The origin of the Brunflo fossil meteorite and extraterrestrial chromite in mid‐Ordovician limestone from the Gärde quarry (Jämtland,central Sweden)

Abstract— The Brunflo fossil meteorite was found in the 1950s in mid‐Ordovician marine limestone in the Gärde quarry in Jämtland. It originates from strata that are about 5 million years younger than similar limestone that more recently has yielded >50 fossil meteorites in the Thorsberg quarry at Kinnekulle, 600 km to the south. Based primarily on the low TiO₂ content (about 1.8 wt%) of its relict chromite the Brunflo meteorite had been tentatively classified as an H chondrite. The meteorite hence appears to be an anomaly in relation to the Kinnekulle meteorites, in which chromite composition, chondrule mean diameter and oxygen isotopic composition all indicate an L‐chondritic origin, reflecting an enhanced flux of meteorites to Earth following the disruption of the L chondrite parent body 470 Ma. New chondrule‐size measurements for the Brunflo meteorite indicate that it too is an L chondrite, related to the same parent‐body breakup. Chromite maximum diameters and well‐defined chondrule structures further show that Brunflo belongs to the L4 or L5 type. Chromites in recently fallen L4 chondrites commonly have low TiO₂ contents similar to the Brunflo chromites, adding support for Brunflo being an L4 chondrite. The limestone in the Gärde quarry is relatively rich (about 0.45 grain kg⁻¹) in sediment‐dispersed extraterrestrial chromite grains (>63 μm) with chemical composition similar to those in L chondrites and the limestone (1–3 grains kg⁻¹) at Kinnekulle, suggesting that the enhanced flux of L chondrites prevailed, although somewhat diminished, at the time when the Brunflo meteorite fell.     

A 3‐D study of mineral inclusions in chromite from ordinary chondrites using synchrotron radiation X‐ray tomographic microscopy—Method and applications

Abstract– A method is described for imaging in 3‐D the interiors of meteoritic chromite grains and their inclusions using synchrotron radiation X‐ray tomographic microscopy. In ordinary chondrites, chromite is the only common mineral that survives long‐term weathering on Earth. Information about the silicate matrix of the original meteorite, however, can be derived from mineral inclusions preserved in the protecting chromite. The inclusions are crucial in the classification of fossil meteorites as well as sediment‐dispersed chromite grains from decomposed meteorites and larger impacts, as these are used for characterizing the past influx of material to Earth, but have previously been difficult to locate. The method is non‐destructive and time efficient for locating inclusions. The method allowed quantitative and morphological studies of both host chromite grains and inclusions in three dimensions. The study of 385 chromite grains from eight chondrites (H4–6, L4–6, LL4, LL6) reveals that inclusions are abundant and equally common in all samples. Almost two‐thirds of all chromite grains contain inclusions, regardless of group and type. The study also shows that the size of the inclusions and the host chromite grains, as well as the number of inclusions, within the host chromite grains vary with petrographic type. Thus, the petrographic type of the host of a suite of chromite grains can be determined based solely on inclusion content. The study also revealed that the amount of fractures in the host chromite can be correlated to previously assigned shock stages for the various chondrites. The study has thus shown that the features and inclusions of fossil chromite grains can give similar information about a former host meteorite as do studies of an unweathered whole meteorite, meaning that this technique is essential in the studies of ancient meteorite flux to Earth.     

Pecora Escarpment 91002: A member of the new Rumuruti (R) chondrite group

Abstract— Pecora Escarpment (PCA)91002 is a light/dark-structured chondrite breccia related to Carlisle Lakes and Rumuruti; the meteorite contains ～10–20 vol% equilibrated (type ?5 and ?6) clasts within a clastic groundmass, much of which was metamorphosed to type-3.8 levels. The olivine compositional distribution forms a tight cluster that peaks at Fa_38–40; by contrast, low-Ca pyroxene compositions are highly variable. Opaque phases identified in PCA91002 and its paired specimen, PCA91241, include pyrrhotite, pentlandite, pyrite, chromite, ilmenite, metallic Cu and magnetite. The majority of the rock is of shock stage S3-S4; there are numerous sulfide-rich shock veins and 50-μm plagioclase melt pockets. Instrumental neutron activation analysis shows that, unlike Carlisle Lakes and ALH85151, PCA91002 exhibits no Ca enrichment or Au depletion; because PCA91002 is relatively unweathered, it seems probable that the Ca and Au fractionations in Carlisle Lakes and ALH85151 were caused by terrestrial alteration. The Rumuruti-like (formerly Carlisle-Lakes-like) chondrites now include eight separate meteorites. Their geochemical and petrographic similarities suggest that they constitute a distinct chondrite group characterized by unfractionated refractory lithophile abundances (0.95 ± 0.05x CI), high bulk Δ¹⁷O, a low chondrule/groundmass modal abundance ratio, mean chondrule diameters in the 400 ± 100 μm range, abundant NiO-bearing ferroan olivine, sodic plagioclase, titanian chromite, abundant pyrrhotite and pentlandite and negligible metallic Fe-Ni. We propose that this group be called R chondrites after Rumuruti, the only fall. The abundant NiO-bearing ferroan olivine grains, the occurrence of Cu-bearing sulfide, and the paucity of metallic Fe-Ni indicate that R chondrites are highly oxidized. It is unlikely that appreciable oxidation took place on the parent body because of the essential lack of plausible oxidizing agents (e.g., magnetite or hydrated silicates). Therefore, oxidation of R chondrite material must have occurred in the nebula. A few type-I porphyritic olivine chondrules containing olivine grains with cores of Fa_3–4 composition occur in PCA91002; these chondrules probably formed initially as metallic-Fe-Ni-bearing objects at high nebular temperatures. As temperatures decreased and more metallic Fe was oxidized, these chondrules accreted small amounts of oxidized material and were remelted. The ferroan compositions of the >5-μm olivine grains in the R chondrites reflect equilibration with fine-grained FeO-rich matrix material during parent body metatnorphism.     

Unusual sources of fossil micrometeorites deduced from relict chromite in the small size fraction in ~467 Ma old limestone

Extraterrestrial chrome spinel and chromite extracted from the sedimentary rock record are relicts from coarse micrometeorites and rarely meteorites. They are studied to reconstruct the paleoflux of meteorites to the Earth and the collisional history of the asteroid belt. Minor element concentrations of Ti and V, and oxygen isotopic compositions of these relict minerals were used to classify the meteorite type they stem from, and thus to determine the relative meteorite group abundances through time. While coarse sediment-dispersed extraterrestrial chrome-spinel (SEC) grains from ordinary chondrites dominate through the studied time windows in the Phanerozoic, there are exceptions: We have shown that ~467 Ma ago, 1 Ma before the breakup of the L chondrite parent body (LCPB), more than half of the largest (>63 μm diameter) grains were achondritic and originated from differentiated asteroids in contrast to ordinary chondrites which dominated the meteorite flux throughout most of the past 500 Ma. Here, we present a new data set of oxygen isotopic compositions and elemental compositions of 136 grains of a smaller size fraction (32–63 μm) in ~467 Ma old pre-LCPB limestone from the Lynna River section in western Russia, that was previously studied by elemental analysis. Our study constitutes the most comprehensive oxygen isotopic data set of sediment-dispersed extraterrestrial chrome spinel to date. We also introduce a Raman spectroscopy-based method to identify SEC grains and distinguish them from terrestrial chrome spinel with ~97% reliability. We calibrated the Raman method with the established approach using titanium and vanadium concentrations and oxygen isotopic compositions. We find that ordinary chondrites are approximately three times more abundant in the 32–63 μm fraction than achondrites. While abundances of achondrites compared to ordinary chondrites are lower in the 32–63 μm size fraction than in the >63 μm one, achondrites are approximately three times more abundant in the 32–62 μm fraction than they are in the present flux. We find that the sources of SEC grains vary for different grain sizes, mainly as a result of parent body thermal metamorphism. We conclude that the meteorite flux composition ~467 Ma ago ~1 Ma before the breakup of the LCPB was fundamentally different from today and from other time windows studied in the Phanerozoic, but that in contrast to the large size fraction ordinary chondrites dominated the flux in the small size fraction. The high abundance of ordinary chondrites in the studied samples is consistent with the findings based on coarse extraterrestrial chrome-spinel from other time windows.     

Size-frequency distributions of chondrules in CO3 chondrites

Abstract— The size-frequency distributions of chondrules in 11 CO3 chondrites were determined by petrographic analysis of thin sections. CO chondrites have the smallest chondrules of any major chondrite group. In order of decreasing chondrule size, chondrite groups can be arranged as CV ≥ LL > L > H ≥ CM ≥ EH > CO. Chondrule size varies significantly among different CO chondrites; there is a tendency for chondrules to increase in average size with increasing metamorphic grade of the whole-rock. Different chondrule types in CO chondrites have distinct size-frequency distributions: in order of decreasing chondrule size, BO > PO > PP > POP > RP = C. The large size of BO chondrules is problematic; however, PO chondrules are among the largest because ～20% of them contain very coarse relict olivine grains that constitute 40–90 vol.% of the individual chondrules. PP chondrules may be larger than POP chondrules because some of them contain coarse relict pyroxene grains; a compound object consisting of a POP chondrule attached to a large relict pyroxene grain occurs in Lancé. The mean proportions of chondrule types in CO chondrites are estimated to be 69% POP, 18% PP, 8% PO, 2% BO, 2% RP, 1% C and <0.1% GOP. CO chondrites thus contain a smaller proportion of nonporphyritic chondrules than ordinary or EH chondrites, but a larger proportion than CV chondrites. Relative proportions of chondrule types vary with size interval: PO chondrules decrease fairly regularly in abundance with decreasing chondrule size, and RP chondrules appear to be most abundant in the smallest size intervals.     

Large spinel grains in a CM chondrite (Acfer 331): Implications for reconstructions of ancient meteorite fluxes

By dissolving 30–400 kg of marine limestone in HCl and HF acid, our group has previously recovered common relict chromite grains (approximately 63–250 μm) from ordinary chondritic micrometeorites that fell on ancient sea floors, up to 500 Myr old. Here, we evaluate if CM group carbonaceous chondritic material, which makes up an important fraction of the micrometeorite flux today, contains analogous grains that can be searched for in acid residues. We dissolved 8 g of CM2 meteorite Acfer 331 in HF, which yielded a characteristic assemblage of both transparent Mg‐Al‐ and opaque Cr‐spinels >28 μm. We find on average 4.6 and 130 Mg‐Al‐spinel grains per gram in the 63–250 and 28–63 μm size fractions, respectively. These grains are mostly pink or colorless, and often characterized by heterogeneous Cr‐content. Black, opaque Cr‐spinel grains are absent from the >63 μm fraction, but in the 28–63 μm fraction we find approximately 65 such grains per gram meteorite. The individual grains have a characteristic composition, with heterogeneous major element compositions (e.g., 44.4–61.7 wt% Cr₂O₃), but narrow ranges for maximum TiO₂ (0.6–1.6 wt%) and V₂O₃ (0.5–1.0 wt%) concentrations. The content of spinel grains in the 28–63 μm fraction of CM meteorites appears comparable at the order of magnitude level with the content of >63 μm sized chromite grains in fossil L‐chondrites from Ordovician limestone. Our approach of recovering meteoritic spinel from sediment may thus be extended to include CM meteorites, but the smaller size fraction of the acid residues should be searched.     

Shocked chromites in fossil L chondrites: A Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy study

Chromites from Middle Ordovician fossil L chondrites and from matrix and shock‐melt veins in Catherwood, Tenham, and Coorara L chondrites were studied using Raman spectroscopy and TEM. Raman spectra of chromites from fossil L chondrites showed similarities with chromites from matrix and shock‐melt veins in the studied L chondrite falls and finds. Chromites from shock‐melt veins of L chondrites show polycrystallinity, while the chromite grains in fossil L chondrites are single crystals. In addition, chromites from shock‐melt veins in the studied L chondrites have high densities of planar fractures within the subgrains and many subgrains show intergrowths of chromite and xieite. Matrix chromite of Tenham has similar dislocation densities and planar fractures as a chromite from the fossil meteorite Golvsten 001 and higher dislocation densities than in chromite from the fossil meteorite Sextummen 003. Using this observation and knowing that the matrix of Tenham experienced 20–22 GPa and <1000° C, an upper limit for the P,T conditions of chromite from Golvsten 001 and Sextummen 003 can be estimated to be 20–22 GPa and 1000° C (shock stage S3–S6) and 20 GPa and 1000° C (S3–S5), respectively, and we conclude that the studied fossil meteorite chromites are from matrix.     

Noble gases in fossil micrometeorites and meteorites from 470 Myr old sediments from southern Sweden,and new evidence for the L‐chondrite parent body breakup event

Abstract— We present noble gas analyses of sediment‐dispersed extraterrestrial chromite grains recovered from ?470 Myr old sediments from two quarries (Hällekis and Thorsberg) and of relict chromites in a coeval fossil meteorite from the Gullhögen quarry, all located in southern Sweden. Both the sediment‐dispersed grains and the meteorite Gullhögen 001 were generated in the L‐chondrite parent body breakup about 470 Myr ago, which was also the event responsible for the abundant fossil meteorites previously found in the Thorsberg quarry. Trapped solar noble gases in the sediment‐dispersed chromite grains have partly been retained during ?470 Myr of terrestrial residence and despite harsh chemical treatment in the laboratory. This shows that chromite is highly retentive for solar noble gases. The solar noble gases imply that a sizeable fraction of the sediment‐dispersed chromite grains are micrometeorites or fragments thereof rather than remnants of larger meteorites. The grains in the oldest sediment beds were rapidly delivered to Earth likely by direct injection into an orbital resonance in the inner asteroid belt, whereas grains in younger sediments arrived by orbital decay due to Poynting‐Robertson (P‐R) drag. The fossil meteorite Gullhögen 001 has a low cosmic‐ray exposure age of ?0.9 Myr, based on new He and Ne production rates in chromite determined experimentally. This age is comparable to the ages of the fossil meteorites from Thorsberg, providing additional evidence for very rapid transfer times of material after the L‐chondrite parent body breakup.     

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.     

Silicate darkening in the Kobe CK chondrite: Evidence for shock metamorphism at high temperature

Abstract— The Kobe CK4 chondrite, like most metamorphosed CK chondrites, exhibits pronounced silicate darkening of matrix and chondrule mesostases. Our petrographic and scanning electron microscopic study reveals that the matrix of Kobe consists mostly of intermixtures of two types of fine‐grained olivine. One forms subhedral to anhedral normal crystals. The other fills interstices of the subhedral to anhedral olivine crystals, exhibiting a complex network of veinlets. The latter type of olivine contains high densities of small spherical vesicles (<0.05‐3 μm in diameter) and grains (<0.05‐5 μm) of magnetite and pentlandite as well as round to anhedral grains (1–10 μm) of plagioclase, low‐Ca pyroxene, diopside and chlorapatite. The vesicular olivine is particularly abundant in regions of matrix that exhibit a relatively high degree of darkening and commonly fills chondrule mesostases. The vesicular olivine is clearly the principal cause of the silicate darkening in Kobe. The internal texture of the vesicular olivine closely resembles those of local melts produced from the matrices of experimentally and naturally shocked carbonaceous chondrites. The occurrence and texture of the vesicular olivine suggest that it resulted from recrystallization of partially melted matrix olivine by shock. Kobe exhibits light shock effects in olivine that are consistent with shock stage S2 that is too low to explain the occurrence of olivine melting. We suggest that the vesicular olivine in Kobe was produced by shock metamorphism at a relatively mild shock pressure (<25 GPa) and a high temperature (>600 °C). Thus, it is probable that the shock effects in olivine, manifest as fracturing and deformation, were relatively minor, but heating was strong enough to cause partial melting of matrix olivine.     

Origin of fayalitic olivine rims and lath-shaped matrix olivine in the CV3 chondrite Allende and its dark inclusions

Abstract— We have studied an Allende dark inclusion by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, electron microprobe analysis and transmission electron microscopy. The inclusion consists of chondrules, isolated olivines and matrix, which, as in the Allende host, is mainly composed of 5–20 μm long lath-shaped fayalitic grains with a narrow compositional range (Fa_{42 ± 2}) and nepheline. Olivine phenocrysts in chondrules and isolated olivine grains show various degrees of replacement by 5–10 μm wide fayalitic rims (Fa_{39 ± 2}) and 100–1000 μm wide translucent zones, which consist of 5–20 μm long lath-shaped fayalitic grains (Fa_{41 ± 1}) intergrown with nepheline. These fayalitic olivines, like those in the matrix of the dark inclusion, contain 10–20 nm sized inclusions of chromite, hercynite, and Fe-Ni sulfides. The fayalitic rims around remnant olivines are texturally and compositionally identical to those in Allende host, suggesting that they have similar origins. Chondrules are surrounded by opaque rims consisting of tiny lath-shaped fayalitic olivines (<1–3 μm long) intergrown with nepheline. As in the Allende host, fayalitic olivine veins may crosscut altered chondrules, fine-grained chondrule rims and extend into the matrix, indicating that alteration occurred after accretion. We infer that fayalitic olivine rims and lath-shaped fayalites in Allende and its dark inclusions formed from phyllosilicate intermediate phases. This explanation accounts for (1) the similarity of the replacement textures observed in the dark inclusion and Allende host to aqueous alteration textures in CM chondrites; (2) the anomalously high abundances of Al and Cr and the presence of tiny inclusions of spinels and sulfides in fayalitic olivines in Allende and Allende dark inclusions; (3) abundant voids and defects in lath-shaped fayalites in the Allende dark inclusion, which may be analogous to those in partly dehydrated phyllosilicates in metamorphosed CM/CI chondrites. We conclude that the matrix and chondrule rims in Allende were largely converted to phyllosilicates and then completely dehydrated. The Allende dark inclusions experienced diverse degrees of aqueous/hydrothermal alteration prior to complete dehydration. The absence of low-Ca pyroxene in the dark inclusion and its significant replacement by fayalitic olivine in Allende is consistent with the lower resistance of low-Ca pyroxene to aqueous alteration relative to forsteritic olivine. Hydro-thermal processing of Allende probably also accounts for the low abundance of planetary noble gases and interstellar grains, and the formation of nepheline, sodalite, salite-hedenbergite pyroxenes, wollastonite, kirschsteinite and andradite in chondrules and Ca,Al-rich inclusions.     

Mineralogy,petrology, and oxygen isotopic compositions of chondritic and achondritic lithologies in the anomalous CB carbonaceous chondrites Sierra Gorda 013 and Fountain Hills

The CB (Bencubbin-like) metal-rich carbonaceous chondrites are subdivided into the CB_a and CB_b subgroups. The CB_a chondrites are composed predominantly of ~cm-sized skeletal olivine chondrules and unzoned Fe,Ni-metal ± troilite nodules. The CB_b chondrites are finer grained than the CB_as and consist of chemically zoned and unzoned Fe,Ni-metal grains, Fe,Ni-metal ± troilite nodules, cryptocrystalline and skeletal olivine chondrules, and rare refractory inclusions. Both subgroups contain exceptionally rare porphyritic chondrules and no interchondrule fine-grained matrix, and are interpreted as the products of a gas–melt impact plume formed by a high-velocity collision between differentiated planetesimals about 4562 Ma. The anomalous metal-rich carbonaceous chondrites, Fountain Hills and Sierra Gorda 013 (SG 013), have bulk oxygen isotopic compositions similar to those of other CBs but contain coarse-grained igneous clasts/porphyritic chondrule-like objects composed of olivine, low-Ca-pyroxene, and minor plagioclase and high-Ca pyroxene as well as barred olivine and skeletal olivine chondrules. Cryptocrystalline chondrules, zoned Fe,Ni-metal grains, and interchondrule fine-grained matrix are absent. In SG 013, Fe,Ni-metal (~80 vol%) occurs as several mm-sized nodules; magnesiochromite (Mg-chromite) is accessory; daubréelite and schreibersite are minor; troilite is absent. In Fountain Hills, Fe,Ni-metal (~25 vol%) is dispersed between chondrules and silicate clasts; chromite and sulfides are absent. In addition to a dominant chondritic lithology, SG 013 contains a chondrule-free lithology composed of Fe,Ni-metal nodules (~25 vol%), coarse-grained olivine and low-Ca pyroxene, interstitial high-Ca pyroxene and anorthitic plagioclase, and Mg-chromite. Here, we report on oxygen isotopic compositions of olivine, low-Ca pyroxene, and ±Mg-chromite in Fountain Hills and both lithologies of SG 013 measured in situ using an ion microprobe. Oxygen isotope compositions of olivine, low-Ca pyroxene, and Mg-chromite in these meteorites are similar to those of magnesian non-porphyritic chondrules in CB_a and CB_b chondrites: on a three-isotope oxygen diagram (δ¹⁷O vs. δ¹⁸O), they plot close to a slope-1 (primitive chondrule mineral) line and have a very narrow range of Δ¹⁷O (=δ¹⁷O–0.52 × δ¹⁸O) values, −2.5 ± 0.9‰ (avr ± 2SD). No isotopically distinct relict grains have been identified in porphyritic chondrule-like objects. We suggest that magnesian non-porphyritic (barred olivine, skeletal olivine, cryptocrystalline) chondrules in the CB_as, CB_bs, and porphyritic chondrule-like objects in SG 013 and Fountain Hills formed in different zones of the CB impact plume characterized by variable pressure, temperature, cooling rates, and redox conditions. The achondritic lithology in SG 013 represents fragments of one of the colliding bodies and therefore one of the CB chondrule precursors. Fountain Hills was subsequently modified by impact melting; Fe,Ni-metal and sulfides were partially lost during this process.     

The onset of metamorphism in ordinary and carbonaceous chondrites

Abstract— 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 subdivide types 3.0 and 3.1 into types 3.00 through 3.15. On this basis, the most primitive ordinary chondrite known is Semarkona, although even this meteorite has experienced a small amount of metamorphism. Allan Hills (ALH) A77307 is the least metamorphosed CO chondrite and shares many properties with the ungrouped carbonaceous chondrite Acfer 094. Analytical problems are significant for glasses in type II chondrules, as Na is easily lost during microprobe analysis. As a result, existing schemes for chondrule classification that are based on the alkali content of glasses need to be revised.     

A clast of Bali‐like oxidized CV material in the reduced CV chondrite breccia Vigarano

Abstract— The CV (Vigarano‐type) chondrites are a petrologically diverse group of meteorites that are divided into the reduced and the Bali‐like and Allende‐like oxidized subgroups largely based on secondary mineralogy (Weisberg et al., 1997; Krot et al., 1998b). Some chondrules and calcium‐aluminum‐rich inclusions (CAIs) in the reduced CV chondrite Vigarano show alteration features similar to those in Allende: metal is oxidized to magnetite; low‐Ca pyroxene, forsterite, and magnetite are rimmed and veined by ferrous olivine (Fs_40–50); and plagioclase mesostases and melilite are replaced by nepheline and sodalite (Sylvester et al., 1993; Kimura and Ikeda, 1996, 1997, 1998). Our petrographic observations indicate that Vigarano also contains individual chondrules, chondrule fragments, and lithic clasts of the Bali‐like oxidized CV materials. The largest lithic clast (about 1 times 2 cm in size) is composed of opaque matrix, type‐I chondrules (400–2000 μm in apparent diameter) surrounded by coarse‐grained and fine‐grained rims, and rare CAIs. The matrix‐chondrule ratio is about 1.1. Opaque nodules in chondrules in the clast consist of Cr‐poor and Cr‐rich magnetite, Ni‐ and Co‐rich metal, Ni‐poor and Ni‐rich sulfide; low‐Ni metal nodules occur only inside chondrule phenocrysts. Chromium‐poor magnetite is preferentially replaced by fayalite. Chondrule mesostases are replaced by phyllosilicates; low‐Ca pyroxene and olivine phenocrysts appear to be unaltered. Matrix in the clast consists of very fine‐grained (<1 μm) ferrous olivine, anhedral fayalite grains (Fa_80–100), rounded objects of porous Ca‐Fe‐rich pyroxenes (Fs_10–50Wo₅₀), Ni‐poor sulfide, Ni‐ and Co‐rich metal, and phyllosilicates; magnetite is rare. On the basis of the presence of the Bali‐like lithified chondritic clast—in addition to individual chondrules and CAIs of both Bali‐like and Allende‐like materials—in the reduced CV chondrite Vigarano, we infer that (1) all three types of materials were mixed during regolith gardening on the CV asteroidal body, and (2) the reduced and oxidized CV materials may have originated from a single, heterogeneously altered asteroid.     

AN H4–6 CHONDRITE: MOTTA DI CONTI

The mineralogical and chemical compositions of meteorites from the Motta di Conti, Vercelli, Italy, shower (February 29, 1868) have been determined. Microprobe analyses, of olivine (Fa_19,6) and orthopyroxene (Fs_17,8), as well as the bulk chemical composition, particularly the ratios of SiO₂/MgO (1.50), Fe°/Ni° (11.03), Fe_total/SiO₂ (0.81), Fe°/Fe_total (0.70) and the content of Fe_total (28.60%) classify the meteorite as an H-group chondrite. The percentage of total metallic nickel-iron (22.06%) is somewhat higher than the average in H-group chondrites. The texture of our stone shows evidence of metamorphism. The integration between matrix and chondrules is advanced and may suggest a high petrographic grade, but the identification of several microscopic features (e.g. small grains of monoclinic twinned pyroxene, FeNi-FeS intergrowths, globules and mosaic) leads to the conclusion that a variety of petrographic types (4–6) are present. Metamorphic equilibration in chondrites is discussed and a preliminary hypothesis for H4–6 chondrites is suggested.     

Infrared transmission spectra from 2.5 to 25 μm of various meteorite classes

Infrared transmission spectra from 53 meteorites in the spectral range from 2.5 to 25 μm were measured to permit comparisons with data of astronomical objects that are potential meteorite sources. Data were taken for 14 carbonaceous chondrites, 5 LL ordinary chondrites, 6 L ordinary chondrites, 10 H ordinary chondrites, 1 enstatite chondrite, 4 aubrites, 3 eucrites, 4 howardites, 1 diogenite, 1 mesosiderite, 2 nakhlites, 1 shergottite, and the anomalous achondrite Angra dos Reis. The CO and CV carbonaceous chondrites have spectra similar to each other, with 10-μm features characteristic of olivine. The CM carbonaceous chondrites have distinctive 10-μm features that are attributed to layer lattice silicates. Members of both the CI and CR classes have spectra distinct from those of other carbonaceous chondrites. The LL, L, and H ordinary chondrites have spectra that match those of olivine and pyroxene mixtures. The enstatite chondrites and enstatite achondrites (aubrites) all exhibit spectra diagnostic of the pyroxene enstatite. The angrite, howardites, aucrites, nakhlites, shergottite, and diogenite all have similar spectra also dominated by pyroxene. The single mesosiderite examined had a spectrum distinct from all the other meteorites.     

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

Abstract— The Rumuruti meteorite shower fell in Rumuruti, Kenya, on 1934 January 28 at 10:43 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_～39) with about 70 vol%. Feldspar (～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, ilmenite, tridymite, Ni-rich and Ge-containing metals, kamacite, and various particles enriched in noble metals like Pt, Ir, arid 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 δ¹⁷O (5.52 ‰) and δ¹⁸O (5.07 ‰). Previously, a small number of chondritic meteorites with strong similarities to Rumuruti were described. They were called Carlisle Lakes-type chondrites and they comprise: Carlisle Lakes, ALH85151, Y-75302, Y-793575, Y-82002, Acfer 217, PCA91002, and PCA91241, as well as clasts in the Weatherford chondrite. All these meteorites are finds from hot and cold deserts having experienced various degrees of weathering. With Rumuruti, the first meteorite fall has been recognized that preserves the primary mineralogical and chemical characteristics of a new group of meteorites. Comparing all chondrites, the characteristic features can be summarized as follows: (a) basically chondritic chemistry with ordinary chondrite element patterns of refractory and moderately volatile lithophiles but higher abundances of S, Se, and Zn; (b) high degree of oxidation (37–41 mol% Fa in olivine, only traces of Fe, Ni-metals, occurrence of chalcopyrite); (c) exceptionally high Δ¹⁷O values of about 2.7 for bulk samples; (d) high modal abundance of olivine (～70 vol%); (e) Ti-Fe³⁺?rich chromite (～5.5 wt% TiO₂); (f) occurrence of various noble metal-rich particles; (g) abundant chondritic breccias consisting of equilibrated clasts and unequilibrated lithologies. With Rumuruti, nine meteorite 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 (rumurutiites) after the first and only fall among these meteorites. These 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 parent body.     

SIZE-FREQUENCY-DISTRIBUTIONS OF EH3 CHONDRULES

The size-frequency-distributions of different chondrule types in the Qingzhen, Kota-Kota and Allan Hills A77156 EH3 chondrites were determined by petrographic analysis of thin sections and, in the case of Qingzhen, by examination of large separated chondrules. EH chondrules are considerably smaller than L and LL chondrules and are probably slightly smaller than H, CM and CO chondrules. In the EH3 chondrites, radial pyroxene (RP) chondrules are somewhat (85% confidence level) larger than cryptocrystalline (C) chondrules, nonporphyritic chondrules have a broader size-frequency-distribution than porphyritic chondrules, and porphyritic olivine-pyroxene (POP) chondrules are considerably (98% confidence level) larger than porphyritic pyroxene (PP) chondrules. The larger size of RP chondrules relative to C chondrules in EH3 chondrites may be due to a tendency of the chondrule-forming mechanism not to have heated large precursor aggregates above the liquidus. Consequent retention of numerous relict grains would have caused these objects to develop RP rather than C textures upon cooling. The large proportion (≥50%) of nonporphyritic EH3 chondrules among the smaller chondrule size-fractions may have been caused by preferential disruption of large nonporphyritic chondrule droplets. The large proportion (≥50%) of nonporphyritic EH3 chondrules among the larger chondrule size-fractions is problematic. The larger size of POP relative to PP chondrules is due to reaction of fine-grained olivine with free silica to form pyroxene during mild thermal metamorphism of the whole-rocks.     

Size‐frequency distributions of chondrules and chondrule fragments in LL3 chondrites: Implications for parent‐body fragmentation of chondrules

Abstract— We measured the sizes and textural types of 719 intact chondrules and 1322 chondrule fragments in thin sections of Semarkona (LL3.0), Bishunpur (LL3.1), Krymka (LL3.1), Piancaldoli (LL3.4) and Lewis Cliff 88175 (LL3.8). The mean apparent diameter of chondrules in these LL3 chondrites is 0.80 φ units or 570 μm, much smaller than the previous rough estimate of ～900 μm. Chondrule fragments in the five LL3 chondrites have a mean apparent cross‐section of 1.60 φ units or 330 μm. The smallest fragments are isolated olivine and pyroxene grains; these are probably phenocrysts liberated from disrupted porphyritic chondrules. All five LL3 chondrites have fragment/ chondrule number ratios exceeding unity, suggesting that substantial numbers of the chondrules in these rocks were shattered. Most fragmentation probably occurred on the parent asteroid. Porphyritic chondrules (porphyritic olivine + porphyritic pyroxene + porphyritic olivine‐pyroxene) are more readily broken than droplet chondrules (barred olivine + radial pyroxene + cryptocrystalline). The porphyritic fragment/chondrule number ratio (2.0) appreciably exceeds that of droplet‐textured objects (0.9). Intact droplet chondrules have a larger mean size than intact porphyritic chondrules, implying that large porphyritic chondrules are fragmented preferentially. This is consistent with the relatively low percentage of porphyritic chondrules within the set of the largest chondrules (57%) compared to that within the set of the smallest chondrules (81%). Differences in mean size among chondrule textural types may be due mainly to parent‐body chondrule‐fragmentation events and not to chondrule‐formation processes in the solar nebula.     

A relict‐grain‐bearing porphyritic olivine compound chondrule from LL3.0 Semarkona that experienced limited remelting

Abstract— Chondrule D8n in LL3.0 Semarkona is a porphyritic olivine (PO) chondrule, 1300 times 1900 μm in size, with a complicated thermal history. The oldest recognizable portion of D8n is a moderately high‐FeO, PO chondrule that is modeled as having become enmeshed in a dust ball containing a small, intact, low‐FeO porphyritic chondrule and fine‐grained material consisting of forsterite, kamacite, troilite, and possibly reduced C. The final chondrule melting event may have been a heat pulse that preferentially melted the low‐FeO material and produced a low‐FeO, opaque‐rich, exterior region, 45–140 μm in thickness, around the original chondrule. At one end of the exterior region, a kamacite‐ and troilite‐rich lump 960 μm in length formed. During the final melting event, the coarse, moderately ferroan olivine phenocrysts within the original chondrule appear to have been partly resorbed (These relict phenocrysts have the highest concentrations of FeO, MnO, and Cr₂O₃—7.5, 0.20, and 0.61 wt%, respectively—in D8n.). Narrow olivine overgrowths crystallized around the phenocrysts following final chondrule melting; their compositions seem to reflect mixing between melt derived from the exterior region and the resorbed margins of the phenocrysts. During the melting event, FeO in the relict phenocrysts was reduced, producing numerous small blebs of Ni‐poor metallic Fe along preexisting curvilinear fractures. The reduced olivine flanking the trails of metal blebs has lower FeO than the phenocrysts but virtually identical MnO and Cr₂O₃ contents. Subsequent parent‐body aqueous alteration in the exterior region of the chondrule formed pentlandite and abundant magnetite.