Petrologic study of SJ101, a new forsterite-bearing CAI from the Allende CV3 chondrite

Abstract

The forsterite-bearing Type B (FoB) CAI SJ101 consists of three major structural units: (1) light patches of sector-zoned, poikilitic Al-rich clinopyroxene (Cpx) with numerous inclusions of small spinel grains and aggregates and subordinate amounts of Mg-rich melilite (Mel) and anorthite (An) (Sp–Cpx lithology), (2) dark sinuous bands of Al-rich clinopyroxene with large (up to ∼300 × 60 μm) poikilitically enclosed euhedral forsterite (Fo) crystals (Fo–Cpx lithology), and (3) the external Cpx–Sp–An rim overlying the entire inclusion. The two major lithologies are always separated by a transition zone of clinopyroxene poikilitically enclosing both forsterite and spinel. The patches of the Sp–Cpx lithology exhibit significant textural and mineralogical variability that is size-dependent. Small patches typically consist of Cpx and spinel with minor remnants of melilite and/or its alteration products. Large patches contain Mel–An-rich cores with either equigranular–ophitic–subophitic or ‘lacy’ textures reminiscent of those in Types B or C CAIs, respectively. All silicates poikilitically enclose numerous spinel grains of identical habit. Both melilite and anorthite gradually disappear toward the boundary with the Fo–Cpx lithology. Neither the evaporation mantle of Al-rich melilite typical of other FoBs nor the Wark–Lovering rim is present. Secondary minerals include grossular, monticellite, magnetite, and a few grains of wollastonite, andradite, and nepheline. Being a rather typical FoB mineralogically and chemically, texturally SJ101 differs from other FoBs in displaying the nearly complete segregation of forsterite from spinel which occur only in the Fo–Cpx and Sp–Cpx lithologies, respectively. The complex, convoluted internal structure of SJ101 suggests that the coarse-grained Sp–An–Mel–Cpx cores and Fo–Cpx lithology represent the precursor materials of FoBs, proto-CAIs and Fo-rich accretionary rims. While the inferred chemistry and mineralogy of the Fo-rich rims are fairly typical, the high Åk content in SJ101 melilite (78.7–82.3 mol.%) implies that the SJ101 proto-CAIs represent a new type of CAIs that has not been sampled before. This type of CAIs might have formed by remelting of spinel-rich condensates. The Group II REE pattern, slightly negative δ 29Si and δ 25Mg values, and nearly solar ratios of the major elements in the bulk SJ101 suggest that its precursors, proto-CAIs and Fo-rich rims, could have formed by a non-equilibrium condensation in a closed system of solar composition somewhat depleted in a super-refractory evaporation residue. The proposed formation scenario of SJ101 invokes a non-steady cooling and condensation of the nebular gas interrupted by at least two distinct melting episodes required to account for the igneous textures of the Mel–An–Cpx-rich cores (proto-CAIs) and the Fo–Cpx lithology.