Ordinary chondrites: What can we learn using Mössbauer spectroscopy?

Abstract

Iron-bearing phases in ordinary chondrites are the subject of numerous studies by Mössbauer spectroscopy. This review considers useful information which can be obtained by means of this technique. Mössbauer spectroscopy permits to analyze the iron-bearing phase composition in meteorites and to do roughly the modal analysis; to investigate weathering products formation and estimate terrestrial age of meteorites; to evaluate the hyperfine parameters for the iron-bearing phases and compare variations in the local microenvironment of iron in the same iron-bearing crystals in different meteorites; to analyze the Fe2+ distribution between the M1 and M2 sites in silicate crystals and to estimate temperature of equilibrium cation distribution in olivine and orthopyroxene in bulk meteorite samples; to carry out classification of H, L and LL ordinary chondrites using Mössbauer parameters. Comparison of various results demonstrates advances of Mössbauer spectroscopy with a high velocity resolution in the study of ordinary chondrites in comparison with conventional technique.