| Abstract: | Bulk and trace lithophilic elements (Al, Ca, Fe, Mn, Ti, Cr, Sr, V and Zn) have been determined in individual chondrules and in other constituents of the H-4 Mafra chondrite by means of flameless A.A. microanalysis. Twenty-four large sized (> 1 mg) chondrules, composite samples of minor-sized (0.1 and 0.2 mg) chondrules and fine-grained “interchondrular” material have been examined. Data on the large-sized chondrules exhibit large compositional variations among cosmochemically coherent groups of elements. A weak anti-correlation was found between the geochemically coherent refractory V and volatile Zn. A possible mass-composition relationship is suggested by the apparent concentration of lithophile high-temperature condensing elements (Ca, Al, Ti) in the minor-sized chondrules. Compositional features tend to support the hypothesis that chondrules originate from a large number of precursor components constituting a distinct grain population in the solar nebula. Melting through a sudden heating of random mixtures of these precursor grains was possibly followed by further condensation of volatiles and accretion. |
