球粒陨石难熔包体中贵金属的矿物岩石学分析:对太阳星云演化的启示

球粒陨石中的富钙富铝难熔包体(Ca,Al-rich Inclusion,CAI)是太阳系最早形成的物体,保留了太阳星云早期的原始信息,但深入研究发现许多难熔包体具有复杂的演化历史,包括部分熔融和后期变质作用等.针对难熔包体中更为难熔、化学性质更为稳定的贵金属颗粒进行天体化学研究,选取CV群碳质球粒陨石NWA 2140,对其CAI中的贵金属颗粒进行岩石学观察及化学成分测定.根据得到的成分分析结果,能大致推出包体经历过的热力学历程,辨识出两类贵金属合金颗粒,这两类贵金属分别为早期冷凝产物和原生金属的后期蚀变产物.     

云南西双版纳(曼桂)目击陨石的热变质和冲击变质研究

曼桂陨石是新近(2018年6月1日)陨落在云南西双版纳地区的目击球粒陨石,其中的主要矿物为橄榄石(Fa_(24.3±0.6))、斜方辉石(Fs_(20.6±0.5)Wo_(0.4±0.2))、长石(An_(11-12)Or_(2-4))、铁镍金属和陨硫铁,次要矿物为铬铁矿、白磷钙矿等.橄榄石和辉石的化学成分表明曼桂陨石属于L型普通球粒陨石.陨石中球粒很少且轮廓不清晰,基质矿物普遍经历过重结晶,重结晶矿物颗粒粒径较大,高钙辉石粒径25–30μm,长石颗粒大多超过50μm,说明该陨石属于6型岩石类型.橄榄石和辉石颗粒中发育有波状消光、嵌晶块状消光现象、平面裂隙和面状变形构造,长石熔长石化并不完全,陨石中观察到宽度不等且纵横交错的冲击熔融脉,表明曼桂普通球粒陨石受到的冲击变质作用可以达到S5级以上.通过熔融脉中的矿物组合推断出熔融脉中矿物经历的压力在15–16 GPa左右.     

寺巷口普通球粒陨石的热变质和冲击变质历史研究

寺巷口陨石是一块经历强冲击变质的普通球粒陨石.系统研究陨石主体和冲击熔融脉的岩相学和矿物学.该陨石中球粒较少且轮廓和内部结构均模糊不清,基质重结晶程度高,橄榄石和辉石的成分非常均一.单斜辉石-斜方辉石矿物对计算得到的平衡温度峰值为891 4-36°C.说明寺巷口陨石的热变质程度与6型一致.陨石主体中的橄榄石具有明显的波状消光和面状变形裂隙,熔长石广泛存在,在冲击熔融脉中含有粗粒的林伍德石和镁铁榴石以及细粒的高压矿物组合,这些特征预示了寺巷口陨石经历了S6级的冲击变质作用且形成冲击脉的峰期压力可能在20 GPa-24 GPa左右,而温度可能高于2000°C.冲击熔融脉中自磷钙矿和铬铁矿的存在可能是因为经历了较长的退火时间,导致其高压矿物的回退.     

恒星尘埃的实验室研究--实验天体物理学

原始球粒陨石含有来自恒星的微小固体颗粒(微米级),这些尘埃的同位素组成与太阳系物质截然不同,它们是目前唯一能直接获得的恒星固体样品．已发现的恒星尘埃有金刚石、石墨、碳化硅、刚玉、尖晶石、氮化物、和硅酸盐等,它们的母体恒星包括红巨星,AGB恒星、新星和超新星．对恒星尘埃的研究,使得更深入地了解星系的化学演化历史、恒星内部的核反应和湍流机制、恒星大气中尘埃的形成、星际介质物理现象等．恒星尘埃把天体物理领域延伸到了微观世界,它有机地结合了地球化学实验技术和天体物理理论,开辟了一门崭新的天文学分支实验天体物理学．     

火星陨石NWA 8716的岩矿学特征及粗粒橄榄石斑晶的来源

火星陨石可以为研究火星岩浆演化过程提供直接证据并限制其源区特征.通常认为含粗粒橄榄石斑晶辉玻无球粒陨石携带有火星原始地幔的信息,因此选取该类样品Northwest Africa (NWA) 8716为研究对象,进行岩相结构及矿物成分分析. NWA8716由橄榄石、辉石、填隙状熔长石以及其他次要矿物组成.其中橄榄石颗粒有两种级别的粒径,长轴分别约为0.5–1.8 mm和50–400μm.较小橄榄石斑晶内部的熔体包裹体和NWA 8716全岩成分(计算值)均显示明显的轻稀土元素亏损([La/Yb]CI值为0.06–0.1),说明NWA 8716源于一个亏损的火星岩浆池.粗粒橄榄石斑晶的来源对衡量该样品是否能够代表原始熔体成分非常重要.对橄榄石晶体的粒径统计分析发现,粗粒橄榄石斑晶应为堆晶.进一步对铁-镁以及稀土元素分配特征的计算表明NWA 8716并非形成于一个封闭系统,但是计算所得原始熔体成分与全岩成分差异不大,因此粗粒橄榄石斑晶应当来源于与母岩浆成分相似的熔体.总的看来, NWA 8716应当来源于亏损型火星幔源区且演化程度较低.     

太阳系早期的短寿期放射性核素

较详细地介绍全新的太阳系起源理论——X-wind模式,天体化学实验发现太阳系早期存在大量的短寿期放射性核素(半衰期小于100Ma),这些核素对太阳系的形成和演化有重要的影响,一种理论认为,这些核素是在恒星内部合成,并由星风注入原太阳分子云,星风产生的激波诱发分子云核的塌缩而形成原太阳,另一种理论认为,这些核素是高能粒子与原太阳分子云或太阳星云中的气体和尘埃相互作用的产物。     

银河系化学元素的丰度特征和合成图像(Ⅱ):太阳系原始同位素丰度异常及其解释

太阳系原始同位素组成是研究太阳系起源和演化的基础。评述了太阳星云的原始放射性核素丰度特征及解释此丰度特征的分子云自增丰模型、AGB星污染模型和散裂反应模型。陨石包体中前太阳矿物颗粒的同位素组成异常表明,前太阳颗粒中低密度石墨、X型碳硅石可能来源于超新星爆发,而AGB星或红巨星被认为是尖晶石和碳硅石的最可能的恒星来源。太阳系中比较特殊的氖和氙的同位素组成异常也与超新星爆发密切相关。     

吸积盘驱动喷流模型研究进展

高度准直的相对论性喷流和低速的喷流存在于很多天体系统中。尽管不同天体系统的尺度不同,但这些喷流具有相似的形成机制,被普遍认为是中心天体周围吸积盘转移角动量而不损失过多质量的有效方式。简要介绍了目前主流的几种吸积盘驱动喷流模型,列举了原初恒星体、X射线双星、活动星系核等典型的吸积供能天体,并介绍了相关理论模拟及实验模拟的最新研究进展。     

太空明星风采录：梅西叶（下）

梅西叶所列入星表的这10a余个天体,他自己也没有看得很清楚,再加上当时人们的认识水平,他认为这些天体都是星云和星团。自1923年美国天文学家哈勃发现河外星系的存在之后,人们发现梅西叶天体中不仅有很多星云和星团,还有许多河外星系。具体地说,银河系内的星云和星团有67个,河外星系有40个。另外还有3个既不是星云、星团,也不是星系。具体说,M24是恒星云;M40是一对光学双星,两成员之间没有物理联系：M73是一个小星群,各成员之间也没有物理联系。下面,我们分门别类地介绍梅西叶天体。     

刚诞生的天体物理研究室

天体物理研究室的范围广泛,既包括对个别天体(如恒星、星云)的发现、观测和研究,也包括对一些群体(如星固、星系)的发现、观测和研究;既要研究各类天体的分类、分布、物理特性、化学组成、能量来源、运动情况,又要研究它的起源、年龄、演化。     

The Ningqiang Meteorite: Classification and Petrology of an Anomalous CV Chondrite

Abstract— Ningqiang is an anomalous CV chondrite (oxidized subgroup) containing a high abundance of aggregational inclusions (13.7 vol.%) and low abundances of refractory inclusions (1.0^+1.0_–0.5 vol.%) and bulk refractory lithophiles (～0.82 × CV). Ningqiang may have agglomerated after most refractory inclusions at the nebular midplane had already been incorporated into other objects. Coarse-grained rims surround only ～5% of Ningqiang chondrules, compared to ～50% in normal CV chondrites. Aggregational inclusions appear to have formed by incipient melting of fine-grained aggregates at relatively low temperatures in the solar nebula, possibly by the mechanism responsible for chondrule formation. Granoblastic porphyritic chondrules, which contain olivines forming 120° triple junctures and no mesostasis, probably formed in the solar nebula by incomplete melting of precursor materials that were olivine normative and had relatively low concentrations of Si, Ca, Al, Fe and Na.     

Anorthite-spinel-rich inclusions in the Ningqiang carbonaceous chondrite: Genetic links with Type A and C inclusions

Abstract— Many Ca-Al-rich inclusions (CAIs) were molten once, and the question of what their precursors consisted of is controversial. In this paper, we report a new type of anorthite-spinel-rich inclusion (ASI) in the Ningqiang carbonaceous chondrite. The modal and bulk compositions of the ASIs are similar to those of Type C inclusions but with nonmolten textures. The ASIs are proposed to be the precursors of Type C inclusions. The ASIs show alteration textures, with melilite being replaced by anorthite and Ca-pyroxene. Furthermore, compositions of the melilites and the calculated modal and bulk compositions of the possible precursors of the ASIs are close to those of the spinel-rich Type A inclusions in the Ningqiang meteorite, which suggests that ASIs formed by alteration of the latter in the solar nebula. Petrography and mineral chemistry of one Type C inclusion in Ningqiang are also reported.     

Petrology and mineralogy of the Ningqiang carbonaceous chondrite

Abstract— 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 Mg‐rich. 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‐spinel‐rich inclusions) and 73 AOAs in 15 Ningqiang sections (equivalent to 20 cm²surface 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.     

The primary liquid condensation model and the origin of barred olivine chondrules

Barred olivine (BO) chondrules are some of the most striking objects in chondrites. Their ubiquitous presence and peculiar texture caught the attention of researchers and, as a consequence, considerable effort has been expensed on unraveling their origin(s). Here we report on a detailed study of two types of chondrules: the Classic and the Multiple-Plate Type of BO chondrules from the Essebi (CM2), Bishunpur (LL3.1), Acfer 214 (CH3) and DAG 055 (C3-UNGR) chondrites, and discuss the petrographic and chemical data of their major mineral phases and glasses. Glasses occur as mesostasis or as glass inclusions, the latter either enclosed inside the olivine bars (plates) or still connected to the mesostasis. The chemical composition of all glasses, characterized by being Si-Al-Ca-rich and free of alkali elements, is similar to those of the constituents (the building blocks, such as chondrules, aggregates, inclusions, mineral fragments, etc.) of CR and CV3 chondrites. They all have high trace element contents (∼10×CI) with unfractionated CI-normalized abundances of refractory trace elements and depletions in moderately volatile and volatile elements with respect to the refractory trace elements. The presence of alkali elements (Na + K + Rb) is coupled with a low Ca content and is only observed in those glasses that have behaved as open systems. This result supports the previous finding that Ca was replaced by alkalis (e.g., Na-Ca exchange), presumably through a vapor-solid reaction. The glasses apparently are the quenched liquid from which the olivine plates crystallized. However, they do not show any chemical fractionation that could have resulted from the crystallization of the olivines, but rather have a constant chemical compositions throughout the formation of the chondrule. In a previous contribution we were able to demonstrate the role of these liquids in supporting crystal growth directly from the vapor. Here we extend application of the primary liquid condensation model to formulate a new model for the origin of BO chondrules. The primary liquid condensation model is based on the ability of dust-enriched solar-nebula gas to directly condense into a liquid, provided the gas/dust ratio is sufficiently low. Thus, we propose that chondrules can be formed by condensation of a liquid droplet directly from the solar nebula. The extensive variability in chemical composition of BO chondrules, which ranges from alkali-poor to alkali-rich, can be explained by elemental exchange reactions with the cooling nebula. We calculate the chemical composition of the initial liquid droplet from which BO chondrules could have formed and speculate about the physical and chemical conditions that prevail in the specific regions of the solar nebula that can promote creation of these objects.     

Glass‐bearing inclusions in olivine of the Chassigny achondrite: Heterogeneous trapping at sub‐igneous temperatures

Abstract— Three types of glass‐bearing inclusions are present in olivine and chromite of the Chassigny achondrite: pure glass, monocrystal (glass plus a single mineral grain), and multiphase (glass plus a variety of minerals) inclusions. The occurrence, texture, and mineralogy of these inclusions and the chemical composition of the glass suggest an origin by heterogeneous trapping of these phases. The glass is rich in SiO₂, Al₂O₃, Na₂O, K₂O; and poor in MgO, FeO, and CaO; and contains appreciable amounts of Cl. The compositional variability of the glass is independent of the mineral content of the inclusions. Heating experiments with final temperatures of 900, 1000, and 1200 °C were performed with Chassigny inclusions for the first time. The glass of the heated inclusions has a chemical composition similar to that of unheated inclusions. This situation suggests that the glass cannot be a residual melt but rather is an independent component that was trapped with or without mineral phases. The extreme heterogeneity in alkali contents, and in particular Rb and Sr contents, also suggests precipitation and mixing of solid precursors. The most Rb‐rich glasses have near‐chondritic Rb/Sr ratios, possibly indicating a chondritic source for their precursor(s). None of the inclusions contain bubbles like those of typical melt inclusions in terrestrial igneous minerals. Furthermore, many inclusions are at the center of radial cracks in the host olivine, which indicates development of an overpressure within the inclusions at some time. A volume increase of the inclusions could have been achieved by differential thermal expansion of the content of the inclusion during a heating event. That mechanism requires bubble‐free and solid preheating inclusion contents. These features are incompatible with an origin of the inclusions by trapping of a silicate melt and point toward heterogeneous trapping of solid phases. The first N analyses performed in Chassigny glass‐bearing inclusions by nuclear reaction analysis (NRA) revealed high and variable N contents of the glass, which suggests trapping of a solid precursor (presumably at relatively low temperatures) from a fluid rather than a melt. In conclusion, the glass‐bearing inclusions in Chassigny olivine are not residuals after a closed‐system evolution of a trapped melt, but rather heterogeneously trapped precipitates of a fluid that existed during formation of Chassigny constituents. Consequently, it is very unlikely that the host olivine has an igneous origin.     

Defining the mechanisms that disturb the Sm‐Nd isotopic systematics of the Martian meteorites: Examples from Dar al Gani 476 and Allan Hills 77005

Abstract— Microbeam studies of Martian meteorites Dar al Gani (DaG) 476 and Allan Hills (ALH) 77005 have been conducted to identify potential causes of disequilibrium exhibited in their Sm‐Nd isotopic systematics. Olivine and maskelynite mineral fractions on the DaG 476 isochron are displaced relative to their positions as dictated by measured mineral compositions. The olivine mineral fractions from ALH 77005 not only have a relatively low Sm/Nd ratio, but appear to contain an unradiogenic component that shifts the olivine mineral fraction off the isochron defined by the pyroxene and maskelynite mineral fractions. Trace components such as melt inclusions, impact melt, high‐Si mesostasis, and altered olivine were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, quantitative electron microscopy, and secondary ion mass spectrometry to determine their potential for disturbing the isotopic systematics of the mineral fractions, assuming that the mineral fractions were not completely pure. Mixing models indicate that the presence of melt inclusions in the DaG 476 olivine mineral fraction lowered its Sm/Nd ratio. The maskelynite mineral fraction contains a related but more evolved mesostasis component that raised the Sm/Nd ratio of the fraction. The position of two olivine mineral fractions below the ALH 77005 isochron is interpreted to reflect small additions of impact melt with a light rare earth element enriched pattern and a non‐indigenous, unradiogenic Nd component. Furthermore, the presence of rare earth elements in olivine and maskelynite from both igneous and non‐igneous components such as melt inclusions, mesostasis, and impact melt is observed on a fine (<30 μm) scale. Despite the addition of this material, the Sm‐Nd ages are not affected. This study demonstrates that detailed mineral separation procedures as employed by modern geochronology laboratories permit reliable ages to be derived from shocked and altered samples.     

Unusual dark clasts in the Vigarano CV3 carbonaceous chondrite: Record of parent body process

Abstract— Two unusual dark clasts found in the Vigarano CV3 chondrite were examined using an optical microscope and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Both clasts lack chondrules, Ca-Al-rich inclusions, and coarse-grained mineral fragments; they, instead, contain abundant inclusions that consist of fine grains (<1 μm) of homogeneous Fe-rich olivine, thus resembling the fine-grained variety of dark inclusions in CV3 chondrites. The external shapes of inclusions in the clasts bear a close resemblance to those of chondrules and chondrule fragments; some of the inclusions are surrounded by dark rims similar to chondrule rims. Our SEM observations reveal the following unusual characteristics: 1) the inclusions are not mere random aggregates of olivine grains but have peculiar internal textures, that is, assemblages of round or oval shaped outlines, which are suggestive of pseudomorphs after porphyritic olivine chondrules; 2) one of thick inclusion rims contains a network of vein-like strings of elongated olivine grains; 3) an Fe-Ni metal aggregate in one of the clasts has an Fe-, Ni-, S-rich halo suggesting a reaction between its precursor and the surrounding matrix; and 4) olivine in the clasts commonly shows a swirly, fibrous texture similar to that of phyllosilicate. These characteristics suggest that the dark clasts in Vigarano are not primary aggregates of dust in the solar nebula but were affected by aqueous alteration and subsequent dehydration by heating after accretion to the meteorite parent body. The fine olivine grains in these clasts were presumably produced by thermal transformation of phyllosilicate, as is the case with those in the two thermally metamorphosed Antarctic CM chondrites, Belgica-7904 and Yamato-86720. From textural and mineralogical similarities, some of the dark inclusions and clasts previously reported from CV3 chondrites and other types of meteorites may have origins common with these clasts in Vigarano.     

A liquid-supported condensation of major minerals in the solar nebula: Evidence from glasses in the Kaba (CV3) chondrite

Glasses, in the Kaba CV3 chondrite, occur as mesostasis in chondrules and aggregates and as inclusions in olivines, both confined or open and connected to the mesostasis. The inclusions in olivine and the glassy mesostasis of aggregates seem to have formed contemporaneously. The confined glass inclusions and open inclusions in olivine were formed during olivine growth and the mesostasis glass during olivine aggregation. All glasses have high trace element contents (10-20×CI) with unfractionated CI-normalized abundances of refractory trace elements. In contrast, V, Mn, Li, and Cr are depleted in all glasses with respect to the refractory trace elements, as is Rb in the glass inclusions in olivine but not in the mesostasis glass. This abundance pattern indicates vapor fractionation and a common condensation origin for both glasses. Glasses of confined glass inclusions in olivine have a SiAlCa-rich composition with a chondritic Ca/Al ratio. Glasses of open glass inclusions and mesostasis are poor in Ca and enriched in alkalis. However, Ca contents of olivines indicate crystallization from a Ca-rich melt of a composition similar to that of the glass inclusions. In addition, trace element abundances indicate that these glasses (liquids) probably had an original composition similar to that of the inclusion glass. They apparently lost Ca in exchange for alkalis in a metasomatic exchange reaction, presumably with the vapor. There is now growing evidence that liquids can indeed condense from a solar nebula gas, provided the gas/dust ratio is sufficiently low. In these regions with enhanced oxygen fugacity as compared to that of a nebula of solar composition, liquids (the glass precursor) probably played an important role in growing crystals from the vapor by liquid-phase epitaxy. The glasses appear to be the remnants of this thin liquid layer interface that supported the growth of olivine from the vapor following the Vapor-Liquid-Solid process. This liquid will have a refractory composition and will have trace element contents which are in equilibrium with the vapor, and, therefore, will not change much during the time of olivine growth. The composition of the liquid seems to be unconstrained by the phases it is in contact with. Samples of this liquid will be retained as glass inclusions in olivine. The glassy mesostasis could also be a sample of this liquid that got trapped in inter-crystal spaces. The mesostasis glass subsequently behaved as an open system and its Ca was exchanged—presumably with the vapor—for the alkali elements Na, K, and Rb. In contrast, glass inclusions in olivine were protected by the host, could not react, and thus preserved the original composition of this liquid.     

Fayalitic olivine in CV3 chondrite matrix and dark inclusions: A nebular origin

Abstract— Fayalitic olivine (Fa₃₂) is the major component of the matrices and dark inclusions of CV3 and other unequilibrated chondrites. It occurs most commonly as rims, veins and halos in and around chondrule silicates in the Allende-type (CV3_OXA) chondrites and, to a much lesser extent, in the reduced (CV3R) and Bali-type (CV3OXB) chondrites. The olivines have distinctive platy, tabular and lath- or irregular-shaped crystals, with the ratio of the two types varying widely. In CV3_OXB chondrites, matrix fayalitic olivines range up to Fag_99.9; whereas, in the other CV3 chondrites, the range is much smaller. The platy and tabular anisotropic forms of the fayalitic olivines strongly suggest growth from a vapor, and the nature of the occurrences suggests that CV3 matrices are unequilibrated mixtures of nebular materials. We argue that the parent body hydration/dehydration model has numerous inconsistencies that make this hypothesis highly unlikely. These include: (1) There is no direct evidence linking fayalitic olivine to precursor phyllosilicates. (2) Dehydration of phyllosilicates cannot explain the wide range of morphologies of the fayalitic olivines. (3) Fayalitic olivine clearly predates the formation of the hydrous phases in CV3 chondrites and is one of the phases that breaks down to form phyllosilicates (Keller et al., 1994). (4) The unequilibrated nature of the matrix, including fine-scale zoning in 10 μm sized fayalitic olivine crystals, would not survive the parent body metamorphism required in the dehydration model. (5) A dark inclusion in the Ningqiang chondrite contains fayalitic olivine rimmed by glassy and microcrystalline material (Zolensky et al., 1997), which probably formed by radiation damage. This indicates that the fayalitic olivine was exposed to solar radiation in a nebular setting. (6) Some Allende chondrules contain unaltered primary, anhydrous glassy mesostasis in contact with the host matrix (e.g., Ikeda and Kimura, 1995). Chondrule mesostases would not have survived parent body hydration without becoming hydrated and would probably not survive the metamorphic heating required in the dehydration scenario. (7) Single platy and barrel-shaped crystals of fayalitic olivine are present in accretionary rims in calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions (CAIs) (MacPherson and Davis, 1997), which developed in the nebula. (8) Matrix lumps completely encased in chondrules in ordinary chondrites contain mainly fayalitic olivine (Scott et al., 1984), which indicates a nebular origin. (9) Oxygen isotopic compositions of Allende matrix and dark inclusions strongly indicate little or no hydration for Allende and its components (Clayton, 1997). We favor a nebular vaporization/recondensation model in which vaporization of chondritic dust produced a fayalite-rich vapor, followed by formation of the fayalitic olivine by direct recondensation from the vapor, epitactic growth on surfaces of existing forsterite and enstatite in chondrules, and replacement of existing forsterite and enstatite by gas-solid exchange.     

Melt inclusions in augite of the Nakhla martian meteorite: Evidence for basaltic parental melt

Abstract— Nakhla contains crystallized melt inclusions that were trapped in augite and olivine when these phases originally formed on Mars. Our study involved rehomogenization (slow‐heating and fast‐heating) experiments on multiphase melt inclusions in Nakhla augite. We studied melt inclusions trapped in augite because this phase re‐equilibrated with the external melt to a lesser extent than olivine and results could be directly compared with previous Nakhla melt inclusion studies. Following heating and homogenization of encapsulated melt inclusions, single mineral grains were mounted and polished to expose inclusions. Major element chemistry was determined by electron microprobe. The most primitive melt inclusion analyzed in Nakhla NA03 is basaltic and closely matches previously reported nakhlite parent melt compositions. MELTS equilibrium and fractional crystallization models calculated for NA03 and previous Nakhla parent melt estimates at QFM and QFM‐1 produced phase assemblages and compositions that can be compared to Nakhla. Of these models, equilibrium crystallization of NA03 at QFM‐1 produced the best match to mineral phases and compositions in Nakhla. In all models, olivine and augite co‐crystallize, consistent with the hypothesis that olivine is not xenocrystic but has undergone subsolidus re‐equilibration. In addition, measured melt inclusion compositions plot along the MELTS‐calculated liquid line of descent and may represent pockets of melt trapped at various stages during crystallization. We attempt to resolve discrepancies between previous estimates of the Nakhla parental melt composition and to reinterpret the results of a previous study of rehomogenized melt inclusions in Nakhla. Melt inclusions demonstrate that Nakhla is an igneous rock whose parent melt composition and crystallization history reflect planetary igneous processes.