Experimental simulation of atmospheric entry of micrometeorites

Abstract— Depending on their velocity, entry angle and mass, micrometeorites suffer different degrees of heating during their deceleration in the Earth's atmosphere, leading, in most cases, to significant textural, mineralogical and chemical modifications. One of these modifications is the formation of a magnetite shell around most micrometeorites, which until now could not be reproduced, neither theoretically nor experimentally. The present study was designed to better understand the entry heating effects on micrometeorites and especially the formation of the magnetite shell. Fragments of the Murchison and Orgueil meteorites were used as analogue material in flash‐heating experiments performed in a high‐temperature furnace; effects of temperature, heating duration, and oxygen fugacity were investigated. These experiments were able to reproduce most of the micrometeorites textures, from the vesicular fine‐grained micrometeorites to the totally melted cosmic spherules. For the first time, the formation of a magnetite shell could be observed on micrometeorite analogues. We suggest that the most plausible mechanism for the formation of this shell is a peripheral partial melting with subsequent magnetite crystallization at the surface of the micrometeorite. Furthermore, with this study, it is possible to estimate the atmospheric entry conditions of micrometeorites, such as the peak temperature and the duration of flash‐heating.     

Si‐bearing metal and niningerite in Almahata Sitta fine‐grained ureilites and insights into the diversity of metal on the ureilite parent body

A detailed mineralogical and chemical study of Almahata Sitta fine‐grained ureilites (MS‐20, MS‐165, MS‐168) was performed to shed light on the origin of these lithologies and their sulfide and metal. The Almahata Sitta fine‐grained ureilites (silicates <30 μm grain size) show textural and chemical evidence for severe impact smelting as described for other fine‐grained ureilites. Highly reduced areas in Almahata Sitta fine‐grained ureilites show large (up to ～1 mm) Si‐bearing metal grains (up to ～4.5 wt% Si) and niningerite [Mg_>0.5,(Mn,Fe)_<0.5S] with some similarities to the mineralogy of enstatite (E) chondrites. Overall, metal grains show a large compositional variability in Ni and Si concentrations. Niningerite grains probably formed as a by‐product of smelting via sulfidation. The large Si‐Ni variation in fine‐grained ureilite metal could be the result of variable degrees of reduction during impact smelting, inherited from coarse‐grained ureilite precursors, or a combination of both. Large Si‐bearing metal grains probably formed via coalescence of existing and newly formed metal during impact smelting. Bulk and in situ siderophile trace element abundances indicate three distinct populations of (1) metal crystallized from partial melts in MS‐20, (2) metal resembling bulk chondritic compositions in MS‐165, and (3) residual metal in MS‐168. Almahata Sitta fine‐grained ureilites developed their distinctive mineralogy due to severe reduction during smelting. Despite the presence of E chondrite and ureilite stones in the Almahata Sitta fall, a mixing relation of E chondrites or their constituents and ureilite material in Almahata Sitta can be ruled out based on isotopic, textural, and mineral‐chemical reasons.     

Yamato 86029: Aqueously altered and thermally metamorphosed CI‐like chondrite with unusual textures

Abstract— We describe the petrologic and trace element characteristics of the Yamato 86029 (Y‐86029) meteorite. Y‐86029 is a breccia consisting of a variety of clasts, and abundant secondary minerals including coarse‐ and fine‐grained phyllosilicates, Fe‐Ni sulfides, carbonates, and magnetite. There are no chondrules, but a few anhydrous olivine‐rich grains are present within a very fine‐grained phyllosilicate‐rich matrix. Analyses of 14 thermally mobile trace elements suggest that Y‐86029 experienced moderate, open‐system thermal metamorphism. Comparison with data for other heated carbonaceous chondrites suggests metamorphic temperatures of 500–600°C for Y‐86029. This is apparent petrographically, in partial dehydration of phyllosilicates to incompletely re‐crystallized olivine. This transformation appears to proceed through ‘intermediate’ highly‐disordered ‘poorly crystalline’ phases consisting of newly formed olivine and residual desiccated phyllosilicate and their mixtures. Periclase is also present as a possible heating product of Mg‐rich carbonate precursors. Y‐86029 shows unusual textures rarely encountered in carbonaceous chondrites. The periclase occurs as unusually large Fe‐rich clasts (300–500 μm). Fine‐grained carbonates with uniform texture are also present as small (10–15 μm in diameter), rounded to sub‐rounded ‘shells’ of ankerite/siderite enclosing magnetite. These carbonates appear to have formed by low temperature aqueous alteration at specific thermal decomposition temperatures consistent with thermodynamic models of carbonate formation. The fine and uniform texture suggests crystallization from a fluid circulating in interconnected spaces throughout entire growth. One isolated aggregate in Y‐86029 also consists of a mosaic of polycrystalline olivine aggregates and sulfide blebs typical of shock‐induced melt re‐crystallization. Except for these unusual textures, the isotopic, petrologic and chemical characteristics of Y‐86029 are quite similar to those of Y‐82162, the only other heated CI‐like chondrite known. They were probably derived from similar asteroids rather than one asteroid, and hence may not necessarily be paired.     

Petrology of the Indian eucrite Piplia Kalan

Abstract— Piplia Kalan is an equilibrated eucrite consisting of 60–80 vol% lithic clasts in a subordinate brecciated matrix. Ophitic/subophitic clasts fall into two groups: finer‐grained lithology A and coarser‐grained lithology B. Very fine‐grained clasts with equigranular textures (lithology C) also occur and originally were hypocrystalline in texture. The variety of materials represented in Piplia Kalan suggests cooling histories ranging from quenching to slower crystallization. Despite textural differences, clasts and matrix have similar mineral and bulk compositions. Thus, Piplia Kalan is probably best classified as a genomict breccia that could represent fragments of a single lava flow or shallow intrusive body, including fine‐grained or glassy outer margin and more slowly cooled coarser‐grained interior. Bulk composition suggests that the meteorite is most closely related to the main group eucrites, but it probably was affected by minor amounts of fractional crystallization. Piplia Kalan displays evidence of an early shock event, including brecciated matrix and areas of lithic clasts that contain very fine‐grained, granular pyroxene between deformed feldspar laths. The meteorite also displays evidence of at least one episode of extensive thermal metamorphism: hypocrystalline materials are recrystallized to hornfelsic textures and minerals throughout the meteorite contain abundant inclusions that are relatively large in size. Veins of brown glass transect both clasts and matrix and indicate a second, postmetamorphism shock event.     

The fate of primary iron sulfides in the CM1 carbonaceous chondrites: Effects of advanced aqueous alteration on primary components

We have carried out a SEM-EPMA-TEM study to determine the textures and compositions of relict primary iron sulfides and their alteration products in a suite of moderately to heavily altered CM1 carbonaceous chondrites. We observed four textural groups of altered primary iron sulfides: (1) pentlandite+phyllosilicate (2P) grains, characterized by pentlandite with submicron lenses of phyllosilicates; (2) pyrrhotite+pentlandite+magnetite (PPM) grains, characterized by pyrrhotite–pentlandite exsolution textures with magnetite veining and secondary pentlandite; (3) pentlandite+serpentine (PS) grains, characterized by relict pentlandite exsolution, serpentine, and secondary pentlandite; and (4) pyrrhotite+pentlandite+magnetite+serpentine (PPMS) grains, characterized by features of both the PPM and PS grains. We have determined that all four groups were initially primary iron sulfides, which formed from crystallization of immiscible sulfide melts within silicate chondrules in the solar nebula. The fact that such different alteration products could result from the same precursor sulfides within even the same meteorite sample further underscores the complexity of the aqueous alteration environment for the CM chondrites. The different alteration reactions for each textural group place constraints on the mechanisms and conditions of alteration with evidence for acidic environments, oxidizing environments, and changing fluid compositions (Ni-bearing and Si-Mg-bearing).     

Mineralogy and oxygen isotope systematics of magnetite grains and a magnetite‐dolomite assemblage in hydrated fine‐grained Antarctic micrometeorites

We report the mineralogy and texture of magnetite grains, a magnetite‐dolomite assemblage, and the adjacent mineral phases in five hydrated fine‐grained Antarctic micrometeorites (H‐FgMMs). Additionally, we measured the oxygen isotopic composition of magnetite grains and a magnetite‐dolomite assemblage in these samples. Our mineralogical study shows that the secondary phases identified in H‐FgMMs have similar textures and chemical compositions to those described previously in other primitive solar system materials, such as carbonaceous chondrites. However, the oxygen isotopic compositions of magnetite in H‐FgMMs span a range of ?¹⁷O values from +1.3‰ to +4.2‰, which is intermediate between magnetites measured in carbonaceous and ordinary chondrites (CCs and OCs). The δ¹⁸O values of magnetites in one H‐FgMM have a ~27‰ mass‐dependent spread in a single 100 × 200 μm particle, indicating that there was a localized control of the fluid composition, probably due to a low water‐to‐rock mass ratio. The ?¹⁷O values of magnetite indicate that H‐FgMMs sampled a different aqueous fluid than ordinary and carbonaceous chondrites, implying that the source of H‐FgMMs is probably distinct from the asteroidal source of CCs and OCs. Additionally, we analyzed the oxygen isotopic composition of a magnetite‐dolomite assemblage in one of the H‐FgMMs (sample 03‐36‐46) to investigate the temperature at which these minerals coprecipitated. We have used the oxygen isotope fractionation between the coexisting magnetite and dolomite to infer a precipitation temperature between 160 and 280 °C for this sample. This alteration temperature is ~100–200 °C warmer than that determined from a calcite‐magnetite assemblage from the CR2 chondrite Al Rais, but similar to the estimated temperature of aqueous alteration for unequilibrated OCs, CIs, and CMs. This suggests that the sample 03‐36‐46 could come from a parent body that was large enough to attain temperatures as high as the OCs, CIs, and CMs, which implies an asteroidal origin for this particular H‐FgMM.     

Oxygen isotopic alteration in Ca‐Al‐rich inclusions from Efremovka: Nebular or parent body setting?

Abstract— In situ SIMS oxygen isotope data were collected from a coarse‐grained type B1 Ca‐Al‐rich inclusion (CAI) and an adjacent fine‐grained CAI in the reduced CV3 Efremovka to evaluate the timing of isotopic alteration of these two objects. The coarse‐grained CAI (CGI‐10) is a sub‐spherical object composed of elongate, euhedral, normally‐zoned melilite crystals ranging up to several hundreds of Pm in length, coarse‐grained anorthite and Al, Ti‐diopside (fassaite), all with finegrained (～10 μm across) inclusions of spinel. Similar to many previously examined coarse‐grained CAIs from CV chondrites, spinel and fassaite are ¹⁶O‐rich and melilite is ¹⁶O‐poor, but in contrast to many previous results, anorthite is ¹⁶O‐rich. Isotopic composition does not vary with textural setting in the CAI: analyses of melilite from the core and mantle and analyses from a variety of major element compositions yield consistent ¹⁶O‐poor compositions. CGI‐10 originated in an ¹⁶O‐rich environment, and subsequent alteration resulted in complete isotopic exchange in melilite. The fine‐grained CAI (FGI‐12) also preserves evidence of a 1st‐generation origin in an ¹⁶O‐rich setting but underwent less severe isotopic alteration. FGI‐12 is composed of spinel ± melilite nodules linked by a mass of Al‐diopside and minor forsterite along the CAI rim. All minerals are very fine‐grained (<5 μm) with no apparent igneous textures or zoning. Spinel, Al‐diopside, and forsterite are ¹⁶O‐rich, while melilite is variably depleted in ¹⁶O (δ^17,18O from ～‐40‰ to ?5‰). The contrast in isotopic distributions in CGI‐10 and FGI‐12 is opposite to the pattern that would result from simultaneous alteration: the object with finer‐grained melilite and a greater surface area/ volume has undergone less isotopic exchange than the coarser‐grained object. Thus, the two CAIs were altered in different settings. As the CAIs are adjacent to each other in the meteorite, isotopic exchange in CGI‐10 must have preceded incorporation of this CAI in the Efremovka parent body. This supports a nebular setting for isotopic alteration of the commonly observed ¹⁶O‐poor melilite in coarse‐grained CAIs from CV chondrites.     

Petrology and geochemistry of the Northwest Africa 3368 eucrite

Abstract– Analysis of the mineralogy, isotopic, and bulk compositions of the eucrite meteorites is imperative for understanding their origin on the asteroid 4 Vesta, the proposed parent body of the HED meteorites. We present here the petrology, mineral compositions, and bulk chemistry of several lithic components of the new brecciated basaltic eucrite Northwest Africa (NWA) 3368 to determine if all the lithologies reflect formation from one rock type or many rock types. The meteorite has three main lithologies: coarse‐ and fine‐grained clasts surrounded by a fine‐grained recrystallized silicate matrix. Silicate compositions are homogeneous, and the average rare earth element pattern for NWA 3368 is approximately 10× CI chondrites with a slight negative Eu anomaly. Major and trace element data place NWA 3368 with the Main Group‐Nuevo Laredo trend. High‐Ti chromites with ilmenite exsolution lamellae provide evidence of NWA 3368’s history of intense metamorphism. We suggest that this meteorite underwent several episodes of brecciation and metamorphism, similar to that proposed by Metzler et al. (1995) . We conclude that NWA 3368 is a monomict basaltic eucrite breccia related to known eucrites in texture and in mineral, bulk, and oxygen isotopic composition.     

Microchondrules in three unequilibrated ordinary chondrites

We report on a suite of microchondrules from three unequilibrated ordinary chondrites (UOCs). Microchondrules, a subset of chondrules that are ubiquitous components of UOCs, commonly occur in fine‐grained chondrule rims, although may also occur within matrix. Microchondrules have a variety of textures: cryptocrystalline, microporphyritic, radial, glassy. In some cases, their textures, and in many cases, their compositions, are similar to their larger host chondrules. Bulk compositions for both chondrule populations frequently overlap. The primary material that composes many of the microchondrules has compositions that are pyroxene‐normative and is similar to low‐Ca‐pyroxene phenocrysts from host chondrules; primary material rarely resembles olivine or plagioclase. Some microchondrules are composed of FeO‐rich material that has compositions similar to the bulk submicron fine‐grained rim material. These microchondrules, however, are not a common compositional type and probably represent secondary FeO‐enrichment. Microchondrules may also be porous, suggestive of degasing to form vesicles. Our work shows that the occurrence of microchondrules in chondrule rims is an important constraint that needs to be considered when evaluating chondrule‐forming mechanisms. We propose that microchondrules represent melted portions of the chondrule surfaces and/or the melt products of coagulated dust in the immediate vicinity of the larger chondrules. We suggest that, through recycling events, the outer surfaces of chondrules were heated enough to allow microchondrules to bud off as protuberances and become entrained in the surrounding dusty environment as chondrules were accreting fine‐grained rims. Microchondrules are thus byproducts of cyclic processing of chondrules in localized environments. Their occurrence in fine‐grained rims represents a snapshot of the chondrule‐forming environment. We evaluate mechanisms for microchondrule formation and hypothesize a potential link between the emergence of type II chondrules in the early solar system and the microchondrule‐bearing fine‐grained rims surrounding type I chondrules.     

Micrometeorites and Their Implications for Meteors

Micrometeorites (MMs) are extraterrestrial dust particles, in the size range 25–400 μm, recovered from the Earth’s surface. They have experienced a wide range of heating during atmospheric entry from completely molten spherules to particles heated to temperatures <300°C that have retained low temperature minerals. The majority of MMs have mineralogies, textures and compositions that strongly resemble components from chondritic meteorites suggesting these correspond to sporadic, low geocentric velocity meteors. Changes in MMs due to entry heating, however, have implications for meteoric processes in general that may allow the observed behaviour of meteors to be directly related to the material properties of their meteoroids.     

The atmospheric entry of fine‐grained micrometeorites: The role of volatile gases in heating and fragmentation

The early stages of atmospheric entry are investigated in four large (250–950 μm) unmelted micrometeorites (three fine‐grained and one composite), derived from the Transantarctic Mountain micrometeorite collection. These particles have abundant, interconnected, secondary pore spaces which form branching channels and show evidence of enhanced heating along their channel walls. Additionally, a micrometeorite with a double‐walled igneous rim is described, suggesting that some particles undergo volume expansion during entry. This study provides new textural data which links together entry heating processes known to operate inside micrometeoroids, thereby generating a more comprehensive model of their petrographic evolution. Initially, flash heated micrometeorites develop a melt layer on their exterior; this igneous rim migrates inwards. Meanwhile, the particle core is heated by the decomposition of low‐temperature phases and by volatile gas release. Where the igneous rim acts as a seal, gas pressures rise, resulting in the formation of interconnected voids and higher particle porosities. Eventually, the igneous rim is breached and gas exchange with the atmosphere occurs. This mechanism replaces inefficient conductive rim‐to‐core thermal gradients with more efficient particle‐wide heating, driven by convective gas flow. Interconnected voids also increase the likelihood of particle fragmentation during entry and, may therefore explain the rarity of large fine‐grained micrometeorites among collections.     

Chondrules: Precursors and interactions with the nebular gas

Abstract– Chondrule compositions suggest either ferroan precursors and evaporation, or magnesian precursors and condensation. Type I chondrule precursors include granoblastic olivine aggregates (planetary or nebular) and fine‐grained (dustball) precursors. In carbonaceous chondrites, type I chondrule precursors were S‐free, while type II chondrules have higher Fe/Mn than in ordinary chondrites. Many type II chondrules contain diverse forsteritic relicts, consistent with polymict dustball precursors. The relationship between finer and coarser grained type I chondrules in ordinary chondrites suggests more evaporation from more highly melted chondrules. Fe metal in type I, and Na and S in type II chondrules indicate high partial pressures in ambient gas, as they are rapidly evaporated at canonical conditions. The occurrence of metal, sulfide, or low‐Ca pyroxene on chondrule rims suggests (re)condensation. In Semarkona type II chondrules, Na‐rich olivine cores, Na‐poor melt inclusions, and Na‐rich mesostases suggest evaporation followed by recondensation. Type II chondrules have correlated FeO and MnO, consistent with condensation onto forsteritic precursors, but with different ratios in carbonaceous chondrites and ordinary chondrites, indicating different redox history. The high partial pressures of lithophile elements require large dense clouds, either clumps in the protoplanetary disk, impact plumes, or bow shocks around protoplanets. In ordinary chondrites, clusters of type I and type II chondrules indicate high number densities and their similar oxygen isotopic compositions suggest recycling together. In carbonaceous chondrites, the much less abundant type II chondrules were probably added late to batches of type I chondrules from different O isotopic reservoirs.     

The GRO 95577 CR1 chondrite and hydration of the CR parent body

Abstract— We carried out a petrologic and instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) whole chondrite compositional study of Grosvenor Mountains (GRO) 95577. GRO 95577 has many petrological similarities to the CR chondrites. Although the INAA data show patterns indicative of terrestrial weathering, some of the elemental abundances are consistent with a relationship to CR chondrites. The oxygen isotopic composition of GRO 95577 plots close to the Renazzo CR chondrite on the three‐isotope diagram. However, GRO 95577 is remarkable in that the chondrules are completely hydrated, consisting almost entirely of phyllosilicates, magnetite, and sulfides. Although GRO 95577 is completely hydrated, the initial chondrule textures are perfectly preserved. The chondrules are in sharp contact with the matrix, their fine‐grained rims are clearly visible, and the boundaries of the dark inclusions can be easily discerned. Many chondrules in GRO 95577 have textures suggestive of type I chondrules, but the phenocrysts have undergone perfect pseudomorphic replacement by yellow to brownish serpentine‐rich phyllosilicate, with sharp original crystal outlines preserved. The chondrule mesostasis is a green aluminous chlorite‐rich material, most likely a hydration product of the feldspathic mesostasis commonly found in anhydrous type I chondrules. Some chondrules contain magnetite spheres, most likely formed by oxidation of metal. We propose that GRO 95577 be classified as a CR1 chondrite, making it the first known CR1 chondrite and expanding the range of alteration conditions on the CR parent body.     

Noble gas isotopes and mineral assemblages of Antarctic micrometeorites collected at the meteorite ice field around the Yamato Mountains

Abstract— From November 1998 to January 1999, the 39th Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE) conducted a large‐scale micrometeorite collection at 3 areas in the meteorite ice field around the Yamato Mountains, Antarctica. The Antarctic micrometeorites (AMMs) collected were ancient cosmic dust particles. This is in contrast with the Dome Fuji AMMs, which were collected previously from fresh snows in 1996 and 1997 and which represent modern micrometeorites. To determine the noble gas concentrations and isotopic compositions of individual AMMs, noble gas analyses were carried out using laser‐gas extraction for 35 unmelted Yamato Mountains AMMs and 3 cosmic spherules. X‐ray diffraction analyses were performed on 13 AMMs before the noble gas measurement and mineral compositions were determined. AMMs are classified into 4 main mineralogical groups, defined from the heating they suffered during atmospheric entry. Heating temperatures of AMMs, inferred from their mineral compositions, are correlated with ⁴He concentrations and reflect the effect of degassing during atmospheric entry. Jarosite, an aqueous alteration product, is detected for 4 AMMs, indicating the aqueous alteration during long‐time storage in Antarctic ice. Jarosite‐bearing AMMs have relatively low concentrations of 4He, which is suggestive of loss during the alteration. High ³He/⁴He ratios are detected for AMMs with high ²⁰Ne/⁴He ratios, showing both cosmogenic ³He and preferential He loss. SEP (solar energetic particles)‐He and Ne, rather than the solar wind (SW), were dominant in AMMs, presumably showing a preferential removal of the more shallowly implanted SW by atmospheric entry heating. The mean ²⁰Ne/²²Ne ratio is 11.27 ± 0.35, which is close to the SEP value of 11.2. Cosmogenic ²¹Ne is not detected in any of the particles, which is probably due to the short cosmic ray exposure ages. Ar isotopic compositions are explained by 3‐component mixing of air, Q, and SEP‐Ar. Ar isotopic compositions can not be explained without significant contributions of Q‐Ar. SEP‐Ne contributed more than 99% of the total Ne. As for ³⁶Ar and ³⁸Ar, the abundance of the Q component is comparable to that of the SEP component. ⁸⁴Kr and ¹³²Xe are dominated by the primordial component, and solar‐derived Xe is almost negligible.     

Ordinary chondritic micrometeorites from the Indian Ocean

Extraterrestrial particulate materials on the Earth can originate in the form of collisional debris from the asteroid belt, cometary material, or as meteoroid ablation spherules. Signatures that link them to their parent bodies become obliterated if the frictional heating is severe during atmospheric entry. We investigated 481 micrometeorites isolated from ~300 kg of deep sea sediment, out of which 15 spherules appear to have retained signatures of their provenance, based on their textures, bulk chemical compositions, and relict grain compositions. Seven of these 15 spherules contain chromite grains whose compositions help in distinguishing subgroups within the ordinary chondrite sources. There are seven other spherules which comprise either entirely of dusty olivines or contain dusty olivines as relict grains. Two of these spherules appear to be chondrules from an unequilibrated ordinary chondrite. In addition, a porphyritic olivine pyroxene (POP) chondrule‐like spherule is also recovered. The bulk chemical composition of all the spherules, in combination with trace elements, the chromite composition, and presence of dusty olivines suggest an ordinary chondritic source. These micrometeorites have undergone minimal frictional heating during their passage through the atmosphere and have retained these features. These micrometeorites therefore also imply there is a significant contribution from ordinary chondritic sources to the micrometeorite flux on the Earth.     

Magnesium isotopic fractionations in barred olivine chondrules from the Allende meteorite

Abstract— The Mg‐isotopic compositions in five barred olivine (BO) chondrules, one coarse‐grained rim of a BO chondrule, a relic spinel in a BO chondrule, one skeletal olivine chondrule similar to BO chondrules in mineralogy and composition, and two non‐BO chondrules from the Allende meteorite have been measured by thermal ionization mass spectrometry. The Mg isotopes are not fractionated and are within terrestrial standard values (±2.0%o per amu) in seven of the eight analyzed ferromagnesian chondrules. A clump of relic spinel grain and its host BO chondrule R‐11 give well‐resolvable Mg fractionations that show an enrichment of the heavier isotopes, up to +2.5%‰ per amu. The Mg‐isotopic compositions of coarse‐grained rim are identical to those of the host chondrule with BO texture. The results imply that ferromagnesian and refractory precursor components of the Allende chondrule may have been formed from isotopically heterogeneous reservoirs. In the nebula region where Allende chondrules formed, recycling of chondrules and multiple high‐temperature heating did not significantly alter the chemical and isotopic memory of earlier generations. Chemical and isotopic characteristics of refractory precursors of carbonaceous chondrite chondrules and CAIs are more closely related than previously thought. One of the refractory chondrule precursors of CV Allende is enriched in the heavier Mg isotopes and different from those of more common ferromagnesian chondrule precursors. The most probable scenario at the location where chondrule R‐11 formed is as follows. Before chondrule formation, several high‐temperature events occurred and then RPMs, refractory oxides, and silicates condensed from the nebular gas in which Mg isotopes were fractionated. Then, this CAI was transported into the chondrule formation region and mixed with more common, ferromagnesian precursors with normal Mg isotopes, and formed the BO chondrule. Because Mg isotope heterogeneity among silicates and spinel are found in some CAIs (Esat and Taylor, 1984), we cannot rule out the possibility that Mg isotopes of a melted portion of the refractory precursor (i.e., outer portion of CAI) are normal or enriched in the light isotope. Magnesium isotopes in the R‐11 host are also enriched in the heavier isotopes, +2.5%o per amu, which suggests that effects of isotopic heterogeneity among silicates and spinel, if they existed, are not considered to be large. It is possible that CAI precursor silicates partially dissolved during the chondrule forming event, contributing Mg to the melt and producing a uniform Mg‐isotopic signature but enriched in the heavier Mg isotopes, +2.5%‰ per amu. Most Mg isotopes in more common ferromagnesian chondrules represent normal chondritic material. Chemical and Mg‐isotopic signatures formed during nebular fractionations were not destroyed during thermal processes that formed the chondrule, and these were partly preserved in relic phases. Recycling of Allende chondrules and multiple heating at high temperature did not significantly alter the chemical and Mg‐isotopic memory of earlier generations.     

Nickel abundance in stony cosmic spherules: Constraining precursor material and formation mechanisms

Abstract– We report bulk and olivine compositions in 66 stony cosmic spherules (Na₂O < 0.76 wt%), 200–800 μm in size, from the Transantarctic Mountains, Antarctica. In porphyritic cosmic spherules, relict olivines that survived atmospheric entry heating are always Ni‐poor and similar in composition to the olivines in carbonaceous or unequilibrated ordinary chondrites (18 spherules), and equilibrated ordinary chondrites (one spherule). This is consistent with selective survival of high temperature, Mg‐rich olivines during atmospheric entry. Olivines that crystallized from the melts produced during atmospheric entry have NiO contents that increase with increasing NiO in the bulk spherule, and that range from values similar to those observed in chondritic olivines (NiO generally <0.5 wt%) to values characteristic of olivines in meteoritic ablation spheres (NiO > 2 wt%). Thus, NiO content in olivine cannot be used alone to distinguish meteoritic ablation spheres from cosmic spherules, and the volatile element contents have to be considered. We propose that the variation in NiO contents in cosmic spherules and their olivines is the result of variable content of Fe, Ni metal in the precursor. NiO contents in olivines and in cosmic spherules can thus be used to discuss their parent body. Ni‐poor spherules can be derived from C‐rich and/or metal‐poor precursors, either related to CM, CI, CR chondrites or to chondritic fragments dominated by silicates, regardless of the parent body. Ni‐rich spherules (NiO > 0.7 wt%) that represent 55% of the 47 barred‐olivine spherules we studied, were derived from the melting of C‐poor, metal‐rich precursors, compatible with ordinary chondrite or CO, CV, CK carbonaceous chondrite parentages.     

Kosmochloric Ca‐rich pyroxenes and FeO‐rich olivines (Kool grains) and associated phases in Stardust tracks and chondritic porous interplanetary dust particles: Possible precursors to FeO‐rich type II chondrules in ordinary chondrites

Abstract— Terminal particles and mineral fragments from comet 81P/Wild 2 were studied in 16 aerogel tracks by transmission and secondary electron microscopy. In eight tracks clinopyroxenes with correlated Na₂O and Cr₂O₃ contents as high as 6.0 wt% and 13.0 wt%, respectively, were found. Kosmochloric (Ko) clinopyroxenes were also observed in 4 chondritic interplanetary dust particles (IDPs). The Ko‐clinopyroxenes were often associated with FeO‐rich olivine ± Cr‐rich spinel ± aluminosilicate glass or albitic feldspar, assemblages referred to as Kool grains (Ko = kosmochloric Ca‐rich pyroxene, ol = olivine). Fine‐grained (submicron) Kool fragments have textures suggestive of crystallization from melts while coarse‐grained (>1 μm) Kool fragments are often glass‐free and may have formed by thermal metamorphism in the nebula. Average major and minor element distributions between clinopyroxenes and coexisting FeO‐rich olivines are consistent with these phases forming at or near equilibrium. In glass‐bearing fine‐grained Kool fragments, high concentrations of Na in the clinopyroxenes are inconsistent with existing experimentally determined partition coefficients at equilibrium. We speculate that the availability of Cr in the melt increased the clinopyroxene Na partition coefficient via a coupled substitution thereby enhancing this phase with the kosmochlor component. The high temperature minerals, fine‐grain sizes, bulk compositions and common occurrence in the SD tracks and IDPs support the idea that Kool grains could have been precursors to type II chondrules in ordinary chondrites. These grains, however, have not been observed in these meteorites suggesting that they were destroyed during chondrule formation and recycling or were not present in the nebula at the time and location where meteoritic chondrules formed.     

New eucrite Dar al Gani 872: Petrography,chemical composition,and evolution

Abstract— Dar al Gani 872 (DaG 872) is a new meteorite from Libya that we classified by means of Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA), electron microprobe, and optical microscopy. According to our results, DaG 872 is a Mg‐rich main group eucrite, i.e., a monomict noncumulate basaltic eucrite displaying a predominant coarse‐grained relict subophitic and a fine‐grained granulitic texture. The meteorite also shows pockets of late‐stage mesostasis and is penetrated by several calcite veins due to terrestrial weathering. Finally, it exhibits shock phenomena of stage 1–2 including heavily fractured mineral components, undulose extinction of plagioclase, kinked lamellae, and mosaicism in pyroxenes corresponding to peak pressures of ?20 GPa. In view of petrographic criteria as well as compositional and exsolution characteristics of its pyroxenes, the sample represents a metamorphic type 5 eucrite. Assuming the metamorphic type to be a function of burial depth on the parent body and taking into account the relatively high shock stage, the excavation of DaG 872 was likely induced by a major impact event. Prior to this point, DaG 872 apparently underwent a 4‐stage geological evolution that is reflected by intricate textural and mineralogical features.     

Nitrogen and noble gases in micrometeorites

Abstract— Micrometeorites (MMs) currently represent the largest steady‐state mass flux of extraterrestrial matter to Earth and may have delivered a significant fraction of volatile elements and organics to the Earth's surface. Nitrogen and noble gases contents and isotopic ratios have been measured in a suite of 17 micrometeorites recovered in Antarctica (sampled in blue ice at Cap Prudhomme) and Greenland (separated from cryoconite) that have experienced variable thermal metamorphism during atmospheric entry. MMs were pyrolized using a CO₂ laser and the released gases were analyzed for nitrogen and noble gas abundances and isotopic ratios by static mass spectrometry after specific purification. Noble gases are a mixture of cosmogenic, solar, atmospheric, and possibly chondritic components, with atmospheric being predominant in severely heated MMs. δ¹⁵N values vary between ?240 ± 62‰ and +206 ± 12‰, with most values being within the range of terrestrial and chondritic signatures, given the uncertainties. Crystalline MMs present very high noble gas contents up to two orders of magnitude higher than carbonaceous chondrite concentrations. In contrast, nitrogen contents between 4 ppm and 165 ppm are much lower than those of carbonaceous chondrites, evidencing either initially low N content in MMs and/or degradation of phases hosting nitrogen during atmospheric entry heating and terrestrial weathering. Assuming that the original N content of MMs was comparable to that of carbonaceous chondrites, the contribution of nitrogen delivery by these objects to the terrestrial environment would have been probably marginal from 3.8 Gyr ago to present but could have been significant (?10%) in the Hadean, and even predominant during the latest stages of terrestrial accretion.