Possible transport of carbon in meteorite parent bodies

Abstract

Assuming that a meteorite parent body is initially made of type 3 ordinary chondritic material, the possibility of transportation of carbon as carbon monoxide gas during thermal metamorphism is considered. The thermal history of the parent body is constrained by the maximum metamorphic temperature and the duration of metamorphism. An experimentally determined value of gas permeability of chondrites is used for the calculation of CO gas transport in the parent body. It is found difficult to remove carbon from type 4, 5 chondritic materials if the gas permeability is constant throughout the parent body. However, if the permeability is slightly larger near the surface, it is possible to produce the carbon concentration estimated in type 3–6 chondritic materials.