STUDIES OF KAMACITE,PERRYITE AND SCHREIBERSITE IN E-CHONDRITES AND AUBRITES

The bulk composition of metal (kamacite plus perryite) was determined in eleven E-chondrites and eight aubrites. The data are compatible with the subdivision of the E-chondrites into two groups (Yavnel, 1963; Anders, 1964), St Mark's and St Sauveur belonging to type I (Easton, 1985). The Ni content of kamacite plus perryite in Kota Kota (5.49%) is within the range covered by the remaining E-chondrites. Normative perryite, (Fe, Ni)_x(Si,P)_y constitutes 2.1% of Kota Kota and 2.7% of South Oman. The Ni content in the bulk metal of Aubres, Bishopville, Norton County and Peña Blanca Spring is about half the average Ni content in the metal of E-chondrites or the remaining aubrites (Bustee, Khor Temiki, Mayo Belwa and Shallowater). High Ga/Ni and Ge/Ni ratios distinguish the metal in E-chondrites and aubrites from that in ordinary chondrites. In a large metal grain from Aubres perryite formed on reheating, whereas in one from Khor Temiki there is evidence of shock and displacement of fragmented schreibersite (rhabdite). Thirty-eight metal grains (< 1.5 mm diameter) from Khor Temiki have a wide compositional range like that in Mayo Belwa (Graham, 1978). In Shallowater the distribution of Ni in the metal is bimodal (5.2 and 11.6%) and there is evidence of rapid cooling. The composition of both bulk metal and individual grains in aubrites makes it unlikely that they represent residual metal trapped during magmatic differentiation and/or fractional crystallization of E6 material. Compositional differences between metal grains strongly indicate that the aubrites are polymict breccias.