High precision SIMS oxygen three isotope study of chondrules in LL3 chondrites: Role of ambient gas during chondrule formation

Abstract

We report high precision SIMS oxygen three isotope analyses of 36 chondrules from some of the least equilibrated LL3 chondrites, and find systematic variations in oxygen isotope ratios with chondrule types. FeO-poor (type I) chondrules generally plot along a mass dependent fractionation line (Δ 17O ∼ 0.7‰), with δ 18O values lower in olivine-rich (IA) than pyroxene-rich (IB) chondrules. Data from FeO-rich (type II) chondrules show a limited range of δ 18O and δ 17O values at δ 18O = 4.5‰, δ 17O = 2.9‰, and Δ 17O = 0.5‰, which is slightly 16O-enriched relative to bulk LL chondrites (Δ 17O ∼ 1.3‰). Data from four chondrules show 16O-rich oxygen isotope ratios that plot near the CCAM (Carbonaceous Chondrite Anhydrous Mineral) line. Glass analyses in selected chondrules are systematically higher than co-existing minerals in both δ 18O and Δ 17O values, whereas high-Ca pyroxene data in the same chondrule are similar to those in olivine and pyroxene phenocrysts. Our results suggest that the LL chondrite chondrule-forming region contained two kinds of solid precursors, (1) 16O-poor precursors with Δ 17O > 1.6‰ and (2) 16O-rich solid precursors derived from the same oxygen isotope reservoir as carbonaceous chondrites. Oxygen isotopes exhibited open system behavior during chondrule formation, and the interaction between the solid and ambient gas might occur as described in the following model. Significant evaporation and recondensation of solid precursors caused a large mass-dependent fractionation due to either kinetic or equilibrium isotope exchange between gas and solid to form type IA chondrules with higher bulk Mg/Si ratios. Type II chondrules formed under elevated dust/gas ratios and with water ice in the precursors, in which the ambient H 2O gas homogenized chondrule melts by isotope exchange. Low temperature oxygen isotope exchange may have occurred between chondrule glasses and aqueous fluids with high Δ 17O (∼5‰) in LL the parent body. According to our model, oxygen isotope ratios of chondrules were strongly influenced by the local solid precursors in the proto-planetary disk and the ambient gas during chondrule melting events.