plumes. Either the matter from which the Earth formed was not <span class="hlt">chondritic</span>, or the Earth has lost matter by collisional erosion in the later stages of planet formation.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://hdl.handle.net/2060/19980209648','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="http://hdl.handle.net/2060/19980209648"><span>Shock Modifications of Organic Compounds in <span class="hlt">Carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">Chondrite</span> <span class="hlt">Parent</span> Bodies</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Cooper, George W.</p> <p>1998-01-01</p> <p>Impacts among asteroidal objects would have altered or destroyed pre-existing organic matter in both targets and projectiles to a greater or lesser degree depending upon impact velocities. To begin filling a knowledge gap on the shock metamorphism of organic compounds, we are studying the effects of shock impacts on selected classes of organic compounds utilizing laboratory shock facilities. Our approach is to subject mixtures of organic compounds, embedded in the matrix of the Murchison meteorite, to simulated hypervelocity impacts by firing them into targets at various pressures. The mixtures are then analyzed to determine the amount of each compound that survives as well as to determine if new compounds are being synthesized. The initial compounds added to the matrix (with the exception of thiosulfate). The sulfonic acids were chosen in part because they are relatively abundant in Murchison, relatively stable, and because they and the phosphonic acids are the first well-characterized homologous series of organic sulfur and phosphorus compounds identified in an extraterrestrial material. Experimental procedures were more fully described in the original proposal. A 20 mm gun, with its barrel extending into a vacuum chamber (10(exp -2) torr), was used to launch the projectile containing the sample at approx. 1.6 km/sec (3,600 mi/hr) into the target material. Maximum pressure of impact depend on target/projectile materials. The target was sufficiently thin to assure minimum pressure decay over the total sample thickness.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017AGUFM.P51A2560S','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017AGUFM.P51A2560S"><span>Genealogy of Iron and Pallasite Meteorites as Revealed by Cr Isotopes</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>Sanborn, M.; Yin, Q. Z.; Ziegler, K. G.</p> <p>2017-12-01</p> <p>The <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies and/or chemical reservoirs from which iron and stony-iron meteorites originated are not very well understood. It is unclear if particular groups of iron or stony-iron meteorites originated from melting of already known <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies or are representating new chemical reservoirs. Potential connections between iron meteorites and pallasites and known <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies have been suggested based on oxygen isotopes. Proposed genetic relationships include the IVA irons with ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>1 and the anomalous pallasite Eagle Station with the CV <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>2. Here, we use the power of Cr isotopes to further resolve potential connections between IVA irons and pallasites and specific <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies. Our new measurements of Cr isotopic composition of silicate inclusions from two IVA irons, Steinbach and São João Nepomuceno, are shown to be indistinguishable from that of the ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>. Coupling Cr with oxygen indicates the IVA irons likely originated from the same source as LL <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>. In contrast with Eagle Station, the new Cr isotope measurements combined with oxygen indicates the MGP Brenham and Krasnojarsk sampled a source material similar to that of the anomalous HEDs. As with Eagle Station, the Milton pallasite exhibits a <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> (CC) Cr isotope composition, indicating that Eagle Station was not the lone case of a pallasite originating from a CC reservoir. By establishing these genetic relationships using Cr isotopes, it is now evident that the differentiation activity sampled by IVA irons and pallasites represents processes occurring on a diverse set of <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies in the early Solar System. [1] Ruzicka and Hutson (2006) MAPS, 41, 1959. [2] Shukolyukov and Lugmair (2006) EPSL, 250, 200.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20060012338','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20060012338"><span>AMINO ACID ANALYSES OF THE ANTARCTIC CM2 METEORITES ALH 83100 AND LEW 90500 USING LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY-TIME OF FLIGHT-MASS SPECTROMETRY</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Glavin, D. P.; Dworkin, J. P.; Aubrey, A.; Botta, O.; Doty, J. H., III; Bada, J. L.</p> <p>2001-01-01</p> <p>The investigation of organic compounds in primitive <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> meteorites provides a record of the chemical processes that occurred in the early solar system. In particular, amino acids have been shown to be potential indicators in tracing the nature of <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies [ 13. The delivery of amino acids by <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> to the early Earth could have been any important source of the Earth's prebiotic organic inventory [2]. Over 80 different amino acids have been detected in the Murchison CM2 meteorite, most of them completely non-existent in the terrestrial biosphere [3]. We have optimized a new liquid chromatography-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (LC-ToF-MS) technique coupled with OPAMAC derivatization in order to detect amino acids in meteorite extracts by UV fluorescence and exact mass simultaneously. The detection limit of the LC-ToF-MS instrument for amino acids is at least 3 orders of magnitude lower than traditional GC-MS techniques. Here we report on the first analyses of amino acids and their enantiomeric abundances in the CM2 <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> meteorites ALH 83100, LEW 90500, and Murchison using this new LC-ToF-MS instrument configuration. Amino acid analyses of any kind for the CM meteorite ALH 83100 have not previously been reported.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19950042098&hterms=oxygen+planets&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D30%26Ntt%3Doxygen%2Bplanets','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19950042098&hterms=oxygen+planets&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D30%26Ntt%3Doxygen%2Bplanets"><span>A model composition for Mars derived from the oxygen isotopic ratios of martian/SNC meteorites. [Abstract only</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Delaney, J. S.</p> <p>1994-01-01</p> <p>Oxygen is the most abundant element in most meteorites, yet the ratios of its isotopes are seldom used to constrain the compositional history of achondrites. The two major achondrite groups have O isotope signatures that differ from any plausible <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> precursors and lie between the ordinary and <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> domains. If the assumption is made that the present global sampling of <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> meteorites reflects the variability of O reservoirs at the time of planetessimal/planet aggregation in the early nebula, then the O in these groups must reflect mixing between known <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> reservoirs. This approach, in combination with constraints based on Fe-Mn-Mg systematics, has been used previously to model the composition of the basaltic achondrite <span class="hlt">parent</span> body (BAP) and provides a model precursor composition that is generally consistent with previous eucrite <span class="hlt">parent</span> body (EPB) estimates. The same approach is applied to Mars exploiting the assumption that the SNC and related meteorites sample the martian lithosphere. Model planet and planetesimal compositions can be derived by mixing of known <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> components using O isotope ratios as the fundamental compositional constraint. The major- and minor-element composition for Mars derived here and that derived previously for the basaltic achondrite <span class="hlt">parent</span> body are, in many respects, compatible with model compositions generated using completely independent constraints. The role of volatile elements and alkalis in particular remains a major difficulty in applying such models.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/70017934','USGSPUBS'); return false;" href="https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/70017934"><span>Evidence for a late thermal event of unequilibrated enstatite <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>: a Rb-Sr study of Qingzhen and Yamato 6901 (EH3) and Khairpur (EL6)</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/pubs/index.jsp?view=adv">USGS Publications Warehouse</a></p> <p>Torigoye, N.; Shima, M.</p> <p>1993-01-01</p> <p>The Rb-Sr whole rock and internal systematics of two EH3 <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, Qingzhen and Yamato 6901, and of one EL6 <span class="hlt">chondrite</span>, Khairpur, were determined. The internal Rb-Sr systematics of the EH3 <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> are highly disturbed. Fractions corresponding to sulfide phases show excess 87Sr, while other fractions corresponding to silicate phases produce a linear trend on a Rb-Sr evolution diagram. If these linear relations are interpreted as isochrons, the ages of the silicate phases are 2.12?? 0.23 Ga and 2.05 ??0.33 Ga with the initial Sr isotopic ratios of 0.7112 ?? 0.0018 and 0.7089 ?? 0.0032, for Qingzhen and Yamato 6901, respectively. The Rb-Sr results are interpeted as indicative of a late thermal event about 2Ga ago on the <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies of these EH3 <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>. These ages agree well with previously published K-Ar ages. An older isochron age of 4.481 ?? 0.036 Ga with a low initial Sr isotopic ratio of 0.69866 ?? 0.00038 was obtained for the data from silicate fractions of Khairpur, indicating early petrological equilibrium on the <span class="hlt">parent</span> body of EL6 <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>. -from Authors</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://hdl.handle.net/2060/19940011852','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="http://hdl.handle.net/2060/19940011852"><span>Terrestrial bitumen analogue of orgueil organic material demonstrates high sensitivity to usual HF-HCl treatment</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Korochantsev, A. V.; Nikolaeva, O. V.</p> <p>1993-01-01</p> <p>The relationship between the chemical composition and the interlayer spacing (d002) of organic materials (OM's) is known for various terrestrial OM's. We improved this general trend by correlation with corresponding trend of natural solid bitumens (asphaltite-kerite-anthraxolite) up to graphite. Using the improved trend we identified bitumen analogs of <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> OM's residued after HF-HCl treatment. Our laboratory experiment revealed that these analogs and, hence, structure and chemical composition of <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> OM's are very sensitive to the HF-HCl treatment. So, usual extraction of OM from <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> may change significantly structural and chemical composition of extracted OM.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19940007772&hterms=induction+melting&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D60%26Ntt%3Dinduction%2Bmelting','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19940007772&hterms=induction+melting&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D60%26Ntt%3Dinduction%2Bmelting"><span><span class="hlt">Chondrites</span>, S asteroids, and space weathering: Thumping noises from the coffin?</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Fanale, F. P.; Clark, B. E.</p> <p>1993-01-01</p> <p>Most of the spectral characteristics of ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> and S-asteroids in the visible and infrared can be reduced to three numerical values. These values represent the depth of the absorption band resulting from octahedrally coordinated Fe(sup 2+), the reflectance at 0.56 microns and the slope of the continuum (as measured according to convention). By plotting these three characteristics, it is possible to immediately compare the spectral characteristics of large numbers of ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> and S-asteroids. Commonality of spectral characteristics between these populations can thus be evaluated on the basis of overlap in position on three two-coordinate systems: albedo vs. band depth, band depth vs. slope, and slope vs. albedo. In order to establish identity, members of the two populations must overlap on all three of these independent parameter spaces. In this coordinate system, spectra of 23 ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> (representing all metamorphic grades), and 39 S-asteroids were compared. It was found that there was no overlap between the two populations in terms of the slope vs. band depth parameters, nor were most <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> identical to the S-asteroids with respect to the other criteria. However, the controversial question remains: Where are the <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies of the <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>? Perhaps an even more critical question is: Where are our samples of the S-asteroids? Considering the geography of the asteroid belt and the theory that early solar-system electromagnetic induction heating differentiated protoasteroids in the inner portion of the main belt, it was suggested that although S-asteroids and ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> have very similar mineralogy, the S-asteroids are mixtures of metallic nickel iron and silicates which resulted from magmatism induced by electromagnetic heating whereas <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> were only slightly metamorphosed nebular condensates. In this scenario <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> would have been derived from a population of bodies with thermal lag times so short that</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19810032487&hterms=history+microscopes&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D60%26Ntt%3Dhistory%2Bmicroscopes','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19810032487&hterms=history+microscopes&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D60%26Ntt%3Dhistory%2Bmicroscopes"><span>The matrices of unequilibrated ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> - Implications for the origin and history of <span class="hlt">chondrites</span></span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Huss, G. R.; Keil, K.; Taylor, G. J.</p> <p>1981-01-01</p> <p>The matrices of 16 unequilibrated <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> were examined by optical microscopy, an electron microprobe, and a scanning electron microscope. The fine-grained, opaque, silicate matrix of type 3 unequilibrated <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> was compositionally, mineralogically, and texturally different from the chondrules and their fragments; it may be the low temperature condensate proposed by Larimer and Anders (1967, 1970). Each meteorite has been metamorphosed by a combination of processes including thermal metamorphism and the passage of shock waves; the appearance of each <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> results from the temperature and pressure conditions which formed it, and subsequent metamorphic alterations.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://hdl.handle.net/2060/19940030905','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="http://hdl.handle.net/2060/19940030905"><span>Alteration and formation of rims on the CM <span class="hlt">parent</span> body</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Browning, Lauren B.; Mcsween, Harry Y., Jr.; Zolensky, Michael</p> <p>1994-01-01</p> <p>All types of coarse-grained components in CM <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> are surrounded by fine-grained dust coatings, but the origin of these rims is not yet clear. Although a strictly nebular origin seems likely for rims in the relatively unaltered type 3 <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, the rims in CM <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> are dominated by secondary alteration phases. It has been argued that either the coarse-grained cores accreted altered rim materials while still in the nebula or that alteration of primary rim phases occurred on the CM <span class="hlt">parent</span> body. To constrain the origin of alteration phases in rim material, we have analyzed the textures and mineral associations from 10 CM <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> falls by optical and scanning electron microscopy. Our results indicate that the secondary phases in CM <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> rims were produced by <span class="hlt">parent</span> body fluid-rock interactions which redefined some primary rim textures and may have produced, in some cases, both coarse-grained components and the rims that surround them. Textural features demonstrate the interactive exchange of alteration fluids between rims, matrix, and chondrules on the CM <span class="hlt">parent</span> body. For example, most matrix-rim contacts are gradational, suggesting the synchronous alteration of both components. Several observations suggest the possibility of in situ rim production. For example, tochilinite and phyllosilicates commonly form rims around matrix carbonates, which are generally believed to have precipitated from alteration fluids on the CM <span class="hlt">parent</span> body. This suggests that the rims surrounding matrix carbonates may also have been produced by alteration processes. Partially replaced chondrule olivines bear a striking resemblance to many rimmed olivines in the matrix which suggests, by analogy, that site-specific precipitation of S-bearing phases may also be responsible for the occurrence of many tochilinite-rich rims around isolated matrix olivines. Non-silicate rims precipitate around olivines of any composition, but the process is most effective for fayalitic olivines</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20040062420&hterms=quantitative&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D90%26Ntt%3Dquantitative','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20040062420&hterms=quantitative&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D90%26Ntt%3Dquantitative"><span>A Quantitative NMR Analysis of Phosphorus in <span class="hlt">Carbonaceous</span> and Ordinary <span class="hlt">Chondrites</span></span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Pasek, M. A.; Smith, V. D.; Lauretta, D. S.</p> <p>2004-01-01</p> <p>Phosphorus is important in a number of biochemical molecules, from DNA to ATP. Early life may have depended on meteorites as a primary source of phosphorus as simple dissolution of crustal apatite may not produce the necessary concentration of phosphate. Phosphorus is found in several mineral phases in meteorites. Apatite and other Ca- and Mg phosphate minerals tend to be the dominant phosphorus reservoir in stony meteorites, whereas in more iron-rich or reduced meteorites, the phosphide minerals schreibersite, (Fe, Ni)3P, and perryite, (Ni, Fe)5(Si, P)2 are dominant. However, in CM <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> that have experienced significant aqueous alteration, phosphorus has been detected in more exotic molecules. A series of phosphonic acids including methyl-, ethyl-, propyl- and butyl- phosphonic acids were observed by GC-MS in Murchison. Phosphorian sulfides are in Murchison and Murray. NMR spectrometry is capable of detecting multiple substances with one experiment, is non-destructive, and potentially quantitative, as discussed below. Despite these advantages, NMR spectrometry is infrequently applied to meteoritic studies due in large part to a lack of applicability to many compounds and the relatively high limit of detection requirements. Carbon-13 solid-state NMR has been applied to macromolecular carbon in Murchison. P-31 NMR has many advantages over aqueous carbon-13 NMR spectrometry. P-31 is the only isotope of phosphorus, and P-31 gives a signal approximately twice as strong as C-13. These two factors together with the relative abundances of carbon and phosphorus imply that phosphorus should give a signal approximately 20 as strong as carbon in a given sample. A discussion on the preparation of the quantitative standard and NMR studies are presented</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19840053960&hterms=History+Genetics&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D60%26Ntt%3DHistory%2BGenetics','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19840053960&hterms=History+Genetics&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D60%26Ntt%3DHistory%2BGenetics"><span>First known EL5 <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> - Evidence for dual genetic sequence for enstatite <span class="hlt">chondrites</span></span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Sears, D. W. G.; Weeks, K. S.; Rubin, A. E.</p> <p>1984-01-01</p> <p>The compositionally distinct EH and EL groups together with four (3-6) petrologic types which constitute the enstatite <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> represent increasing degrees of metamorphic alteration. Although bulk composition variations preclude a simple conversion of EH4 into EL6 material, complex models which involve simultaneous bulk composition and petrologic type variations may be implied by other classification schemes in common use. Attention is presently given to the discovery of the first EL5 <span class="hlt">chondrite</span>, which breaks the EH3,4-EH5-EL6 sequence and indicates that the enstatite <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> constitute the two discrete, isochemical metamorphic sequences EH3-5 and EL5-6.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20070003733','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20070003733"><span>A New Modal Analysis Method to put Constraints on the Aqueous Alteration of CR <span class="hlt">Chondrites</span> and Estimate the Unaltered CR Composition</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Perronnet, M.; Zolensky, M. E.; Gounelle, M.; Schwandt, C. S.</p> <p>2007-01-01</p> <p>CR <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> are of the major interest since they contain one of the most primitive organic matters. However, aqueous alteration has more or less overprinted their original features in a way that needed to be assessed. That was done in the present study by comparing the mineralogy of the most altered CR1 <span class="hlt">chondrite</span>, GRO 95577, to a less altered CR2, Renazzo. Their modal analyses were achieved thanks to a new method, based on X-ray elemental maps acquired on electron microprobe, and on IDL image treatment. It allowed the collection of new data on the composition of Renazzo and confirmed the classification of GRO 95577 as a CR1. New alteration products for CRs, vermiculite and clinochlore, were observed. The homogeneity of the Fe-poor clays in the CR1 and the distinctive matrix composition in the two <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> suggest a wide-range of aqueous alteration on CRs. The preservation of the outlines of the chondrules in GRO 95577 and the elemental transfers of Al, Fe and Ca throughout the chondrule and of Fe and S from the matrix to the chondrule favor the idea of an asteroidal location of the aqueous alteration. From their mineralogical descriptions and modal abundances, the element repartitions in Renazzo and GRO 95577 were computed. It indicates a possible relationship between these two <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> via an isochemical alteration process. Knowing the chemical reactions that occurred during the alteration, it was thus possible to decipher the mineralogical modal abundances in the unaltered CR body.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20070012365','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20070012365"><span>A New Modal Analysis Method to put Constraints on the Aqueous Alteration of CR <span class="hlt">Chondrites</span> and Estimate the Unaltered CR Composition</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Perronnet, M.; Zolensky, M. E.; Gounelle, M.; Schwandt, C. S.</p> <p>2007-01-01</p> <p><span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> are of the major interest since they contain one of the most primitive organic matters. However, aqueous alteration has more or less overprinted their original features in a way that needed to be assessed. That was done in the present study by comparing the mineralogy of the most altered CR1 <span class="hlt">chondrite</span>, GRO 95577, to a less altered CR2, Renazzo. Their modal analyses were achieved thanks to a new method, based on X-ray elemental maps acquired on electron microprobe, and on IDL image treatment. It allowed the collection of new data on the composition of Renazzo and confirmed the classification of GRO 95577 as a CR1. New alteration products for CRs, vermiculite and clinochlore, were observed. The homogeneity of the Fe-poor clays in the CR1 and the distinctive matrix composition in the two <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> suggest a wide-range of aqueous alteration on CRs. The preservation of the outlines of the chondrules in GRO 95577 and the elemental transfers of Al, Fe and Ca throughout the chondrule and of Fe and S from the matrix to the chondrule favor the idea of an asteroidal location of the aqueous alteration. From their mineralogical descriptions and modal abundances, the element repartitions in Renazzo and GRO 95577 were computed. It indicates a possible relationship between these two <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> via an isochemical alteration process. Knowing the chemical reactions that occurred during the alteration, it was thus possible to decipher the mineralogical modal abundances in the unaltered CR body.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017GeCoA.205...65R','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017GeCoA.205...65R"><span>Closed System Step Etching of CI <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> Ivuna reveals primordial noble gases in the HF-solubles</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>Riebe, My E. I.; Busemann, Henner; Wieler, Rainer; Maden, Colin</p> <p>2017-05-01</p> <p>We analyzed all the noble gases in HF-soluble phases in the CI <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> Ivuna by in-vacuum gas release using the "Closed System Step Etching" (CSSE) technique, which allows for direct noble gas measurements of acid-soluble phases. The main motivation was to investigate if there are primordial noble gases in HF-soluble phases in Ivuna, something that has not been done before in CI <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, as most primordial noble gases are known to reside in HF-resistant phases. The first steps under mild etching released He, Ne, and Ar with solar-like elemental and isotopic compositions, confirming that Ivuna contains implanted solar wind (SW) noble gases acquired in the <span class="hlt">parent</span> body regolith. The SW component released in some etch steps was elementally unfractionated. This is unusual as trapped SW noble gases are elementally fractionated in most meteoritic material. In the intermediate etch steps under slightly harsher etching, cosmogenic noble gases were more prominent than SW noble gases. The HF-soluble portion of Ivuna contained primordial Ne and Xe, that was most visible in the last etch steps after all cosmogenic and most SW gases had been released. The primordial Ne and Xe in the HF-solubles have isotopic and elemental ratios readily explained as a mixture of the two most abundant primordial noble gas components in Ivuna bulk samples: HL and Q. Only small fractions of the total HL and Q in Ivuna were released during CSSE analysis; ∼3% of 20NeHL and ∼4% of 132XeQ. HL is known to reside in nanodiamond-rich separates and Q-gases are most likely carried by a <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> phase known as phase Q. Q-gases were likely released from an HF-soluble portion of phase Q. However, nanodiamonds might not be the source of the HL-gases released upon etching, since nanodiamond-rich separates are very HF-resistant and the less tightly bound nanodiamond component P3 was not detected.</p> </li> </ol> <div class="pull-right"> <ul class="pagination"> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_1");'>«</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_21");'>21</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_22");'>22</a></li> <li class="active"><span>23</span></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_24");'>24</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_25");'>25</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_25");'>»</a></li> </ul> </div> </div><!-- col-sm-12 --> </div><!-- row --> </div><!-- page_23 --> <div id="page_24" class="hiddenDiv"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-12"> <div class="pull-right"> <ul class="pagination"> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_1");'>«</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_21");'>21</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_22");'>22</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_23");'>23</a></li> <li class="active"><span>24</span></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_25");'>25</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_25");'>»</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-12"> <ol class="result-class" start="461"> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19970007871&hterms=permeability+distribution&qs=N%3D0%26Ntk%3DAll%26Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntt%3Dpermeability%2Bdistribution','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19970007871&hterms=permeability+distribution&qs=N%3D0%26Ntk%3DAll%26Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntt%3Dpermeability%2Bdistribution"><span>Porosity and Permeability of <span class="hlt">Chondritic</span> Materials</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Zolensky, Michael E.; Corrigan, Catherine M.; Dahl, Jason; Long, Michael</p> <p>1996-01-01</p> <p>We have investigated the porosity of a large number of <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> interplanetary dust particles and meteorites by three techniques: standard liquid/gas flow techniques, a new, non-invasive ultrasonic technique, and image processing of backscattered images . The latter technique is obviously best suited to sub-kg sized samples. We have also measured the gas and liquid permeabilities of some <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> by two techniques: standard liquid/gas flow techniques, and a new, non-destructive pressure release technique. We find that <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> IDP's have a somewhat bimodal porosity distribution. Peaks are present at 0 and 4% porosity; a tail then extends to 53%. These values suggest IDP bulk densities of 1.1 to 3.3 g/cc. Type 1-3 <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> matrix porosities range up to 30%, with a peak at 2%. The bulk porosities for type 1-3 <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> have the same approximate range as exhibited by matrix, indicating that other components of the bulk meteorites (including chondrules and aggregates) have the same average porosity as matrix. These results reveal that the porosity of primitive materials at scales ranging from nanogram to kilogram are similar, implying similar accretion dynamics operated through 12 orders of size magnitude. Permeabilities of the investigated <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> vary by several orders of magnitude, and there appears to be no simple dependence of permeability with degree of aqueous alteration, or <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> type.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1993Metic..28R.401M','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1993Metic..28R.401M"><span>Petrology and Geochemistry of LEW 88663 and PAT 91501: High Petrologic L <span class="hlt">Chondrites</span></span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>Mittlefehldt, D. W.; Lindstrom, M. M.; Field, S. W.</p> <p>1993-07-01</p> <p>(sub)20.7, clinopyroxene Wo(sub)34.3En(sub)52.4Fs(sub)13.3, plagioclase Ab(sub)81.6An(sub)14.0Or(sub)44. Geochemistry: We have completed INM analysis of LEW 88663 only; analyses of PAT 91501 are in progress. The weighted mean lithophile element (refractory, moderately volatile, and volatile) content of LEW 88663 normalized to average L <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> [1] is 0.97. The weighted mean siderophile element (excluding Fe) content is only 0.57x L. This supports the suggestion that LEW 88663 lost metal relative to average L <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, although not as complete as implied earlier [1]. The mean lithophile-element abundance is that of L <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, but the lithophile-element pattern is fractionated. Highly incompatible elements are enriched in LEW 88663 relative to L <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> (e.g., La 2.6x, Sm 1.9x L <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>), while the more compatible elements are near L <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> levels or depleted (e.g., Lu 1.1x, Sc 0.94x, Cr 0.87x L <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>). Discussion: LEW 88663 and PAT 91501 are texturally similar to the Shaw L7 <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> [3] and to poikilitic textured clasts in LL <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> [4]. Several textural and mineralogical characteristics of PAT 91501 indicate that this stone is in part igneous. Large rounded troilite +/- metal nodules imply that melting occurred in the metal-troilite system. Interstitial material consists of euhedral, zoned chromites, euhedral clinopyroxene overgrowths on orthopyroxene, and plagioclase + glass. Olivine often shows euhedral faces in contact with the interstitial regions. These textures indicate that the interstitial regions were molten. The average pyroxene compositions in PAT 91501 indicate equilibration at 1200 degrees C [5], above the ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> solidus [6]. Although PAT 91501 is in part igneous in origin, we have yet to determine whether it represents an extension of <span class="hlt">parent</span> body heating from that of metamorphosed L <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, or whether it represents impact melting on the <span class="hlt">parent</span> body. We will evaluate shock features, cooling rates, and the bulk</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://hdl.handle.net/2060/19890006473','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="http://hdl.handle.net/2060/19890006473"><span>Part 1: Aspects of lithospheric evolution on Venus. Part 2: Thermal and collisional histories of <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies. Ph.D. Thesis</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Grimm, Robert E.</p> <p>1988-01-01</p> <p>The geological evolution of distinctly different kinds of solar system objects is addressed. Venus has been observed over the past decade by orbital radars on both American and Soviet spacecraft. These surface measurements provide clues to the structure and evolution of the lithosphere. The <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies of <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> meteorites, thought to resemble asteroids, represent the other end of the size spectrum of terrestrial objects. Their early thermal and collisional histories may be constrained by the chemical and textural record preserved in meteorite samples. Impact craters on Venus have been observed by the Soviet Venera 15/16 spacecraft. A formalism is presented by which the size-frequency distribution of impact craters may be used to estimate upper bounds on the mean global rates of volcanic resurfacing and lithospheric recycling on that planet over the past several hundred million years. The impact crater density reported from Venera observations, if valid for the entire Venus surface, indicates a mean volcanic flux no greater than 2 cu km/y, corresponding to a maximum average rate of resurfacing of about 4 km/b.y. For the lowest estimated mean crater retention age of the surface of Venus imaged by Venera 15/16, the rate of lithospheric recycling on Venus does not exceed 1.5 sq km/y. Ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> meteorites show textural and chemical patterns indicative of varying intensities of thermal metamorphism. The conventional onion-shell model, which envisions highly metamorphosed material in the core and less intensely heated rocks near the surface, predicts an inverse relation between peak temperature and cooking rate, but none has been observed. A metamorphosed-planetesimal model is devised to explain this discrepancy, whereby heating occurs in planetesimals a few kilometers in radius which then accrete to form 100-km-radius <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies. Cooling rates are then randomly controlled by burial depth. Thermal and collisional constraints are examined, and the model</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19940016434&hterms=1584&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D40%26Ntt%3D%2526%25231584','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19940016434&hterms=1584&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D40%26Ntt%3D%2526%25231584"><span>Mineralogy of dark clasts in primitive versus differentiated meteorites</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Zolensky, M. E.; Weisberg, M. K.; Barrett, R. A.; Prinz, M.</p> <p>1993-01-01</p> <p>The presence of dark lithic clasts within meteorites can provide information concerning asteroidal regolith processes, the extent of interactions between asteroids, and the relationship between meteorite types, micrometeorites, and interplanetary dust particles. Accordingly, we have been seeking and characterizing dark clasts found within <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, unequilibrated ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, howardites, and eucrites. We find that unequilibrated <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> in this study contain fine-grained, anhydrous unequilibrated inclusions, while the howardites often contain inclusions from geochemically processed, hydrous asteroids (type 1 and 2 <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>). Eucrites and howardities contain unusual clasts, not easily classified.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11543125','PUBMED'); return false;" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11543125"><span>Accretion and differentiation of carbon in the early Earth.</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?DB=pubmed">PubMed</a></p> <p>Tingle, T N</p> <p>1998-05-15</p> <p>The abundance of C in <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> and ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> decreases exponentially with increasing shock pressure as inferred from the petrologic shock classification of Scott et al. [Scott, E.R.D., Keil, K., Stoffler, D., 1992. Shock metamorphism of <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 56, 4281-4293] and Stoffler et al. [Stoffler, D., Keil, K., Scott, E.R.D., 1991. Shock metamorphism of ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 55, 3845-3867]. This confirms the experimental results of Tyburczy et al. [Tyburczy, J.A., Frisch, B., Ahrens, T.J., 1986. Shock-induced volatile loss from a <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrite</span>: implications for planetary accretion. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 80, 201-207] on shock-induced devolatization of the Murchison meteorite showing that <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> appear to be completely devolatilized at impact velocities greater than 2 km s-1. Both of these results suggest that C incorporation would have been most efficient in the early stages of accretion, and that the primordial C content of the Earth was between 10(24) and 10(25) g C (1-10% efficiency of incorporation). This estimate agrees well with the value of 3-7 x 10(24) g C based on the atmospheric abundance of 36Ar and the <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> C/36Ar (Marty and Jambon, 1987). Several observations suggest that C likely was incorporated into the Earth's core during accretion. (1) Graphite and carbides are commonly present in iron meteorites, and those iron meteorites with Widmanstatten patterns reflecting the slowest cooling rates (mostly Group I and IIIb) contain the highest C abundances. The C abundance-cooling rate correlation is consistent with dissolution of C into Fe-Ni liquids that segregated to form the cores of the iron meteorite <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies. (2) The carbon isotopic composition of graphite in iron meteorites exhibits a uniform value of -5% [Deines, P., Wickman, F.E. 1973. The isotopic composition of 'graphitic' carbon from iron meteorites and some remarks on the troilitic</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19950059126&hterms=TIL&qs=N%3D0%26Ntk%3DAll%26Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntt%3DTIL','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19950059126&hterms=TIL&qs=N%3D0%26Ntk%3DAll%26Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntt%3DTIL"><span>The classification and complex thermal history of the enstatite <span class="hlt">chondrites</span></span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Zhang, Yanhong; Benoit, Paul H.; Sears, Derek W. G.</p> <p>1995-01-01</p> <p>We have carried out instrumental neutron activation analysis of 11 enstatite <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> and electron microprobe analyses of 17 enstatite <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, most of which were previously little described. We report here the third known EH5 <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> (LEW 88180) and an unusual EL6 <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> (LEW 87119), new data on four EL3 <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> (ALH 85119, EET 90299, PCA 91020, and MAC 88136, which is paired with MAC 88180 and MAC 88184), the second EL5 <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> (TIL 91714), and an unusual metal-rich and sulfide-poor EL3 <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> (LEW 87223). The often discussed differences in mineral composition displayed by the EH and EL <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> are not as marked after the inclusion of the new samples in the database, and the two classes apparently experienced a similar range of equilibrium temperatures. However, texturally the EL <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> appear to have experienced much higher levels of metamorphic alteration than EH <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> of similar equilibration temperatures. Most of the petrologic type criteria are not applicable to enstatite <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> and, unlike the ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, texture and mineralogy reflect different aspects of the meteorite history. We therefore propose that the existing petrologic type scheme not be used for enstatite <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>. We suggest that while 'textural type' reflects peak metamorphic temperatures, the 'mineralogical type' reflects equilibration during postmetamorphic (probably regolith) processes. Unlike the ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> and EH <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, EL <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> experienced an extensive low-temperature metamorphic episode. There are now a large number of enstatite meteorite breccias and impact melts, and apparently surface processes were important in determining the present nature of the enstatite <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2014AGUFMDI23B4297M','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2014AGUFMDI23B4297M"><span><span class="hlt">Chondritic</span> Earth: comparisons, guidelines and status</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>McDonough, W. F.</p> <p>2014-12-01</p> <p>The chemical and isotopic composition of the Earth is rationally understood within the context of the <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> reference frame, without recourse to hidden reservoirs, collision erosion, or strict interpretation of an enstatite <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> model. Challenges to interpreting the array of recent and disparate chemical and isotopic observations from meteorites need to be understood as rich data harvests that inform us of the compositional heterogeneity in the early solar system. Our ability to resolve small, significant compositional differences between <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> families provide critical insights into integrated compositional signatures at differing annuli distances from the Sun (i.e., 1-6 AU). Rigorous evaluation of <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> models for planets requires treatment of both statistical and systematic uncertainties - to date these efforts are uncommonly practiced. Planetary olivine to pyroxene ratio reflects fO2 and temperature potentials in the nebular, given possible ISM compositional conditions; thus this ratio is a non-unique parameter of terrestrial bodies. Consequently the Mg/Si value of a planet (ie., olivine to pyroxene ratio) is a free variable; there is no singular <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> Mg/Si value. For the Earth, there is an absence of physical and chemical evidence requiring a major element, chemical distinction between the upper and lower mantle, within uncertainties. Early Earth differentiation likely occurred, but there is an absence of chemical and isotopic evidence of its imprint. <span class="hlt">Chondrites</span>, peridotites, komatiites, and basalts (ancient and modern) reveal a coherent picture of a <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> compositional Earth, with compositionally affinities to enstatite <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>. At present results from geoneutrino studies non-uniquely support these conclusions. Future experiments can provide true transformative insights into the Earth's thermal budget, define compositional BSE models, and will restrict discussions on Earth dynamics and its thermal evolution.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2016E%26PSL.433...21J','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2016E%26PSL.433...21J"><span>Metamorphism and partial melting of ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>: Calculated phase equilibria</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>Johnson, T. E.; Benedix, G. K.; Bland, P. A.</p> <p>2016-01-01</p> <p>Constraining the metamorphic pressures (P) and temperatures (T) recorded by meteorites is key to understanding the size and thermal history of their asteroid <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies. New thermodynamic models calibrated to very low P for minerals and melt in terrestrial mantle peridotite permit quantitative investigation of high-T metamorphism in ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> using phase equilibria modelling. Isochemical P-T phase diagrams based on the average composition of H, L and LL <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> falls and contoured for the composition and abundance of olivine, ortho- and clinopyroxene, plagioclase and chromite provide a good match with values measured in so-called equilibrated (petrologic type 4-6) samples. Some compositional variables, in particular Al in orthopyroxene and Na in clinopyroxene, exhibit a strong pressure dependence when considered over a range of several kilobars, providing a means of recognising meteorites derived from the cores of asteroids with radii of several hundred kilometres, if such bodies existed at that time. At the low pressures (<1 kbar) that typify thermal metamorphism, several compositional variables are good thermometers. Although those based on Fe-Mg exchange are likely to have been reset during slow cooling, those based on coupled substitution, in particular Ca and Al in orthopyroxene and Na in clinopyroxene, are less susceptible to retrograde diffusion and are potentially more faithful recorders of peak conditions. The intersection of isopleths of these variables may allow pressures to be quantified, even at low P, permitting constraints on the minimum size of <span class="hlt">parent</span> asteroid bodies. The phase diagrams predict the onset of partial melting at 1050-1100 °C by incongruent reactions consuming plagioclase, clinopyroxene and orthopyroxene, whose compositions change abruptly as melting proceeds. These predictions match natural observations well and support the view that type 7 <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> represent a suprasolidus continuation of the established petrologic</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2007E%26PSL.254....1L','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2007E%26PSL.254....1L"><span>Evidence for the presence of planetesimal material among the precursors of magnesian chondrules of nebular origin</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>Libourel, Guy; Krot, Alexander N.</p> <p>2007-02-01</p> <p>Chondrules are the major high-temperature components of <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> meteorites, which are conventionally viewed as the samples from the very first generation of undifferentiated planetesimals. Growing evidences from long- and short-lived radionuclide chronologies indicate however that <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> <span class="hlt">parent</span> asteroids accreted after or contemporaneously with igneous activities on differentiated asteroids, questioning the pristine nature of <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>. Here we report a discovery of metal-bearing olivine aggregates with granoblastic textures inside magnesian porphyritic (Type I) chondrules from the CV <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> Vigarano. Formation of the granoblastic textures requires sintering and prolonged, high-temperature (> 1000 °C) annealing - conditions which are not expected in the solar nebula during chondrule formation, but could have been achieved on <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies of olivine-rich differentiated or thermally metamorphosed meteorites. The mineralogy and petrography of the metal-olivine aggregates thus indicate that they are relict, dunite-like lithic fragments which resulted from fragmentation of such bodies. The very old Pb-Pb absolute ages and Al-Mg relative model ages of bulk CV chondrules suggest that such planetesimals may have formed as early as the currently accepted age of the Solar System (4567.2 ± 0.6 Ma).</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20050175729','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20050175729"><span>Highly Siderophile Elements and Osmium Isotope Systematics in Ureilites: Are the <span class="hlt">Carbonaceous</span> Veins Primary Components?</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Rankenburg, K.; Brandon, A. D.; Humayun, M.</p> <p>2005-01-01</p> <p>Ureilites are an enigmatic group of primitive carbon-bearing achondrites of ultramafic composition. The majority of the 143 ureilite meteorites consist primarily of olivine and pyroxene (and occasionally chromite) [1]. They are coarse-grained, slowly cooled, and depleted in incompatible lithophile elements. Minor amounts of dark interstitial material consisting of carbon, metal, sulfides, and fine-grained silicates occur primarily along silicate grain boundaries, but also intrude the silicates along fractures and cleavage planes. Variable degrees of impact shock features have also been imparted on ureilites. The prevailing two origins proposed for these rocks are either as melting residues of <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> material [2], [3], or alternatively, derivation as mineral cumulates from such melts [4], [5], [6]. It has recently been proposed that ureilites are the residues of a smelting event, i.e. residues of a partial melting event under highly reducing conditions, where a solid Fe-bearing phase reacts with a melt and carbon to form Fe metal and carbon monoxide [7]. Rapid, localized extraction and loss of the basaltic component into space resulting from high eruption velocities could preserve unequilibrated oxygen isotopes and produce the observed olivine-pyroxene residues via 25-30% partial melting of <span class="hlt">chondritic</span>-like precursor material.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017M%26PS...52..669O','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017M%26PS...52..669O"><span>Primordial and cosmogenic noble gases in the Sutter's Mill CM <span class="hlt">chondrite</span></span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>Okazaki, Ryuji; Nagao, Keisuke</p> <p>2017-04-01</p> <p>The Sutter's Mill (SM) CM <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> fell in California in 2012. The CM <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> group is one of the most primitive, consisting of unequilibrated minerals, but some of them have experienced complex processes occurring on their <span class="hlt">parent</span> body, such as aqueous alteration, thermal metamorphism, brecciation, and solar wind implantation. We have determined noble gas concentrations and isotopic compositions for SM samples using a stepped heating gas extraction method, in addition to mineralogical observation of the specimens. The primordial noble gas abundances, especially the P3 component trapped in presolar diamonds, confirm the classification of SM as a CM <span class="hlt">chondrite</span>. The mineralogical features of SM indicate that it experienced mild thermal alteration after aqueous alteration. The heating temperature is estimated to be <350 °C based on the release profile of primordial 36Ar. The presence of a Ni-rich Fe-Ni metal suggests that a minor part of SM has experienced heating at >500 °C. The variation in the heating temperature of thermal alteration is consistent with the texture as a breccia. The heterogeneous distribution of solar wind noble gases is also consistent with it. The cosmic-ray exposure (CRE) age for SM is calculated to be 0.059 ± 0.023 Myr based on cosmogenic 21Ne by considering trapped noble gases as solar wind, the terrestrial atmosphere, P1 (or Q), P3, A2, and G components. The CRE age lies at the shorter end of the CRE age distribution of the CM <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> group.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20080030170','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20080030170"><span>Mn-53-Cr-53 Systematics of R-<span class="hlt">Chondrite</span> NWA 753</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Jogo, K.; Shih, C-Y.; Reese, Y. D.; Nyquist, L. E.</p> <p>2006-01-01</p> <p>Chondrules and <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> are interpreted as objects formed in the early solar system, and it is important to study them in order to elucidate its evolution. Here, we report the study of the Mn-Cr systematics of the R-<span class="hlt">Chondrite</span> NWA753 and compare the results to other <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> data. The goal was to determine Cr isotopic and age variations among <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> groups with different O-isotope signatures. The Mn-53-Cr-53 method as applied to individual chondrules [1] or bulk <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> [2] is based on the assumption that 53Mn was initially homogeneously distributed in that portion the solar nebula where the chondrules and/or <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> formed. However, different groups of <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> formed from regions of different O-isotope compositions. So, different types of <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> also may have had different initial Mn-53 abundances and/or Cr isotopic compositions. Thus, it is important to determine the Cr isotopic systematics among <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> from various <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> groups. We are studying CO-<span class="hlt">chondrite</span> ALH83108 and Tagish Lake in addition to R-<span class="hlt">Chondrite</span> NWA753. These meteorites have very distinct O-isotope compositions (Figure 1).</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2004M%26PS...39.1555P','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2004M%26PS...39.1555P"><span>New findings for the equilibrated enstatite <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> Grein 002</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>Patzer, Andrea; Schlüter, Jochen; Schultz, Ludolf; Tarkian, M.; Hill, Dolores H.; Boynton, William V.</p> <p>2004-09-01</p> <p>We report new petrographic and chemical data for the equilibrated EL <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> Grein 002, including the occurrence of osbornite, metallic copper, abundant taenite, and abundant diopside. As inferred from low Si concentrations in kamacite, the presence of ferroan alabandite, textural deformation, chemical equilibration of mafic silicates, and a subsolar noble gas component, we concur with Grein 002's previous classification as an EL4-5 <span class="hlt">chondrite</span>. Furthermore, the existence of pockets consisting of relatively coarse, euhedral enstatite crystals protruding large patches of Fe-Ni alloys suggests to us that this EL4-5 <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> has been locally melted. We suspect impact induced shock to have triggered the formation of the melt pockets. Mineralogical evidence indicates that the localized melting of metal and adjacent enstatite must have happened relatively late in the meteorite's history. The deformation of chondrules, equilibration of mafic silicates, and generation of normal zoning in Fe, Zn-sulfides took place during thermal alteration before the melting event. Following <span class="hlt">parent</span> body metamorphism, daubreelite was exsolved from troilite in response to a period of slow cooling at subsolidus temperatures. Exsolution of schreibersite from the coarse metal patches probably occurred during a similar period of slow cooling subsequent to the event that induced the formation of the melt pockets. Overall shock features other than localized melting correspond to stage S2 and were likely established by the final impact that excavated the Grein 002 meteoroid.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19800026503&hterms=gas+solubility&qs=N%3D0%26Ntk%3DAll%26Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntt%3Dgas%2Bsolubility','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19800026503&hterms=gas+solubility&qs=N%3D0%26Ntk%3DAll%26Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntt%3Dgas%2Bsolubility"><span>Solubility of noble gases in serpentine - Implications for meteoritic noble gas abundances</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Zaikowski, A.; Schaeffer, O. A.</p> <p>1979-01-01</p> <p>An investigation of the solubilities of the noble gases from synthesis and solubility studies of the sheet silicate mineral serpentine in <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> is presented. Hydrothermal synthesis and exchange experiments were made at 340C and 1 kbar with noble gas partial pressures from 2 times 10 to the -8th power to 0.1 atm. The measured distribution coefficients for noble gases are not sufficiently high to account for the trapped noble gases in <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> by exchange in solar nebula if meteoritic minerals have comparable distribution coefficients. Also, serpentine gains and loses noble gases to approach equilibrium values with the terrestrial atmosphere, indicating that this exposure may have influenced the noble gas abundances in phyllosilicate minerals of these <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>. The dispersion of K-Ar ages of <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> could be the result of phyllosilicates approaching equilibrium solubility of atmospheric Ar-40.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017LPICo1987.6355F','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017LPICo1987.6355F"><span>Oxygen, Magnesium, and Aluminum Isotopes in the Ivuna CAI: Re-Examining High-Temperature Fractionations in CI <span class="hlt">Chondrites</span></span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>Frank, D. R.; Huss, G. R.; Nagashima, K.; Zolensky, M. E.; Le, L.</p> <p>2017-07-01</p> <p>The only whole CAI preserved in the aqueously altered CI <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> is 16O-rich and has no resolvable radiogenic Mg. Accretion of CAIs by the CI <span class="hlt">parent</span> object(s) may limit the precision of cosmochemical models that require a CI starting composition.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2011Icar..214..754Y','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2011Icar..214..754Y"><span>Impact experiments of porous gypsum-glass bead mixtures simulating <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies of ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>: Implications for re-accumulation processes related to rubble-pile formation</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>Yasui, Minami; Arakawa, Masahiko</p> <p>2011-08-01</p> <p>Laboratory impact experiments were conducted for gypsum-glass bead targets simulating the <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies of ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>. The effects of the chondrules included in the <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies on impact disruption were experimentally investigated in order to determine the impact conditions for the formation of rubble-pile bodies after catastrophic disruption. The targets included glass beads with a diameter ranging from 100 μm to 3 mm and the volume fraction was 0.6, similar to that of ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, which is about 0.65-0.75. Nylon projectiles with diameters of 10 mm and 2 mm were impacted at 60-180 m s -1 by a single-stage gas gun and at 4 km s -1 by a two-stage light gas gun, respectively. The impact strength of the gypsum-glass bead target was found to range from 56 to 116 J kg -1 depending on the glass bead size, and was several times smaller than that of the porous gypsum target, 446 J kg -1 in low-velocity collisions. The impact strengths of the 100 μm bead target and the porous gypsum target strongly depended on the impact velocity: those obtained in high-velocity collisions were several times greater than those obtained in low-velocity collisions. The velocities of fragments ejected from two corners on the impact surface of the target, measured in the center of the mass system, were slightly dependent on the target materials, irrespective of impact velocity. These results suggest that chondrule-including planetesimals (CiPs) can reconstruct rubble-pile bodies in catastrophic disruptions at the size of the planetesimal smaller than that of planetesimals without chondrules.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19880057350&hterms=Honda&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D50%26Ntt%3DHonda','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19880057350&hterms=Honda&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D50%26Ntt%3DHonda"><span>I-Xe systematics in LL <span class="hlt">chondrites</span></span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Bernatowicz, T. J.; Podosek, F. A.; Swindle, T. D.; Honda, M.</p> <p>1988-01-01</p> <p>A stepwise heating analysis of Ar and Xe data from five neutron-irradiated whole rock LL <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> (Soko Banja, Alta Ameen, Tuxtuac, Guidder, and Olivenza) is presented, emphasizing the complicated thermal history of ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>. None of the present meteorites show a well-defined (Ar-40)-(Ar-39) apparent age plateau comprised of more than two release fractions. Most of the samples are found to yield well-defined high-temperature correlations between Xe-129/Xe-130 and Xe-128/Xe-130, and thus determinations of I-129/I-127 and Xe-129/Xe-130 at the time of isotopic closure for Xe. As in the case of other ordinary <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, the I-Xe systematics for LL <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> correlate neither with a metamorphic grade nor with chronologies based opon other methods.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://hdl.handle.net/2060/19950017411','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="http://hdl.handle.net/2060/19950017411"><span>Hypervelocity impact survivability experiments for <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> impactors, part 2</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Bunch, T. E.; Paque, Julie M.; Becker, Luann; Vedder, James F.; Erlichman, Jozef</p> <p>1995-01-01</p> <p>Hypervelocity impact experiments were performed to further test the survivability of <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> impactors and to determine potential products that may have been synthesized during impact. Diamonds were launched by the Ames two-stage light gas gun into Al plate at velocities of 2.75 and 3.1 km sec(exp -1). FESEM imagery confirms that diamond fragments survived in both experiments. Earlier experiments found that diamonds were destroyed on impact above 4.3 km sec(exp -1). Thus, the upper stability limit for diamond on impact into Al, as determined from our experimental conditions, is between 3.1 and 4.3 km sec(exp -1). Particles of the <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> Nogoya were also launched into Al at a velocity of 6.2 km sec (exp -1). Laser desorption (L (exp 2) MS) analyses of the impactor residues indicate that the lowest and highest mass polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH's) were largely destroyed on impact; those of intermediate mass (202-220 amu) remained at the same level or increased in abundance. In addition, alkyl-substituted homologs of the most abundant pre-impacted PAH's were synthesized during impact. These results suggest that an unknown fraction of some organic compounds can survive low to moderate impact velocities and that synthesized products can be expected to form up to velocities of, at least, 6.5 km sec(exp -1). We also present examples of craters formed by a unique microparticle accelerator that could launch micron-sized particles of almost any coherent material at velocities up to approximately 15 km sec(exp -1). Many of the experiments have a direct bearing on the interpretation of LDEF craters.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1995Metic..30R.583S','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1995Metic..30R.583S"><span>Porosity of an Anhydrous <span class="hlt">Chondritic</span> Interplanetary Dust Particle</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>Strait, M. M.; Thomas, K. L.; McKay, D. S.</p> <p>1995-09-01</p> <p>Determination of the density and porosity of Interplanetary Dust Particles (IDPs) is important in the dynamics of collisional and orbital evolution of small-sized particles. These measurements are also useful to suggest possible sources for IDPs based on comparisons with known extraterrestrial materials (e.g., <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>). Previous work on IDPs shows a wide range of densities from very low (0.08 g/cm3 [1]) through low (0.3 g/cm3 [2]) to high (6.2 g/cm3 [3]), with an average density at 2.0 g/cm3 for 150 particles [2]. In another study, IDPs fall into two distinct density groups with mean values of 0.6 g/cm3 and 1.9g/cm3 [3]. In general, <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> IDPs with lower density values most likely have appreciable porosity, suggesting they are primitive, uncompacted particles. It is believed that porosities greater than 70% are rare [2]. Sample In this study, porosity measurements were determined for one IDP, Clu17. This <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> particle is a fragment of a large-sized IDP (L2008#5) known as a cluster particle. The cluster is composed of 53 fragments >5 micrometers in diameter; a detailed description of the cluster is given in [4]. IDP Clu17 has ~12 wt.% C and contains <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> abundances (within 2xCI) for major elements. This fragment is dominated by fine-grained aggregates, also known as GEMS (glass with embedded metal and sulfide [5]), and contains some olivine, pyroxene, Fe-Ni sulfides, and <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> material. Methods IDP Clu17 was analyzed for light elements quantitatively analysis using scanning electron microscopy and thin-window energy dispersive spectrometry [details of technique in 4]. Following the initial bulk chemical analysis, the particle was embedded in epoxy, thin sectioned using an ultramicrotome, and examined with a JEOL 2000 FX transmission electron microscope. Many of the sections were not complete; individual grains in some sections are lost during microtoming. Photos from nine of the best sections were digitized by scanning at 1200 dpi. The</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20110013370','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20110013370"><span>Origin and Evolution of Prebiotic Organic Matter as Inferred from the Tagish Lake Meteorite</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Herd, Christopher D.; Blinova, Alexandra; Simkus, Danielle N.; Huang, Yongsong; Tarozo, Rafael; Alexander, Conel M.; Gyngard, Frank; Nittler, Larry R.; Cody, George D.; Fogel, Marilyn L.; <a style="text-decoration: none; " href="javascript:void(0); " onClick="displayelement('author_20110013370'); toggleEditAbsImage('author_20110013370_show'); toggleEditAbsImage('author_20110013370_hide'); "> <img style="display:inline; width:12px; height:12px; " src="images/arrow-up.gif" width="12" height="12" border="0" alt="hide" id="author_20110013370_show"> <img style="width:12px; height:12px; display:none; " src="images/arrow-down.gif" width="12" height="12" border="0" alt="hide" id="author_20110013370_hide"></p> <p>2011-01-01</p> <p>The complex suite of organic materials in <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> meteorites probably originally formed in the interstellar medium and/or the solar protoplanetary disk, but was subsequently modified in the meteorites' asteroidal <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies. The mechanisms of formation and modification are still very poorly understood. We carried out a systematic study of variations in the mineralogy, petrology, and soluble and insoluble organic matter in distinct fragments of the Tagish Lake meteorite. The variations correlate with indicators of <span class="hlt">parent</span> body aqueous alteration and at least some molecules of pre-biotic importance formed during the alteration.</p> </li> </ol> <div class="pull-right"> <ul class="pagination"> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_1");'>«</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_21");'>21</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_22");'>22</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_23");'>23</a></li> <li class="active"><span>24</span></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_25");'>25</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_25");'>»</a></li> </ul> </div> </div><!-- col-sm-12 --> </div><!-- row --> </div><!-- page_24 --> <div id="page_25" class="hiddenDiv"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-12"> <div class="pull-right"> <ul class="pagination"> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_1");'>«</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_21");'>21</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_22");'>22</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_23");'>23</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_24");'>24</a></li> <li class="active"><span>25</span></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_25");'>»</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-12"> <ol class="result-class" start="481"> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/863133','DOE-PATENT-XML'); return false;" href="https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/863133"><span>Method for heating nongaseous <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> material</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.osti.gov/doepatents">DOEpatents</a></p> <p>Lumpkin, Jr., Robert E.</p> <p>1978-01-01</p> <p>Nongaseous <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> material is heated by a method comprising introducing tangentially a first stream containing a nongaseous <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> material and carbon monoxide into a reaction zone; simultaneously and separately introducing a second stream containing oxygen into the reaction zone such that the oxygen enters the reaction zone away from the wall thereof and reacts with the first stream thereby producing a gaseous product and heating the nongaseous <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> material; forming an outer spiralling vortex within the reaction zone to cause substantial separation of gases, including the gaseous product, from the nongaseous <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> material; removing a third stream from the reaction zone containing the gaseous product which is substantially free of the nongaseous <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> material before a major portion of the gaseous product can react with the nongaseous <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> material; and removing a fourth stream containing the nongaseous <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> material from the reaction zone.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2009GeCoA..73.1523R','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2009GeCoA..73.1523R"><span>Possible impact-induced refractory-lithophile fractionations in EL <span class="hlt">chondrites</span></span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>Rubin, Alan E.; Huber, Heinz; Wasson, John T.</p> <p>2009-03-01</p> <p>Literature data show that refractory-lithophile elements in most <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> groups are unfractionated relative to CI <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>; the principal exception is the EL-<span class="hlt">chondrite</span> group whose observed falls (all of which are type 6) are depleted in Ca and light REE. In contrast, literature data and our new INAA data on EL3 PCA 91020, EL3 MAC 88136 and EL4 Grein 002 show that some replicates of these samples have nearly flat REE patterns (unlike those of EL6 <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>); other replicates exhibit fractionated REE patterns similar to those of EL6 <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>. Petrographic examination shows that many EL6 (and some EL3 and EL4) <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> are impact-melt breccias or contain impact-melted portions. We suggest that the same impact processes that formed these breccias and produced melt are responsible for the observed bulk compositional fractionations in refractory-lithophile elements, i.e., EL6 <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> were produced from initially unequilibrated EL3 material. When large amounts of impact heat were deposited, plagioclase and/or oldhamite (CaS) (the major REE carriers in enstatite <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>) may have been melted and then transported appreciable (>10 cm) distances. EL6 <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> represent the residuum that is depleted in REE (particularly in LREE) and Ca. Unlike the case for EL <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, our new INAA data on ALH 84170, EET 87746 and SAH 97096 (all EH3) show some scatter but are consistent with the EH group having uniform refractory-lithophile abundances.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017M%26PS...52.2305K','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017M%26PS...52.2305K"><span>Contribution of early impact events to metal-silicate separation, thermal annealing, and volatile redistribution: Evidence in the Pułtusk H <span class="hlt">chondrite</span></span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>Krzesińska, Agata M.</p> <p>2017-11-01</p> <p>Three-dimensional X-ray tomographic reconstructions and petrologic studies reveal voluminous accumulations of metal in Pułtusk H <span class="hlt">chondrite</span>. At the contact of these accumulations, the <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> rock is enriched in troilite. The rock contains plagioclase-rich bands, with textures suggesting crystallization from melt. Unusually large phosphates are associated with the plagioclase and consist of assemblages of merrillite, and fluorapatite and chlorapatite. The metal accumulations were formed by impact melting, rapid segregation of metal-sulfide melt and the incorporation of this melt into the fractured crater basement. The impact most likely occurred in the early evolution of the H <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> <span class="hlt">parent</span> body, when post-impact heat overlapped with radiogenic heat. This enabled slow cooling and separation of the metallic melt into metal-rich and sulfide-rich fractions. This led to recrystallization of <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> rock in contact with the metal accumulations and the crystallization of shock melts. Phosphorus was liberated from the metal and subsumed by the silicate shock melt, owing to oxidative conditions upon slow cooling. The melt was also a host for volatiles. Upon further cooling, phosphorus reacted with silicates leading to the formation of merrillite, while volatiles partitioned into the residual halogen-rich, dry fluid. In the late stages, the fluid altered merrillite to patchy Cl/F-apatite. The above sequence of alterations demonstrates that impact during the early evolution of <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies might have contributed to local metal segregation and silicate melting. In addition, postshock conditions supported secondary processes: compositional/textural equilibration, redistribution of volatiles, and fluid alterations.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1987GeCoA..51..741D','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1987GeCoA..51..741D"><span>Chemical studies of H <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>. II - Weathering effects in the Victoria Land, Antarctic population and comparison of two Antarctic populations with non-Antarctic falls</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>Dennison, J. E.; Lipschutz, M. E.</p> <p>1987-03-01</p> <p>The authors report RNAA data for 14 siderophile, lithophile and chalcophile volatile/mobile trace elements in interior portions of 45 different H4-6 <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> (49 samples) from Victoria Land, Antarctica and 5 H5 <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> from the Yamato Mts., Antarctica. Relative to H5 <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> of weathering types A and B, all elements are depleted (10 at statistically significant levels) in extensively weathered (types B/C and C) samples. <span class="hlt">Chondrites</span> of weathering types A and B seem compositionally uncompromised and as useful as contemporary falls for trace-element studies. When data distributions for these 14 trace elements in non-Antarctic H <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> falls and unpaired samples from Victoria Land and from the Yamato Mts. (Queen Maud Land) are compared statistically, numerous significant differences are apparent. These and other differences give ample cause to doubt that the various sample populations derive from the same <span class="hlt">parent</span> population. The observed differences do no reflect weathering, chance or other trivial causes: a preterrestrial source must be responsible.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1993Metic..28..461W','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1993Metic..28..461W"><span>What's Hot and What's Not: Multivariate Statistical Analysis of Ten Labile Trace Elements in H-<span class="hlt">Chondrite</span> Population Pairs</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>Wolf, S. F.; Lipschutz, M. E.</p> <p>1993-07-01</p> <p>Dodd et al. [1] found that, from their circumstances of fall, 17 H <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> ("H Cluster 1") which fell in May, from 1855 to 1895, are distinguishable from other H <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> falls and apparently derive from a co-orbital stream of meteoroids. From data for 10 moderately to highly labile trace elements (Rb, Ag, Se, Cs, Te, Zn, Cd, Bi, Tl, In), they used two multivariate statistical techniques--linear discriminant analysis and logistic regression--to demonstrate that 1. 13 H Cluster 1 <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> are compositionally distinguishable from 45 other H <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> falls, probably because of differences in thermal histories of the meteorites' <span class="hlt">parent</span> materials; 2. The reality of the compositional differences between the populations of falls are beyond any reasonable statistical doubt. 3. The compositional differences are inconsistent with the notion that the results reflect analytical bias. We have used these techniques to assess analogous data for various H <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> populations [2-4] with results that are listed in Table 1. These data indicate that 1. There is no statistical reason to believe that random populations from Victoria Land, Antarctica, differ compositionally from each other. 2. There is significant statistical reason to believe that the H <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> population recovered from Victoria Land, Antarctica, differs compositionally from that from Queen Maud Land, Antarctica, and from falls. 3. There is no reason to believe that the H <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> population recovered from Queen Maud Land, Antarctica, differs compositionally from falls. 4. These observations can be made either by data obtained by one analyst or several. These results, coupled with earlier ones [5], demonstrate that trivial explanations cannot explain compositional differences involving labile trace elements in pairs of H <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> populations. These differences must then reflect differences of preterrestrial thermal histories of the meteorites' <span class="hlt">parent</span> materials. Acceptance of these differences as</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20110011647','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20110011647"><span>In-Situ Oxygen Isotopic Composition of Tagish Lake: An Ungrouped Type 2 <span class="hlt">Carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">Chondrite</span></span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Zolensky, Michael E.; Engrand, Cecile; Gounelle, Matthieu; Zolensky, Mike E.</p> <p>2001-01-01</p> <p> isotopic fractionation would argue for a low temperature (CM-like, T approximately 0 deg) formation. Magnetite probably formed during a separate event. Tagish Lake magnetite data is surprisingly compatible with that of R-<span class="hlt">chondrites</span> and unequilibrated ordinary (LL3) <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>. Our oxygen isotope data strongly supports the hypothesis of a single precursor for both lithologies. Drastic mineralogical changes between the two lithologies not being accompanied with isotopic fractionation seem compatible with the alteration model presented by Young et aI. Tagish Lake probably represents the first well preserved large sample of the C2 matter that dominates interplanetary matter since the formation of the solar system.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/70031384','USGSPUBS'); return false;" href="https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/70031384"><span>Investigation of magnesium isotope fractionation during basalt differentiation: Implications for a <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> composition of the terrestrial mantle</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/pubs/index.jsp?view=adv">USGS Publications Warehouse</a></p> <p>Teng, F.-Z.; Wadhwa, M.; Helz, R.T.</p> <p>2007-01-01</p> <p>To investigate whether magnesium isotopes are fractionated during basalt differentiation, we have performed high-precision Mg isotopic analyses by multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS) on a set of well-characterized samples from Kilauea Iki lava lake, Hawaii, USA. Samples from the Kilauea Iki lava lake, produced by closed-system crystal-melt fractionation, range from olivine-rich cumulates to highly differentiated basalts with MgO content ranging from 2.37 to 26.87??wt.%. Our results demonstrate that although these basalts have diverse chemical compositions, mineralogies, crystallization temperatures and degrees of differentiation, their Mg isotopic compositions display no measurable variation within the limits of our external precision (average ??26Mg = - 0.36 ?? 0.10 and ??25Mg = - 0.20 ?? 0.07; uncertainties are 2SD). This indicates that Mg isotopic fractionation during crystal-melt fractionation at temperatures of ??? 1055????C is undetectable at the level of precision of the current investigation. Calculations based on our data suggest that at near-magmatic temperatures the maximum fractionation in the 26Mg/24Mg ratio between olivine and melt is 0.07???. Two additional oceanic basalts, two continental basalts (BCR-1 and BCR-2), and two primitive <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> (Allende and Murchison) analyzed in this study have Mg isotopic compositions similar to the Kilauea Iki lava lake samples. In contrast to a recent report [U. Wiechert, A.N. Halliday, Non-<span class="hlt">chondritic</span> magnesium and the origins of the inner terrestrial planets, Earth and Planetary Science Letters 256 (2007) 360-371], the results presented here suggest that the Bulk Silicate Earth has a <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> Mg isotopic composition. ?? 2007.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1995GeCoA..59.2291B','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1995GeCoA..59.2291B"><span>Aqueous alteration and brecciation in Bells, an unusual, saponite-bearing, CM <span class="hlt">chondrite</span></span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>Brearley, Adrian J.</p> <p>1995-06-01</p> <p>The petrological and mineralogical characteristics of the unusual CM2 <span class="hlt">chondrite</span>, Bells, have been investigated in detail by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron microprobe analysis (EPMA), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Bells is a highly brecciated <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> which contains few intact chondrules, a very low abundance of refractory inclusions, and is notable in having an unusually high abundance of magnetite, which is disseminated throughout the fine-grained matrix. Fragmental olivines and pyroxenes are common and, based on compositional data, appear to have been derived from chondrules as a result of extensive brecciation. The fine-grained mineralogy of matrix in Bells differs considerably from other CM <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> and has closer affinities to matrix in CI <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>. The dominant phases are fine-grained saponite interlayered with serpentine, and phases such as tochilinite and cronstedtite, which are typical of CM <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> matrices, are entirely absent. Pentlandite, pyrrhotite, magnetite, anhydrite, calcite, and rare Ti-oxides also occur as accessory phases. Based on its oxygen and noble gas isotopic compositions (Zadnik, 1985; Rowe et al., 1994), Bells can be considered to be a CM2 <span class="hlt">chondrite</span>, although its bulk composition shows some departures from the typical range exhibited by this group. However, these variations in bulk chemistry are entirely consistent with the observed mineralogy of Bells. The unusual fine-grained mineralogy of Bells matrix can be reasonably attributed to the combined effects of aqueous alteration and advanced brecciation in a <span class="hlt">parent</span> body environment. Extensive brecciation has assisted aqueous alteration by reducing chondrules and mineral grains into progressively smaller grains with high surface areas, which are more susceptible to dissolution reactions involving aqueous fluids. This has resulted in the preferential dissolution of Fe-rich chondrule olivines, which are now completely absent in Bells although present in</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20020052387&hterms=parents&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D80%26Ntt%3Dparents','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20020052387&hterms=parents&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D80%26Ntt%3Dparents"><span>Deuterium Enrichment of Amino and Hydroxy Acids Found in the Murchison Meteorite: Constraints on <span class="hlt">Parent</span> Body Conditions</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Lerner, Narcinda R.; Chang, Sherwood (Technical Monitor)</p> <p>1997-01-01</p> <p>The alpha-amino and alpha-hydroxy acids found in the Murchison <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> are deuterium enriched. These compounds are thought to have originated from common deuterium enriched carbonyl precursors, by way of a Strecker synthesis which took place in a solution of HCN, NH3, and carbonyl compounds during the period of aqueous alteration of the meteorite <span class="hlt">parent</span> body. However, the hydroxy acids found on Murchison are less deuterium enriched than the amino acids. With the objective of determining if the discrepancy in deuterium enrichment between the amino acids and the hydroxy acids found on Murchison is consistent with their formation in a Strecker synthesis, we have measured the deuterium content of alpha-amino and alpha-hydroxy acids produced in solutions of deuterated carbonyl compounds, KCN and NH4Cl, and also in mixtures of such solutions and Allende dust at 263 K and 295 K. Retention of the isotopic signature of the starting carbonyl by both alpha amino acids and alpha hydroxy acids is more dependent upon temperature, concentration and pH than upon the presence of meteorite dust in the solution. The constraints these observations place on Murchison <span class="hlt">parent</span> body conditions will be discussed.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20140006554','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20140006554"><span>Uranium-lead Isotope Evidence in the Shelyabinsk LL5 <span class="hlt">Chondrite</span> Meteorite for Ancient and Recent Thermal Events</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Lapen, T. J.; Kring, D. A.; Zolensky, M. E.; Andreasen, R.; Righter, M.; Swindle, T. D.; Beard, S. P.; Swindle, T. D.</p> <p>2014-01-01</p> <p>The impact histories on <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> <span class="hlt">parent</span> bodies can be deduced from thermochronologic analyses of materials and isotope systems with distinct apparent closure temperatures. It is especially critical to better understand the geological histories and physical properties of potenally hazardous near-Earth asteroids. Chelyabinsk is an LL5 <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> meteorite that was dispersed over a wide area tens of kilometers south of the town of Chelyabinsk, Russia by an explosion at an altitude of 27 km at 3:22 UT on 15 Feb 2013 [1,2]. The explosion resulted in significant damage to surrounding areas and over 1500 injuries along with meteorite fragments being spread over a wide area [1].</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20130008963','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20130008963"><span>Late <span class="hlt">Chondritic</span> Additions and Planet and Planetesimal Growth: Evaluation of Physical and Chemical Mechanisms</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Righter, Kevin</p> <p>2013-01-01</p> <p>Studies of terrestrial peridotite and martian and achondritic meteorites have led to the conclusion that addition of <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> material to growing planets or planetesimals, after core formation, occurred on Earth, Mars, asteroid 4 Vesta, and the <span class="hlt">parent</span> body of the angritic meteorites [1-4]. One study even proposed that this was a common process in the final stages of growth [5]. These conclusions are based almost entirely on the highly siderophile elements (HSE; Re, Au, Pt, Pd, Rh, Ru, Ir, Os). The HSE are a group of eight elements that have been used to argue for late accretion of <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> material to the Earth after core formation was complete (e.g., [6]). This idea was originally proposed because the D(metal/silicate) values for the HSE are so high, yet their concentration in the mantle is too high to be consistent with such high Ds. The HSE also are present in <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> relative abundances and hence require similar Ds if this is the result of core-mantle equilibration. Since the work of [6] there has been a realization that core formation at high PT conditions can explain the abundances of many siderophile elements in the mantle (e.g., [7]), but such detailed high PT partitioning data are lacking for many of the HSE to evaluate whether such ideas are viable for all four bodies. Consideration of other chemical parameters reveals larger problems that are difficult to overcome, but must be addressed in any scenario which calls on the addition of <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> material to a reduced mantle. Yet these problems are rarely discussed or emphasized, making the late <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> (or late veneer) addition hypothesis suspect.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://hdl.handle.net/2060/19960041532','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="http://hdl.handle.net/2060/19960041532"><span>Pyroxene structures, cathodoluminescence and the thermal history of the enstatite <span class="hlt">chondrites</span></span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Zhang, Yanhong; Huang, Shaoxiong; Schneider, Diann; Benoit, Paul H.; Sears, Derek W. G.; DeHart, John M.; Lofgren, Gary E.</p> <p>1996-01-01</p> <p>In order to explore the thermal history of enstatite <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, we examined the cathodoluminescence (CL) and thermoluminescence (TL) properties of 15 EH <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> and 21 EL <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, including all available petrographic types, both textural types 3-6 and mineralogical types alpha-delta. The CL properties of EL3(alpha) and EH3(alpha) <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> are similar. Enstatite grains high in Mn and other transition metals display red CL, while enstatite with low concentrations of these elements show blue CL. A few enstatite grains with greater than 5 wt% FeO display no CL. In contrast, the luminescent properties of the metamorphosed EH <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> are very different from those of metamorphosed EL <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>. While the enstatites in metamorphosed EH <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> display predominantly blue CL, the enstatites in metamorphosed EL <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> display a distinctive magenta CL with blue and red peaks of approximately equal intensity in their spectra. The TL sensitivities of the enstatite <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> correlate with the intensity of the blue CL and, unlike other meteorite classes, are not simply related to metamorphism. The different luminescent properties of metamorphosed EH and EL <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> cannot readily be attributed to compositional differences. But x-ray diffraction data suggests that the enstatite in EH5(gamma),(delta) <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> is predominantly disordered orthopyroxene, while enstatite in EL6(beta) <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> is predominantly ordered orthopyroxene. The difference in thermal history of metamorphosed EL and EH <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> is so marked that the use of single 'petrographic' types is misleading, and separate textural and mineralogical types are preferable. Our data confirm earlier suggestions that metamorphosed EH <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> underwent relatively rapid cooling, and the metamorphosed EL <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> cooled more slowly and experienced prolonged heating in the orthopyroxene field.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=4217426','PMC'); return false;" href="https://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=4217426"><span>Fluid-induced organic synthesis in the solar nebula recorded in extraterrestrial dust from meteorites</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?DB=pmc">PubMed Central</a></p> <p>Vollmer, Christian; Kepaptsoglou, Demie; Leitner, Jan; Busemann, Henner; Spring, Nicole H.; Ramasse, Quentin M.; Hoppe, Peter; Nittler, Larry R.</p> <p>2014-01-01</p> <p>Isotopically anomalous <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> grains in extraterrestrial samples represent the most pristine organics that were delivered to the early Earth. Here we report on gentle aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy investigations of eight 15N-rich or D-rich organic grains within two <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> Renazzo-type (CR) <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> and two interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) originating from comets. Organic matter in the IDP samples is less aromatic than that in the CR <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, and its functional group chemistry is mainly characterized by C–O bonding and aliphatic C. Organic grains in CR <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> are associated with carbonates and elemental Ca, which originate either from aqueous fluids or possibly an indigenous organic source. One distinct grain from the CR <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> NWA 852 exhibits a rim structure only visible in chemical maps. The outer part is nanoglobular in shape, highly aromatic, and enriched in anomalous nitrogen. Functional group chemistry of the inner part is similar to spectra from IDP organic grains and less aromatic with nitrogen below the detection limit. The boundary between these two areas is very sharp. The direct association of both IDP-like organic matter with dominant C–O bonding environments and nanoglobular organics with dominant aromatic and C–N functionality within one unique grain provides for the first time to our knowledge strong evidence for organic synthesis in the early solar system activated by an anomalous nitrogen-containing <span class="hlt">parent</span> body fluid. PMID:25288736</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25288736','PUBMED'); return false;" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25288736"><span>Fluid-induced organic synthesis in the solar nebula recorded in extraterrestrial dust from meteorites.</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?DB=pubmed">PubMed</a></p> <p>Vollmer, Christian; Kepaptsoglou, Demie; Leitner, Jan; Busemann, Henner; Spring, Nicole H; Ramasse, Quentin M; Hoppe, Peter; Nittler, Larry R</p> <p>2014-10-28</p> <p>Isotopically anomalous <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> grains in extraterrestrial samples represent the most pristine organics that were delivered to the early Earth. Here we report on gentle aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy investigations of eight (15)N-rich or D-rich organic grains within two <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> Renazzo-type (CR) <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> and two interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) originating from comets. Organic matter in the IDP samples is less aromatic than that in the CR <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>, and its functional group chemistry is mainly characterized by C-O bonding and aliphatic C. Organic grains in CR <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> are associated with carbonates and elemental Ca, which originate either from aqueous fluids or possibly an indigenous organic source. One distinct grain from the CR <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> NWA 852 exhibits a rim structure only visible in chemical maps. The outer part is nanoglobular in shape, highly aromatic, and enriched in anomalous nitrogen. Functional group chemistry of the inner part is similar to spectra from IDP organic grains and less aromatic with nitrogen below the detection limit. The boundary between these two areas is very sharp. The direct association of both IDP-like organic matter with dominant C-O bonding environments and nanoglobular organics with dominant aromatic and C-N functionality within one unique grain provides for the first time to our knowledge strong evidence for organic synthesis in the early solar system activated by an anomalous nitrogen-containing <span class="hlt">parent</span> body fluid.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19890056998&hterms=tins&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D90%26Ntt%3Dtins','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19890056998&hterms=tins&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D90%26Ntt%3Dtins"><span>Tin in a <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> interplanetary dust particle</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Rietmeijer, Frans J. M.</p> <p>1989-01-01</p> <p>Submicron platey Sn-rich grains are present in <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> porous interplanetary dust particle (IDP) W7029 A and it is the second occurrence of a tin mineral in a stratospheric micrometeorite. Selected Area Electron Diffraction data for the Sn-rich grains match with Sn2O3 and Sn3O4. The oxide(s) may have formed in the solar nebula when tin metal catalytically supported reduction of CO or during flash heating on atmospheric entry of the IDP. The presence of tin is consistent with enrichments for other volatile trace elements in <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> IDPs and may signal an emerging trend toward nonchondritic volatile element abundances in <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> IDPs. The observation confirms small-scale mineralogical heterogeneity in fine-grained <span class="hlt">chondritic</span> porous interplanetary dust.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017LPICo1987.6271B','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017LPICo1987.6271B"><span>The Distinct Genetics of <span class="hlt">Carbonaceous</span> and Non-<span class="hlt">Carbonaceous</span> Meteorites Inferred from Molybdenum Isotopes</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>Budde, G.; Burkhardt, C.; Kleine, T.</p> <p>2017-07-01</p> <p>Mo isotope systematics manifest a fundamental dichotomy in the genetic heritage of <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> and non-<span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> meteorites. We discuss its implications in light of the most recent literature data and new isotope data for primitive achondrites.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19770064912&hterms=Pyrrole&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D20%26Ntt%3DPyrrole','NASA-TRS'); return false;" href="https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19770064912&hterms=Pyrrole&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D20%26Ntt%3DPyrrole"><span>Origin of organic matter in the early solar system. VII - The organic polymer in <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span></span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp">NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)</a></p> <p>Hayatsu, R.; Matsuoka, S.; Anders, E.; Scott, R. G.; Studier, M. H.</p> <p>1977-01-01</p> <p>Degradation techniques, including pyrolysis, depolymerization, and oxidation, were used to study the insoluble polymer from the Murchison C2 <span class="hlt">chondrite</span>. Oxidation with Cr2O7(2-) or O2/UV led to the identification of 15 aromatic ring systems. Of 11 aliphatic acids identified, three dicarboxylic acids presumably came from hydroaromatic portions of the polymer, whereas eight monocarboxylic acids probably derive from bridging groups or ring substituents. Depolymerization with CF3COO4 yielded some of the same ring systems, as well as alkanes (C1 through C8) and alkenes (C2 through C8), alkyl (C1 through C5) benzenes and naphthalenes, and methyl- or dimethyl -indene, -indane, -phenol, -pyrrole, and -pyridine. All these compounds were detected below 200 C, and are therefore probably indigenous constituents. The properties of the meteoritic polymer were compared with the properties of a synthetic polymer produced by the Fischer-Tropsch reaction. It is suggested that the meteoritic polymer was also produced by surface catalysis.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22794298','PUBMED'); return false;" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22794298"><span>Formation of replicating saponite from a gel in the presence of oxalate: implications for the formation of clay minerals in <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> and the origin of life.</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?DB=pubmed">PubMed</a></p> <p>Schumann, Dirk; Hartman, Hyman; Eberl, Dennis D; Sears, S Kelly; Hesse, Reinhard; Vali, Hojatollah</p> <p>2012-06-01</p> <p>The potential role of clay minerals in the abiotic origin of life has been the subject of ongoing debate for the past several decades. At issue are the clay minerals found in a class of meteorites known as <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>. These clay minerals are the product of aqueous alteration of anhydrous mineral phases, such as olivine and orthopyroxene, that are often present in the chondrules. Moreover, there is a strong correlation in the occurrence of clay minerals and the presence of polar organic molecules. It has been shown in laboratory experiments at low temperature and ambient pressure that polar organic molecules, such as the oxalate found in meteorites, can catalyze the crystallization of clay minerals. In this study, we show that oxalate is a robust catalyst in the crystallization of saponite, an Al- and Mg-rich, trioctahedral 2:1 layer silicate, from a silicate gel at 60°C and ambient pressure. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy analysis of the saponite treated with octadecylammonium (n(C)=18) cations revealed the presence of 2:1 layer structures that have variable interlayer charge. The crystallization of these differently charged 2:1 layer silicates most likely occurred independently. The fact that 2:1 layer silicates with variable charge formed in the same gel has implications for our understanding of the origin of life, as these 2:1 clay minerals most likely replicate by a mechanism of template-catalyzed polymerization and transmit the charge distribution from layer to layer. If polar organic molecules like oxalate can catalyze the formation of clay-mineral crystals, which in turn promote clay microenvironments and provide abundant adsorption sites for other organic molecules present in solution, the interaction among these adsorbed molecules could lead to the polymerization of more complex organic molecules like RNA from nucleotides on early Earth.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/70118348','USGSPUBS'); return false;" href="https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/70118348"><span>Formation of replicating saponite from a gel in the presence of oxalate: implications for the formation of clay minerals in <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span> and the origin of life</span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/pubs/index.jsp?view=adv">USGS Publications Warehouse</a></p> <p>Schumann, Dirk; Hartman, Hyman; Eberl, Dennis D.; Sears, S. Kelly; Hesse, Reinhard; Vali, Hojatollah</p> <p>2012-01-01</p> <p>The potential role of clay minerals in the abiotic origin of life has been the subject of ongoing debate for the past several decades. At issue are the clay minerals found in a class of meteorites known as <span class="hlt">carbonaceous</span> <span class="hlt">chondrites</span>. These clay minerals are the product of aqueous alteration of anhydrous mineral phases, such as olivine and orthopyroxene, that are often present in the chondrules. Moreover, there is a strong correlation in the occurrence of clay minerals and the presence of polar organic molecules. It has been shown in laboratory experiments at low temperature and ambient pressure that polar organic molecules, such as the oxalate found in meteorites, can catalyze the crystallization of clay minerals. In this study, we show that oxalate is a robust catalyst in the crystallization of saponite, an Al- and Mg-rich, trioctahedral 2:1 layer silicate, from a silicate gel at 60°C and ambient pressure. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy analysis of the saponite treated with octadecylammonium (n(C)=18) cations revealed the presence of 2:1 layer structures that have variable interlayer charge. The crystallization of these differently charged 2:1 layer silicates most likely occurred independently. The fact that 2:1 layer silicates with variable charge formed in the same gel has implications for our understanding of the origin of life, as these 2:1 clay minerals most likely replicate by a mechanism of template-catalyzed polymerization and transmit the charge distribution from layer to layer. If polar organic molecules like oxalate can catalyze the formation of clay-mineral crystals, which in turn promote clay microenvironments and provide abundant adsorption sites for other organic molecules present in solution, the interaction among these adsorbed molecules could lead to the polymerization of more complex organic molecules like RNA from nucleotides on early Earth.</p> </li> <li> <p><a target="_blank" onclick="trackOutboundLink('http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1987Icar...69..550H','NASAADS'); return false;" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1987Icar...69..550H"><span>Detection of a meteorite 'stream' - Observations of a second meteorite fall from the orbit of the Innisfree <span class="hlt">chondrite</span></span></a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html">NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)</a></p> <p>Halliday, I.</p> <p>1987-03-01</p> <p>The first observational evidence of multiple meteorite falls from the same orbit is adduced from the February 6, 1980 fall of a meteorite precisely 3 yr after the fall of the Innisfree meteorite. Due consideration of the detection probability for two related objects with the meteorite camera network in western Canada suggests that the Innisfree brecciated LL <span class="hlt">chondrite</span> was a near-surface fragment from a <span class="hlt">parent</span> object whose radius was of the order of several tens of meters. A meteorite mass of 1.8 kg is predicted for the new object, whose recovery in the vicinity of Ridgedale, Saskatchewan, is now sought for the sake of comparison with the Innisfree <span class="hlt">chondrite</span>.</p> </li> </ol> <div class="pull-right"> <ul class="pagination"> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_1");'>«</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_21");'>21</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_22");'>22</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_23");'>23</a></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_24");'>24</a></li> <li class="active"><span>25</span></li> <li><a href="#" onclick='return showDiv("page_25");'>»</a></li> </ul> </div> </div><!-- col-sm-12 --> </div><!-- row --> </div><!-- page_25 --> <div class="footer-extlink text-muted" style="margin-bottom:1rem; text-align:center;">Some links on this page may take you to non-federal websites. 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