Denman 002: A new CV3 chondrite from South Australia

Abstract— Denman 002 is a new Australian carbonaceous chondrite. A single stone of 30 g was recovered in 1991 May near Fisher Station on the Trans Australian Railway, Nullarbor Plain, South Australia (30°36′S, 130°04′E). Texture, mineral and chemical composition indicate that it is a CV3 chondrite of oxidised subgroup with several similarities to Allende. It is composed of sharply defined chondrules, Ca-Al rich inclusions up to 3.5 mm across, olivine aggregates and fine-grained, nearly opaque matrix (40 vol%). Silicates are compositionally highly heterogeneous (olivine Fa: 0.2–45.6 mol%, PMD: 109.7). Denman 002 shows shock effects of stage SI and weathering of category A.     

The Galim LL/EH polymict breccia: Evidence for impact-induced exchange between reduced and oxidized meteoritic material

Abstract— Galim is a polymict breccia consisting of a heavily shocked (shock stage S6) LL6 chondrite, Galim (a), and an impact-melted EH chondrite, Galim (b). Relict chondrules in Galim (b) served as nucleation sites for euhedral enstatite grains crystallizing from the impact melt. Many of the reduced phases typical of EH chondrites (e.g., Si-bearing metallic Fe-Ni; Ti-bearing troilite) are absent. Galim (b) was probably shock-melted while in contact with a more oxidized source, namely, Galim (a); during this event, Si was oxidized from the metal and Ti was oxidized from troilite. Galim (a) contains shock veins and recrystallized, unzoned olivine. The absence of evidence for reduction in Galim (a) may indicate that the amount of LL material greatly exceeded that of EH material; shock metamorphism may have taken place on the LL parent body. Shock-induced redox reactions such as those inferred for the Galim breccia appear to be restricted mainly to asteroids because the low-end tail of their relative-velocity distribution permits mixing of intact disparate materials (including accretion of projectiles of different oxidation states), whereas the peak of the distribution leads to high equilibration shock pressures (allowing impact-induced exchange between previously accreted, disequilibrated materials). Galim probably formed by a two-stage process: (1) accretion to the LL parent body of an intact EH projectile at low relative velocities, and (2) shock metamorphism of the assemblage by the subsequent impact of another projectile at significantly higher relative velocities.     

The Binningup H5 Chondrite: A New Fall from Western Australia

Abstract— Following a brilliant daylight fireball at 10:10 a.m. (local time) on 30 September 1984, a single stone weighing 488.1 grams was recovered from Binningup beach (33°09′23″S, 115°40′35″E), Western Australia. Data from 23 reported sightings of the fireball indicate an angle of trajectory 20–40° from the horizontal, a flight-path bearing N210°E and an end-point (ca. 32°39′S, 115°54.5′E) at a height of ～20–30 km. A recrystallized chondritic texture and the presence of olivine and low-Ca orthopyroxene with compositions of Fa_18.4 (PMD 1.1)and Fs_16.1 (PMD 1.1), respectively, show that Binningup is a typical member of the H-group of ordinary chondrites. Uniform mineral compositions and the presence of generally microcrystalline plagioclase feldspar indicate that the meteorite belongs to petrologic type 5. Pervasive fracturing of silicates suggests mild pre-terrestrial shock loading. Measurements (dpm kg^?1) of cosmogenic radionuclides including ²²Na (61 ± 5), ²⁶Al (49 ± 3) and ⁵⁴Mn (66 ± 10) indicate a normal history of irradiation.     

Northwest Africa 428: Impact‐induced annealing of an L6 chondrite breccia

Abstract— Northwest Africa (NWA) 428 is an L chondrite that was successively thermally metamorphosed to petrologic type‐6, shocked to stage S4–S5, brecciated, and annealed to approximately petrologic type‐4. Its thermal and shock history resembles that of the previously studied LL6 chondrite, Miller Range (MIL) 99301, which formed on a different asteroid. The petrologic type‐6 classification of NWA 428 is based on its highly recrystallized texture, coarse metal (150 ± 150 μm), troilite (100 ± 170 μm), and plagioclase (20–60 μm) grains, and relatively homogeneous olivine (Fa_{24.4 ± 0.6}), low‐Ca pyroxene (Fs_{20.5 ± 0.4}), and plagioclase (Ab_{84.2 ± 0.4}) compositions. The petrographic criteria that indicate shock stage S4–S5 include the presence of chromite veinlets, chromite‐plagioclase assemblages, numerous occurrences of metallic Cu, irregular troilite grains within metallic Fe‐Ni, polycrystalline troilite, duplex plessite, metal and troilite veins, large troilite nodules, and low‐Ca clinopyroxene with polysynthetic twins. If the rock had been shocked before thermal metamorphism, low‐Ca clinopyroxene produced by the shock event would have transformed into orthopyroxene. Post‐shock brecciation is indicated by the presence of recrystallized clasts and highly shocked clasts that form sharp boundaries with the host. Post‐shock annealing is indicated by the sharp optical extinction of the olivine grains; during annealing, the damaged olivine crystal lattices healed. If temperatures exceeded those approximating petrologic type‐4 (?600–700°C) during annealing, the low‐Ca clinopyroxene would have transformed into orthopyroxene. The other shock indicators, likewise, survived the mild annealing. An impact event is the most plausible source of post‐metamorphic, post‐shock annealing because any ²⁶Al that may have been present when the asteroid accreted would have decayed away by the time NWA 428 was annealed. The similar inferred histories of NWA 428 (L6) and MIL 99301 (LL6) indicate that impact heating affected more than 1 ordinary chondrite parent body.     

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION,PETROGRAPHY AND MINERALOGY OF THE SHIBAYAMA CHONDRITE FOUND IN SHIBAYAMA-MACHI,SANBU-GUN,CHIBA-KEN,JAPAN

In April 1969, the chondrite was accidentally found in the side wall of the vegetable storage excavated at Shibayama-machi, Sanbu-gun, Chiba-ken, Japan, by Mr. A. Ishii and his grandson, Mr. S. Ito. The chondrite named Shibayama has been weathered thoroughly for a long period of burial underground. The bulk chemical composition, especially total Fe (21.41%) and ratios of Fe_total/SiO₂(0.557), SiO₂/MgO (1.59) and molar composition of olivine (Fa₂₃) and pyroxene (Fs₂₂) as well as mineral composition, indicate that Shibayama is a typical olivine-hypersthene chondrite. If the oxidized Fe is assumed only from metallic Fe, the original metallic Fe (7.75%) and Fe_metal/Fe_total(0.361) also support the above conclusion. From the well-recrystallized texture, indistinct and obliterated chondrule-matrix boundary, homogeneous composition of olivine and pyroxene, absence of igneous glass, and interstitial and well-developed plagioclase, this chondrite could be classified in petrologic type 6. Mosaic texture, kink bands, undulatory extinction of silicate grains and maskelynitization of plagioclase indicate that Shibayama suffered from a heavy shock effect, as is seen in other L-6 group chondrites.     

On the possible origin of troilite‐metal nodules in the Katol chondrite (L6‐7)

Microtextural study of a single troilite‐metal nodule (TMN) from the Katol L6‐7 chondrite, a recent fall (May, 2012) in India suggests that the TMN is primarily an aggregate of submicron‐scale intergrowth of troilite and kamacite (mean Ni: 6.18 wt%) juxtaposed with intensely fractured silicates, mainly olivine (Fa: 25 mole%), low‐Ca pyroxene (Fs: 21.2 mole%), and a large volume of maskelynite. Evidence of shock textures in the TMN indicates a high degree of shock metamorphism that involves plagioclase‐maskelynite and olivine‐wadsleyite/ringwoodite transformations and formation of quenched metal‐sulfide melt textures due to localized shear‐induced frictional melting. It is inferred that the TMN formation is an independent, localized event by a high energy impact and its subsequent incorporation in the ejected chondritic fragment of the parent body. Katol chondrite has been calibrated with a peak shock pressure of S5 (~45 GPa) after Stöffler et al. (1991), whereas peak shock pressure within the TMN exceeds the shock facies S6 (>45 GPa) following Bennett and McSween (1996) and Stöffler et al. (1991). Overall, the shock‐thermal history of the Katol TMN is dissimilar as compared to the host chondrite.     

PETROLOGY OF NINE ORDINARY CHONDRITE FALLS FROM CHINA

Nine twentieth-century ordinary chondrite falls from China are described and classified. They include: Nantong (H6), Zaoyang (H5), Zhaodong (L4), Qidong (L-LL5), Raoyang (L6), Sheyang (L6), Guangnan (L6), Suizhou (L6) and Nan Yang Pao (L6). Kamacite in Qidong is rare and contains much more Co (15 mg/g) than is characteristic of L-group chondrites; Qidong may be a member of a chondrite group intermediate in its properties between L and LL. Zhaodong, Qidong, Raoyang, Sheyang and Suizhou have several olivine and/or low-Ca pyroxene grains with aberrant Fel(Fe + Mg) ratios; it is probable that these five chondrites are fragmental breccias. The lack of correlation between shock facies and occurrence of aberrant silicate grains suggests that breccia lithification caused only minimal shock effects in many meteorites. Alternatively, postshock annealing may have resulted in the recrystallization of shock-indicating phases, leading to assignment of a shock facies that is lower than that present immediately after the shock event.     

High‐pressure phases in shock‐induced melt of the unique highly shocked LL6 chondrite Northwest Africa 757

Northwest Africa 757 is unique in the LL chondrite group because of its abundant shock‐induced melt and high‐pressure minerals. Olivine fragments entrained in the melt transform partially and completely into ringwoodite. Plagioclase and Ca‐phosphate transform to maskelynite, lingunite, and tuite. Two distinct shock‐melt crystallization assemblages were studied by FIB‐TEM analysis. The first melt assemblage, which includes majoritic garnet, ringwoodite plus magnetite‐magnesiowüstite, crystallized at pressures of 20–25 GPa. The other melt assemblage, which consists of clinopyroxene and wadsleyite, solidified at ~15 GPa, suggesting a second veining event under lower pressure conditions. These shock features are similar to those in S6 L chondrites and indicate that NWA 757 experienced an intense impact event, comparable to the impact event that disrupted the L chondrite parent body at 470 Ma.     

New mineralogical and chemical data on the Machinga (L6) chondrite,Malawi

Abstract— The Machinga, southern Malawi, Africa, L6 chondrite (observed fall, 22 January 1981) contains accessory phases of metal, troilite, chromite, and native Cu (which is associated with limonite and found in zones of aqueous alteration). Rare accessory phases are apatite and pentlandite, which are uncommon in L6 chondrites. Major mineral constituents (olivine, orthopyroxene, and plagioclase) indicate shock effects at a level of about 15–20 GPa shock pressure. The meteorite is thus classified to be of L6d type. Melt pockets of widely variable composition are abundant.     

Shock stage distribution of 2280 ordinary chondrites—Can bulk chondrites with a shock stage of S6 exist as individual rocks?

The brecciation and shock classification of 2280 ordinary chondrites of the meteorite thin section collection at the Institut für Planetologie (Münster) has been determined. The shock degree of S3 is the most abundant shock stage for the H and LL chondrites (44% and 41%, respectively), while the L chondrites are on average more heavily shocked having more than 40% of rocks of shock stage S4. Among the H and LL chondrites, 40–50% are “unshocked” or “very weakly shocked.” Considering the petrologic types, in general, the shock degree is increasing with petrologic type. This is the case for all meteorite groups. The main criteria to define a rock as an S6 chondrite are the solid‐state recrystallization and staining of olivine and the melting of plagioclase often accompanied by the formation of high‐pressure phases like ringwoodite. These characteristics are typically restricted to local regions of a bulk chondrite in or near melt zones. In the past, the identification of high‐pressure minerals (e.g., ringwoodite) was often taken as an automatic and practical criterion for a S6 classification during chondrite bulk rock studies. The shock stage classification of many significantly shocked chondrites (>S3) revealed that most ringwoodite‐bearing rocks still contain more than 25% plagioclase (74%). Thus, these bulk chondrites do not even fulfill the S5 criterion (e.g., 75% of plagioclase has to be transformed into maskelynite) and have to be classified as S4. Studying chondrites on typically large thin sections (several cm²) and/or using samples from different areas of the meteorites, bulk chondrites of shock stage S6 should be extremely rare. In this respect, the paper will discuss the probability of the existence of bulk rocks of S6.     

Consortium study of the unusual H chondrite regolith breccia,Noblesville

Abstract— The Noblesville meteorite is a genomict, regolith breccia (H6 clasts in H4 matrix). Mössbauer analysis confirms that Noblesville is unusually fresh, not surprising in view of its recovery immediately after its fall. It resembles “normal” H4–6 chondrites in its chemical composition and induced thermoluminescence (TL) levels. Thus, at least in its contents of volatile trace elements, Noblesville differs from other H chondrite, class A regolith breccias. Noblesville's small pre-atmospheric mass and fall near Solar maximum and/or its peculiar orbit (with perihelion <0.8 AU as shown by natural TL intensity) may partly explain its levels of cosmogenic radionuclides. Its cosmic ray exposure age of ～ 44 Ma, is long, is equalled or exceeded by <3% of all H chondrites, and also differs from the 33 ± 3 Ma mean exposure age peak of other H chondrite regolith breccias. One whole-rock aliquot has a high, but not unmatched, ¹²⁹Xe/¹³²Xe of 1.88. While Noblesville is now among the chondritic regolithic breccias richest in solar gases, elemental ratios indicate some loss, especially of He, perhaps b; impacts in the regolith that heated individual grains. While general shock-loading levels in Noblesville did not exceed 4 GPa, individual clasts record shock levels of 5–10 GPa, doubtless acquired prior to lithification of the whole-rock meteoroid.     

Mineralogy,chemistry, and irradiation record of Neuschwanstein (EL6) chondrite

Abstract– We present a detailed study of mineralogy, chemistry, and noble gases of the Neuschwanstein (EL6) chondrite that fell in 2002 in southern Germany. The meteorite has an unbrecciated texture and exhibits only minor shock features. Secondary weathering products are marginal. Neuschwanstein is an EL6 chondrite with heterogeneously distributed metal and sulfide grains. In terms of bulk chemistry, it has very high Fe concentrations, and siderophile and halogen element abundances higher than typical EL chondrites. However, like other ELs of higher petrologic type, it has low moderately volatile element abundances, e.g., Mn and Zn. We interpret these as indicators for loss of sulfide, probably through mobilization of ferroan alabandite and a Zn‐bearing sulfide, potentially sphalerite, during metamorphism. Trapped noble gases are dominated by a subsolar component with high Ar concentrations and are typical for EL chondrites. The shielding parameters indicate a small meteoroid (<20 cm radius) with an exposure age of approximately 47 Ma, which is among the highest for enstatite chondrites.     

The Galkiv meteorite: A new H4 chondrite from Ukraine

Abstract— The Galkiv chondrite is a single 5 kg stone that fell in the Chernigov region of Ukraine on 1995 January 12. The composition of olivines in the meteorite indicate that Galkiv belongs to the H group of ordinary chondrites. Although the heterogeneity of olivine corresponds to a petrologic type 5 and the heterogeneity of low-Ca pyroxene suggests the chondrite is type 3, clearly defined chondrule boundaries, the presence of clinopyroxene, cryptocrystalline glass and rare grains of feldspatic plagioclase, structural evidences of shock metamorphism and very low level of terrestrial weathering allow us to classify the meteorite as an H4 chondrite of shock stage S3 and weathering grade WO.     

A large shock vein in L chondrite Roosevelt County 106: Evidence for a long‐duration shock pulse on the L chondrite parent body

A large shock‐induced melt vein in L6 ordinary chondrite Roosevelt County 106 contains abundant high‐pressure minerals, including olivine, enstatite, and plagioclase fragments that have been transformed to polycrystalline ringwoodite, majorite, lingunite, and jadeite. The host chondrite at the melt‐vein margins contains olivines that are partially transformed to ringwoodite. The quenched silicate melt in the shock veins consists of majoritic garnets, up to 25 μm in size, magnetite, maghemite, and phyllosilicates. The magnetite, maghemite, and phyllosilicates are the terrestrial alteration products of magnesiowüstite and quenched glass. This assemblage indicates crystallization of the silicate melt at approximately 20–25 GPa and 2000 °C. Coarse majorite garnets in the centers of shock veins grade into increasingly finer grained dendritic garnets toward the vein margins, indicating increasing quench rates toward the margins as a result of thermal conduction to the surrounding chondrite host. Nanocrystalline boundary zones, that contain wadsleyite, ringwoodite, majorite, and magnesiowüstite, occur along shock‐vein margins. These zones represent rapid quench of a boundary melt that contains less metal‐sulfide than the bulk shock vein. One‐dimensional finite element heat‐flow calculations were performed to estimate a quench time of 750–1900 ms for a 1.6‐mm thick shock vein. Because the vein crystallized as a single high‐pressure assemblage, the shock pulse duration was at least as long as the quench time and therefore the sample remained at 20–25 GPa for at least 750 ms. This relatively long shock pulse, combined with a modest shock pressure, implies that this sample came from deep in the L chondrite parent body during a collision with a large impacting body, such as the impact event that disrupted the L chondrite parent body 470 Myr ago.     

H4 and H5 chondrites from the Rub'al Khali Desert

Abstract Al-Jimshan is a highly weathered 11.45 kg chondrite that was found in 1955 in the Rub' al Khali Desert, Saudi Arabia (20*42′N, 52*50E) about 240 km south-east of the town of al-Hadidah. The main mass is now at UCLA. Based on texture and mineral composition (olivine Fa_17.7 ± 0.4; pyroxene Fs_15.7 ± 1.0 Wo₁₃ ± 0.4), al-Jimshan is classified as an H4 chondrite of shock stage S2. The Bir-Hadi and ad-Dahbubah H chondrites, which also were found in the Rub'al Khali (Holm, 1962), are probably not paired with al-Jimshan. They are classified as H5, shock stage S3 (Fa_18.1 ± 0.5, n = 10; Fs_16.0 ± 0.6, Wo_1.1 ± 0.4, n = 9) and H5, shock stage S2 (Fa_17.9 ± 0.3, n = 10; FS_15.5 ± 0.2 Wo_1.0 ± 0.4, n = 10), respectively.     

The Richfield LL3 chondrite

Abstract— Richfield is a moderately shocked (shock stage S4) LL3.7 genomict breccia find consisting mainly of light-colored recrystallized clasts and dark clasts exhibiting significant silicate darkening; a few impact-melt-rock clasts and LL5 chondrite clasts also occur. The cosmic-ray exposure age of 14.5 Ma is indistinguishable from the main exposure peak for LL chondrites (15 Ma). Although the exposure ages indicate little He loss, the gas-retention ages indicate high gas losses that must have occurred prior to or during ejection from the LL parent body.     

Reclassification of Villalbeto de la Peña—Occurrence of a winonaite‐related fragment in a hydrothermally metamorphosed polymict L‐chondritic breccia

The Villalbeto de la Peña meteorite that fell in 2004 in Spain was originally classified as a moderately shocked L6 ordinary chondrite. The recognition of fragments within the Villalbeto de la Peña meteorite clearly bears consequences for the previous classification of the rock. The oxygen isotope data clearly show that an exotic eye‐catching, black, and plagioclase‐(maskelynite)‐rich clast is not of L chondrite heritage. Villalbeto de la Peña is, consequently, reclassified as a polymict chondritic breccia. The oxygen isotope data of the clast are more closely related to data for the winonaite Tierra Blanca and the anomalous silicate‐bearing iron meteorite LEW 86211 than to the ordinary chondrite groups. The REE‐pattern of the bulk inclusion indicates genetic similarities to those of differentiated rocks and their minerals (e.g., lunar anorthosites, eucritic, and winonaitic plagioclases) and points to an igneous origin. The An‐content of the plagioclase within the inclusion is increasing from the fragment/host meteorite boundary (approximately An₁₀) toward the interior of the clast (approximately An₅₂). This is accompanied by a successive compositionally controlled transformation of plagioclase into maskelynite by shock. As found for plagioclase, compositions of individual spinels enclosed in plagioclase (maskelynite) also vary from the border toward the interior of the inclusion. In addition, huge variations in oxygen isotope composition were found correlating with distance into the object. The chemical and isotopical profiles observed in the fragment indicate postaccretionary metamorphism under the presence of a volatile phase.     

Shock and thermal history of Northwest Africa 4859, an annealed impact‐melt breccia of LL chondrite parentage containing unusual igneous features and pentlandite

Abstract– Northwest Africa 4859 (NWA 4859) is a meteorite of LL chondrite parentage that shows unusual igneous features and contains widely distributed pentlandite. The most obvious unusual feature is a high proportion of large (≤3 cm diameter) igneous‐textured enclaves (LITEs), interpreted as shock melts that were intruded into an LL chondrite host. One such LITE appears to have been produced by whole rock melting of LL chondrite, initial rapid partial crystallization, and subsequent slow cooling of the residual melt in the host to produce a differentiated object. Other unusual features include mm‐sized “overgrowth objects,” fine‐grained plagioclase‐rich bands, and coarse troilite (≤7 mm across) grains. All these features are interpreted as having crystallized from melts produced by a single transient shock event, followed by slow cooling. A subsequent shock event of moderate (S3) intensity produced veining and transformed some of the pyroxene into the clinoenstatite polytype. Pentlandite (together with associated troilite) in NWA 4859 probably formed by the breakdown of a monosulfide precursor phase at low temperature (≤230 °C) following the second shock event. NWA 4859 is interpreted to be an unusual impact‐melt breccia that contains shock melt which crystallized in different forms at depth within the parent body.     

The nature of the L chondrite parent body's disruption as deduced from high-pressure phases in the Sixiangkou L6 chondrite

The disruption of the L chondrite parent body (LCPB) at ~470 Ma is currently the best-documented catastrophic celestial impact event, based on the large number of L chondritic materials associated with this event. Uranium-lead (U-Pb) dating of apatite and its high-pressure decomposition product, tuite, in the Sixiangkou L6 chondrite provides a temporal link to this event. The U-Pb system of phosphates adjacent to shock melt veins was altered to varying degrees and the discordance of the U-Pb system correlates closely with the extent of apatite decomposition. This suggests that the U-Pb system of apatite could be substantially disturbed by high-temperature pulse during shock compression from natural impacts, at least on the scale of mineral grains. Although many L chondrites can be temporally related to the catastrophic LCPB impact event, the shock conditions experienced by each individual meteorite vary. This could be due to the different geologic settings of these meteorites on their parent body. The shock pressure and duration derived from most meteorites may only reflect local shock features rather than the impact conditions, although they could provide lower limits to the impact conditions. The Sixiangkou shock duration (~4 s), estimated from high-pressure transformation kinetics, provides a lower limit to the high-pressure pulse of the LCPB disruption impact. Combined with available literature data of L chondrites associated with this impact event, our results suggest that the LCPB suffered a catastrophic collision with a large projectile (with a diameter of at least 18–22 km) at a low impact velocity (5–6 km s⁻¹). This is consistent with astronomical estimates based on the dynamical evolution of L chondritic asteroids.