The nature and origin of type B1 and B2 CaAl-rich inclusions in the Allende meteorite

Abstract

The Type B CaAl-rich inclusions in the Allende carbonaceous chondrite form a continuous range from the mineralogically concentrically zoned B1 subtype to the unzoned B2 subtype. These subtypes differ in (i) structure, texture, grain size and shape, (ii) mineralogical proportions and compositions, (iii) accessory mineralogy, (iv) relative abundance of spinel framboids, (v) rim layering, (vi) major element chemistry, and (vii) degree of secondary alteration. These differences, together with observations on the crystallization of synthetic melts, suggest that the B1 inclusions crystallised relatively rapidly from molten parental material while B2 types crystallised relatively slowly close to the solidus from material that had not been completely melted. The same data are used to construct an evaporative residue model for the origin of the parental Type B materials. In the model, dust in the protosolar nebula was heated with removal of more volatile elements, leaving completely melted (Type B1) residues at the highest temperatures and incompletely melted, less highly evaporated (Type B2) residues at lower temperatures.