Abstract
The refractory meteorite inclusions known as CAIs (calcium-aluminum rich inclusions) display melted rims that were produced by thermal events of only a few seconds duration. We show that gas dynamic deceleration in a temporary atmosphere around an accreting parent body, produced by gas release during accretion, could provide a regime of sufficiently high gas density and small scale height to achieve partial melting of the CAIs. In addition, the presence of dust in the atmosphere would increase the gradient of pressure with height (i.e., effectively reduce the scale height), lower the rate of blowoff (thus keeping more gas around the body), as well as allow dust particles to become trapped in the partially melted material as is observed in some cases. Thus, CAIs may be regarded as probes of a primitive atmosphere by virtue of the thermal and mineralogical alteration that occurred upon their passage through the atmosphere.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.