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NASA NTRS1972

The Seoni chondrite.

Description of the Seoni (India, 1966) chondrite in terms of its mineralogy, bulk chemistry, and sample shape and mass. It is an H6 group ordinary chondrite that contains olivine, orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, plagioclase, together with chromite, troilite, kamacite, taenite, chlorapatite, and whitlockite. Recrystallization has been quite extensive, as indicated by the presence of a few remnant chondrules, low abundance of clinopyroxene, and relatively high abundance of well formed plagioclase.

Bunch, T. E.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Formation of ordinary chondrites.

Most of the chemical and mineralogical properties of the ordinary chondrites were established by processes that occurred in the solar nebula during a short time span near the time of formation of the solar system. Four separate and distinct fractionation events appear to have been involved in their formation from more primitive material of mean solar-system composition. In order of occurrence these were a refractory-element fractionation, a siderophilic-element fractionation, a fractionation of slightly volatile elements, and a fractionation of highly volatile elements. In each of the four cases the most plausible fractionation mechanism involves a separation of gases from solids. The ambient temperature in the planetary portion of the solar nebula during the formation of these chondrites appears to have been characterized by two maximums.

Wasson, J. T.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Isotopic compositions of rare gases in the carbonaceous chondrites Mokoia and Allende.

The isotopic compositions have been measured mass spectrometrically for neon, argon, krypton and xenon released from the carbonaceous chondrites Mokoia and Allende in stepwise heating experiments. The isotopic compositions of rare gases released from the meteorites at different temperatures varied quite considerably. A marked enrichment of Xe129 due to the decay of extinct nuclide I129 was observed in both meteorites. The variations of the isotopic ratios are partly caused by the presence of cosmic-ray spallation and neutron-capture products. In addition, however, a marked trend of mass-dependent variation of the isotopic ratios was observed in this work. The rare gas isotopes released from the meteorites appear to be systematically mass-fractionated relative to the relative abundances of the average carbonaceous chondrite. It seems that this phenomenon can be best explained as due to the fact that there exist reservoirs of two isotopically distinct gases in the meteorites and mixtures of these gases are being released at each temperature fraction.

Manuel, O. K.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Particle shape and magnetization of chondrite meteorites, lunar samples, and impactites

Extra terrestrial materials, certain materials which have their origin at the earth's surface due to meteoritic impact, or under highly reducing conditions, such as in the case of basaltic flows in contact with coal beds or serpentenites, all contain Fe and FeNi phases with high magnetization values and spherical shape. Normally, the demagnetizing field (H sub D = NI sub S: where N is the demagnetizing factor and I is the saturation magnetization) is corrected for. In disperse systems, such as most natural materials, the particle shape effects are analyzed in terms of the saturation fields, Hs = H sub D = NI sub S and the magnetization differences (Delta I sub S). Discrete size modes of superparamagnetic (SP), multidomain (MD), and single domain (SD) particles result in reduced coercive force (Hc), increase in the value R sub H (ratio of remanent coercive force, H sub R, to H sub C), and decrease in the value R sub I (ratio of remanent magnetization, I sub R, to saturation magnetization, T sub S). The main distinctions between the various natural materials can be made by this approach. Hysteresis loops for terrestrial basalts, Fe and Ni rods and spheres, chondrite meteorites, lunar samples, impactites, and chondritic fusion crust are presented.

Wasilewski, P.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Photometric and polarimetric properties of the Bruderheim chondritic meteorite

Photometric and polarimetric laboratory measurements were made as a function of phase angle in the U(0.36 microns), G(0.54 microns) and R(0.67 microns) bands for 0, 30 and 60 deg incident illumination on four particle size ranges of Bruderheim, an L6 olivine-hypersthene chondritic meteorite. The four particle size ranges were: 0.25-4.76 mm coated with less than 74 microns powder, 74-250 microns, and less than 37 microns. In addition, normal reflectance measurements were made in the spectral range from 0.31 to 1.1 microns. Comparison with astronomical data reveals that none of the asteroids in the main belt for which adequate observations exist can be matched with Bruderheim, which is representative of the most common meteoritic material encountered by the Earth. However, it appears from the polarization and photometry data that the surface of the Apollo asteroid Icarus is consistent with an ordinary chondrite composition. This suggests the possibility that this material, although common in Earth-crossing orbits, is rare as a surface constituent in the main asteroid belt.

Egan, W. G.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Search for extinct natural radioactivity of Pb205 via thallium-isotope anomalies in chondrites and lunar soil.

Thallium and Pb204 contents were determined by stable-isotope-dilution analysis in 16 chondrites, one achondrite, and Apollo 11 and 12 lunar fines. Meteoritic thallium contents vary over a large range, 0.02 to 100 ppb, corresponding to the fact that thallium is a highly fractionated volatile element. Lunar thallium contents are less than 5 ppb. The Tl205/Tl203 ratio was determined in most of the samples, with precision ranging from 0.03% to several percent depending mainly on the amount of thallium present. No variations from the terrestrial ratio were observed. The chondritic isochron slope for Pb205 (13.8-m.y. half-life) is less than or equal to 0.00009 (99% confidence level), corresponding to an interval of at least 60 m.y. and possibly exceeding 120 m.y. between the termination of s-process nucleosynthesis and the lead-thallium fractionations.

Huey, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Xenon in carbonaceous chondrites.

A table showing the relative amounts of xenon isotopes in carbonaceous chondrites is presented. It is found that the enrichment of heavy xenon isotopes released from carbonaceous chondrites in the approximate temperature range from 600 to 1000 C is accompanied by an enrichment of the light xenon isotopes. The high degree of correlation between these two isotopic anomalies suggests that both result from a common source. There is no known nuclear or physical process which could produce both anomalies in situ. It is, therefore, suggested that the anomalies are the result of the release of isotopically anomalous xenon which was trapped in the meteorites.

Manuel, O. K.↗
NASA NTRS1972

The Oro Grande, New Mexico, chondrite and its lithic inclusion.

The Oro Grande, New Mexico, U.S.A., chondrite was found in 1971. Electron microprobe analyses and microscopic examination show the following mineralogy: olivine (Fa 19.3 mole %), orthopyroxene (Fs 16.2 mole %), diopside, feldspar (An 13.6 mole %), chlorapatite, whitlockite, kamacite, taenite, troilite, chromite, and an iron-bearing terrestrial weathering product. A bulk chemical analysis of the meteorite shows the following results (weight %): Fe 0.84, Ni 1.46, Co 0.07, FeS 3.62, SiO2 34.18, TiO2 0.14, Al2O3 1.83, Cr2O3 0.55, Fe2O3 21.25, FeO 9.13, MnO 0.31, MgO 21.52, CaO 1.72, Na2O 0.70, K2O 0.08, P2O5 0.25, H2O(+) 2.14, H2O(-) 0.40, C 0.22, sum 100.41. On the basis of composition and texture the Oro Grande meteorite is classified as an H5 chondrite.

Fodor, R. V.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Solar wind xenon in some carbonaceous chondrites.

A table shows the isotopic composition of xenon from several carbonaceous chondrites in which the presence of solar xenon can be demonstrated. The data suggest the presence of a solar xenon component in these carbonaceous chondrites, but solar xenon in these meteorites can be more clearly demonstrated through correlation plots. It is argued that the incorporation of the solar type of noble gases must have occurred during the early history of meteoritic matter when this material consisted of fine-grained particles.

Sabu, D. D.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Elemental composition of individual chondrules from ordinary chondrites.

Sequential nondestructive neutron activation analysis was used to determine the bulk abundance of Fe, Al, Na, Mn, Cr, Sc, Co, and Ir in approximately 300 individual chondrules from 16 chondrites representing the H(3-5), L4, and LL(3-6) compositional and petrologic classes. The histograms indicate that the most probable abundances for lithophilic elements, except Cr, are enriched in the chondrules, while the siderophilic elements are depleted in the chondrules compared to the whole chondrite. Some of the abundance populations, such as Al and Fe, appear to be multimodal. Systematic variations in the composition of the chondrules with increasing petrologic type were observed; most consistent are an increasing Na-Al and Cr-Al correlation, a decreasing Na-Mn correlation, increasing Na abundance, and decreasing Na and Mn dispersions among chondrules.

Osborn, T. W.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Photometric and polarimetric properties of the Bruderheim chondritic meteorite.

Study of the spectral, photometric, and polarimetric properties of the Bruderheim olivine-hypersthene chondritic meteorite. This meteorite is representative of the most common meteoritic material recovered on earth, and, hence, could also be the most common in interplanetary space. Yet, comparison with astronomical data indicates that none of the asteroids in the main belt for which adequate observations exist can be matched with Bruderheim properties. Only the surface of the Apollo asteroid Icarus does, in light of polarization and photometry data, appear to be consistent with an ordinary chondrite composition. This suggests the possibility that this material, although common in earth-crossing orbits, is rare as a surface constituent in the main asteroid belt.

Egan, W. G.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Noble gas concentrations and cosmic ray exposure ages of eight recently fallen chondrites

Abundances and isotopic compositions of He, Ne, Ar, and Xe have been measured in eight recently fallen chondrites. Ratios of concentrations of cosmic ray-produced He-3, Ne-21, Ne-22, and Ar-38 indicate that all eight samples experienced less than average cosmic ray shielding. He-3 and Ne-21 exposure ages were calculated using shielding corrected chondritic production rates and the measured Ne-22/Ne-21. Exposure ages calculated from Na-22/Ne-22 and Al-26/Ne-21 ratios and constant relative production rates show a bias between the two ages due to variations in Na-22/Al-26. Arguments are presented that this bias is due to irradiation hardness differences, and therefore the use of constant values for both the Na-22/Ne-22 and Al-26/Ne-21 production ratios is not permitted.

Bogard, D. D.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Origin of the high-temperature fraction of C2 chondrites

The coarse-grained fraction of C2 chondrites is composed mostly of single crystals and aggregates of crystals of Mg-rich olivine and pyroxene. They do not possess compelling textural evidence of being the solidification products of rapidly-quenched molten droplets. Metal inclusions in the silicates contain 3.82-8.88 mole% Ni, 0.16-0.70% Co, 0.17-1.07% Cr, and up to 5.70% P. Thermodynamic calculations show that alloys of these compositions may be condensates from the solar nebula. The implication is that the high-temperature fraction of C2 chondrites consists mostly of high-temperature condensates.

Grossman, L.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Restudy of pyroxene-pyroxene equilibration temperature for ordinary chondrite meteorites

Experimental verification of the conclusions of Van Schmus and Koffman (1967) that the equilibration temperatures of ordinary chondrites are roughly the same regardless of classification, and that these temperatures range from 770 to 860 C. The higher average relative equilibrium temperatures found are attributed to improvements in microprobe techniques, and better standards and correction procedures introduced over the last six years. Agreement is expressed with their conclusion that ordinary chondrites embody equilibria achieved within the metamorphic temperature regime and not under igneous temperatures as postulated earlier by Craig (1964) and Mueller (1964).

Bunch, T. E.↗
NASA NTRS1974

The Toulon meteorite - A new chondrite from Illinois

Toulon is an olivine-bronzite chondrite found near Toulon, Illinois in 1962. It contains abundant, well preserved chondrules, as well as glasses that are not well devitrified. Most of the metal has been weathered out. Olivine and pyroxene are well equilibrated. It has been classified as an H5 chondrite.

Olsen, E.↗
NASA NTRS1974

A refractory glass chondrule in the Vigarano chondrite

Vigarano, a type 3 carbonaceous chondrite, contains a chondrule composed of highly refractory Ca- and Al-rich glass with minor spinel. The chondrule formed from material similar to the Ca-, Al-, Ti-rich aggregates that are common in Vigarano and other type 3 chondrites and formation of these refractory aggregates must predate formation of some Vigarano chondrules. Experiments with synthetic analogs and a comparison with studies in the system CaO-MgO-Al2O3-SiO2 indicate a temperature for formation of the chondrule at or above 1700 C followed by very rapid cooling.

Reid, A. M.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Al-26 in cores of the Keyes chondrite

Radionuclide concentration data for six samples from two cores of the Keyes chondrite are presented. The weighted average potassium content for samples was about 675 ppm, somewhat lower than the 800-900 ppm typically found in L chondrites. Spectra were analyzed for U and Th, with upper limits established at approximately 100 and 200 ppb, respectively.

Cressy, P. J.↗