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Lovering, J. F.

Publications and source records attributed to Lovering, J. F..

The nature and origin of type B1 and B2 Ca-Al-rich inclusions in the Allende meteorite

The Type B Ca-Al-rich inclusions in the Allende carbonaceous chondrite form a continuous range from the mineralogically concentrically zoned B1 subtype to the unzoned B2 subtype. These subtypes differ in (1) structure, texture, grain size and shape, (2) mineralogical proportions and compositions, (3) accessory mineralogy, (4) relative abundance of spinel framboids, (5) rim layering, (6) major element chemistry, and (7) degree of secondary alteration. These differences, together with observations on the crystallization of synthetic melts, suggest that the B1 inclusions crystallized relatively rapidly from molten parental material while B2 types crystallized relatively slowly close to the solidus from material that had not been completely melted. The same data are used to construct an evaporative residue model for the origin of the parental Type B materials. In the model, dust in the protosolar nebula was heated with removal of more volatile elements, leaving completely melted (Type B1) residues at the highest temperatures and incompletely melted, less highly evaporated (Type B2) residues at lower temperatures.

Wark, D. A.↗

Evolution of Ca-Al-rich bodies in the earliest solar system Growth by incorporation

Thirty different Allende Ca-Al-rich inclusions (CAIs), 11 of type A and 19 of type B, were examined for spinel palisades and framboids, and the possible origins of these structures are discussed. Possible mechanisms for in situ formation of palisades are assessed, all of them either being rejected outright or considered highly implausible. The evidence for external formation and incorporation of palisade bodies is then assessed, and possible mechanisms are considered. It is proposed that type B CAIs are residues from the heating and incomplete evaporation of interstellar dust during the accretion of the protosolar nebula, and that type A CAIs are later condensates from completely evaporated dust whose exotic O-16-rich component became more diluted in the gas phase.

Wark, D. A.↗

Uranium and thorium in achondrites.

The abundances of U and Th in 19 achondrites and two pallasite olivines have been measured by radiochemical neutron activation analysis. Brecciated eucrites are enriched relative to chondrites in both elements by factors between 10 and 20, perhaps as a result of a magmatic differentiation process. Two unbrecciated eucrites are far less enriched, possibly due to their origin as igneous cumulates. The diogenites Johnstown and Shalka contain approximately chondritic levels of U and Th, but Ellemeet is 10 times lower. The abundances in three howardites are in good agreement with those expected from major element data for a mixing model with eucrite and diogenite end members. The high O-18 basaltic achondrites Nakhla, Shergotty and Angra dos Reis have a range of U and Th abundances similar to the brecciated eucrites and howardites, but have systematically higher Th/U ratios.

Morgan, J. W.↗