Meteoritic zircon – Occurrence and chemical characteristics

In common with the remarkable variation in the bulk rock Zr content of distinct meteorite groups, ranging from <1 ppm to >800 ppm, the occurrence and abundance of accessory zircon is also highly diverse and limited to certain meteorite classes. A detailed literature study on the occurrence of meteoritic zircon, along with other Zr-bearing phases reveals that lunar rocks, eucrites and mesosiderites are the prime sources of meteoritic zircon. Rare zircon grains occur in chondrites, silicate-bearing iron meteorites and Martian meteorites, with grain sizes of >5 μm allowing chemical and chronological studies at high spatial resolution using secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) technique. Grain sizes, crystal habits, structural and chemical characteristics of zircon grains derived from various meteorite types, including their REE abundances, minor element concentrations, and Zr/Hf values is diverse. Superchondritic Zr/Hf values (47 ± 8; s.d. with n = 97), i.e., typical for zircon in eucrites and mesosiderites, indicate crystallization from a fractionated, incompatible-element-rich (residual) melt. Differences in REE abundances, occurrence or absence of Ce- and Eu-anomalies, and overall REE patterns that are often fractionated with a depletion in LREE, might be primarily controlled by variable formation conditions of individual grains and/or differences in the residual melt compositions on a small, local scale within single samples. Subsequent fractionation/modification of the chemical fingerprint of meteoritic zircon can involve high-temperature annealing processes during thermal metamorphic reactions and/or impact events along with mixing of lithic fragments since many samples are breccias.     

Asteroid (4) Vesta: I. The howardite-eucrite-diogenite (HED) clan of meteorites

The howardite, eucrite and diogenite (HED) clan of meteorites are ultramafic and mafic igneous rocks and impact-engendered fragmental debris derived from a thoroughly differentiated asteroid. Earth-based telescopic observation and data returned from vestan orbit by the Dawn spacecraft make a compelling case that the asteroid (4) Vesta is the parent asteroid of HEDs, although this is not universally accepted. Diogenites are petrologically diverse and include dunitic, harzburgitic and noritic lithologic types in addition to the traditional orthopyroxenites. Diogenites form the lower crust of Vesta. Cumulate eucrites are gabbroic rocks formed by accumulation of pigeonite and plagioclase from a mafic magma at depth within the crust, while basaltic eucrites are melt compositions that likely represent shallow-level dikes and sills, and flows. Some basaltic eucrites are richer in incompatible trace elements compared to most eucrites, and these may represent mixed melts contaminated by partial melts of the mafic crust. Differentiation occurred within a few Myr of formation of the earliest solids in the Solar System. Evidence from oxygen isotope compositions and siderophile element contents favor a model of extensive melting of Vesta forming a global magma ocean that rapidly (period of a few Myr) segregated and crystallized to yield a metallic core, olivine-rich mantle, orthopyroxene-rich lower crust and basaltic upper crust. The igneous lithologies were subjected to post-crystallization thermal processing, and most eucrites show textural and mineral-compositional evidence for metamorphism. The cause of this common metamorphism is unclear, but may have resulted from rapid burial of early basalts by later flows caused by high effusion rates on Vesta. The observed surface of Vesta is covered by fragmental debris resulting from impacts, and most HEDs are brecciated. Many eucrites and diogenites are monomict breccias indicating a lack of mixing. However, many HEDs are polymict breccias. Howardites are the most thoroughly mixed polymict breccias, yet only some of them contain evidence for residence in the true regolith. Based on the numbers of meteorites, compositions of howardites, and models of magma ocean solidification, cumulate eucrites and their residual ferroan mafic melts are minor components of the vestan crust.     

钙长辉长无球粒陨石中普通石英与鳞石英成因研究

钙长辉长无球粒陨石(Eucrite)是 Howardite-Eucrite-Diogenite(HED)族陨石的重要成员,也是研究灶神星壳演化历史的重要对象.本文研究了多个玄武质Eucrite样品中主要的SiO2相——普通石英和鳞石英的成因,进而讨论其对Eucrite陨石热演化的启示.研究对象包括不同冲击程度样品,以探讨陨击过程对SiO2同质多象转变的影响.冲击程度较弱的包括未角砾化样品NWA 3162 、NWA 6594 和Igdi,冲击程度较强的为单碎屑角砾岩Millbillillie、Camel Donga和NWA 1654.研究结果显示,不同样品中的普通石英和鳞石英各自均具有相似的岩相学和化学成分,但不同冲击程度样品中普通石英产状存在系统差异.结合Eucrite热变质历史,本研究认为普通石英并非来自共生鳞石英的相变,而是形成于更早期高温 SiO2相的转变.Eucrite 中广泛存在的鳞石英则很可能是普通石英在后期撞击事件中发生部分熔融快速结晶形成.Eucrite中普通石英和鳞石英可能经历的主要形成过程如下:① 岩浆喷发形成高温SiO2 (方石英和/或鳞石英);② 随后长期热变质中高温 SiO2转变形成普通石英,并因体积缩小发育孔洞结构;③ 后期冲击作用再加热,导致普通石英部分熔融形成鳞石英,在高冲击程度的样品中还普遍发育普通石英的羽状裂理.本研究在Eucrite中观察到的普通石英和鳞石英分别形成于不同阶段热事件.大多数Eucrite中存在普通石英和鳞石英共生,表明Eucrite在热变质后普遍受到热扰动,内部微区受热不均一性明显.上述普通石英和鳞石英成因的厘定,为微区或单碎屑矿物同位素年代学定年样品的选择以及年代学结果的地质解释提供了依据.