Diopside-bearing EL6 EET 90102: insights from rare earth element distributions

Abstract

EET 90102 is the first known diopside-bearing EL6 chondrite. Diopside occurs in most aubrites and is occasionally found as rare small grains in unequilibrated enstatite chondrites, but is unknown from equilibrated enstatite chondrites. We have carried out a study of the rare earth element (REE) distributions in EET 90102, with a specific emphasis on diopside, in order to better understand its origin in this meteorite. We also present data for Ca-rich pyroxenes from two unequilibrated (EH3) enstatite chondrites for comparison. Our data show that diopside and other silicates in EET 90102 exhibit volatility-related anomalies indicative of formation under highly reducing conditions. Such anomalies have not previously been observed in EL6 chondrites, although they are common in unequilibrated enstatite chondrites. Diopside in EET 90102 probably formed by metamorphic equilibration of enstatite and oldhamite. The REE compositions of some grains, in particular the presence of positive Yb anomalies, indicate that they inherited their REE characteristics largely from CaS. Other grains have REE patterns that are more consistent with a derivation of diopside primarily from enstatite. In contrast to other EL6 chondrites, which experienced slow cooling, EET 90102 was quenched from high metamorphic temperatures. Thus, there may have been insufficient time to completely homogenize diopside REE compositions. The presence of diopside in EET 90102 simplifies one outstanding problem of aubrite formation. Melting of a diopside-bearing enstatite chondrite protolith provides a source for the abundant diopside in aubrites without requiring the oxidation of oldhamite, as suggested by previous research.