Acapulcoite-lodranite Clan Research Articles

The H-poor nature of incompletely melted planetesimals: The view from acapulcoites and lodranites

The abundance of H in planetary building blocks is of fundamental importance for constraining the evolution of the terrestrial planets. It is commonly assumed that chondrites are the principal sources of Earth’s H; however, recent studies have suggested that primitive achondrites and achondrites may retain a small complement of H. There are few constraints on the H budgets of primitive achondrites, which represent the transition from unmelted to melted planetesimals, but prior work suggests that bulk parent body H contents are several orders of magnitude lower than typical chondritic values. Therefore, to provide further constraints on H retention during the transition from unmelted to melted planetesimals, we have measured the H contents of olivine, orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, and plagioclase from a suite of acapulcoite-lodranite clan meteorites. Acapulcoite-lodranite clan meteorites represent the “prototypical” primitive achondrite parent body and have bulk major element compositions more akin to the Earth than previously studied primitive achondrites (e.g., the ureilites). We find that the H2O contents of olivine (∼5–12 µg/g H2O), orthopyroxene (∼3–10 µg/g H2O), and clinopyroxene (∼5–8 µg/g H2O) are broadly similar, while plagioclase (∼2.5–5 µg/g H2O) tends to be offset to lower values. Using a simple, single-stage batch-melting model, we calculate a preferred maximum acapulcoite-lodranite parent body H2O content of 38 µg/g, which is similar to other estimates for primitive achondritic and achondritic parent bodies. Furthermore, assuming chondrite-like precursor materials, our data are consistent with efficient loss of H prior to or during the onset of melting of early-formed planetesimals. This requires that Earth’s H-budget was dominated by building blocks that underwent minimal thermal processing.

Thermochemical evolution of the acapulcoite–lodranite parent body: Evidence for fragmentation‐disrupted partial differentiation

AbstractPrimitive achondrites of the acapulcoite–lodranite clan (ALC) are residues of partial melting that displays a continuum of thermal metamorphism and partial melting most likely set by burial depth within an internally heated, primordial acapulcoite–lodranite parent body (ALPB). New major and trace element data from eight ALC meteorites and the application of several thermometric methods suggest that the ALPB was affected by partial differentiation disrupted by rapid cooling from peak, magmatic temperatures. Application of rare earth element‐in‐two‐pyroxene thermometry recovers temperatures of 1125–1250 °C for lodranites, while two‐pyroxene solvus and Ca‐in‐olivine thermometry recover lower temperatures for ALC meteorites (941–1114 °C and 686–850 °C, respectively). Major and trace element disequilibrium in acapulcoite and transitional groups provides evidence for cryptic melt infiltration and melt rock reaction within these layers of the ALPB. From lodranites, we determined rapid cooling rates of ~1 to ~26 °C yr−1from peak temperatures, consistent with collisional fragmentation of the parent body during differentiation. After this initial period of rapid cooling, cooling rates decreased by two to four orders of magnitude through Ca‐in‐olivine closure temperatures (~750 °C). We hypothesize that the primordial ALPB possessed an onion shell‐type layered structure that was disrupted by collisional breakup during partial differentiation. Thermal modeling suggests that ALC samples originate from ~300 m to ~10 km radius collisional fragments that cooled rapidly over time scales of several to ~20,000 yr, then reaccreted to form a slower cooling, second‐generation rubble‐pile asteroid. The source of ALC meteorites is a second‐generation (or later) rubble‐pile body of S‐type spectral class located near the Jupiter 3:1 mean motion resonance in the Main Belt of asteroids.

Grove Mountains (GRV) 020043: Insights into acapulcoite-lodranite genesis from the most primitive member

Although acapulcoites and lodranites played a key role in understanding partial differentiation of asteroids, the lack of samples of the chondritic precursor limits our understanding of the processes that formed these meteorites. Grove Mountains (GRV) 020043 is a type 4 chondrite, with abundant, well-delineated, pyroxene-rich chondrules with an average diameter of 690 μm, microcrystalline mesostasis, polysynthetically striated low-Ca pyroxene, and slightly heterogeneous plagioclase compositions. Similarities in mineralogy, mineral composition, and oxygen isotopic composition link GRV 020043 to the acapulcoite-lodranite clan. These features include a high low-Ca pyroxene to olivine ratio, high kamacite to taenite ratio, and relatively FeO-poor mafic silicates (Fa10.3, Fs10.4) relative to ordinary chondrites, as well as the presence of ubiquitous metal and sulfide inclusions in low-Ca pyroxene and ƒO2 typical of acapulcoites. GRV 020043 shows that evidence of partial melting is not an essential feature for classification within the acapulcoite-lodranite clan. GRV 020043 experienced modest thermal metamorphism similar to type 4 ordinary chondrites. GRV 020043 suggests a range of peak temperatures on the acapulcoite-lodranite parent body similar to that of ordinary chondrites, but shifted to higher temperatures, perhaps consistent with earlier accretion. The mineralogy and mineral compositions of GRV 020043, despite modest thermal metamorphism, suggests that most features of acapulcoites previously attributed to reduction were, instead, inherited from the precursor chondrite. Although partial melting was widespread on the acapulcoite-lodranite parent body, ubiquitous Fe,Ni-FeS blebs in the cores of silicates were not implanted by shock or trapped during silicate melting, but were inherited from the precursor chondrite with subsequent overgrowths during metamorphism.

Spectral properties and mineral compositions of acapulcoite–lodranite clan meteorites: Establishing S‐type asteroid–meteorite connections

AbstractExcept for asteroid sample return missions, measurements of the spectral properties of both meteorites and asteroids offer the best possibility of linking meteorite groups with their parent asteroid(s). Visible plus near‐infrared spectra reveal distinguishing absorption features controlled mainly by the Fe2+ contents and modal abundances of olivine and pyroxene. Meteorite samples provide relationships between spectra and mineralogy. These relationships are useful for estimating the olivine and pyroxene mineralogy of stony (S‐type) asteroid surfaces. Using a suite of 10 samples of the acapulcoite–lodranite clan (ALC), we have developed new correlations between spectral parameters and mafic mineral compositions for partially melted asteroids. A well‐defined relationship exists between Band II center and ferrosilite (Fs) content of orthopyroxene. Furthermore, because Fs in orthopyroxene and fayalite (Fa) content in olivine are well correlated in these meteorites, the derived Fs content can be used to estimate Fa of the coexisting olivine. We derive new equations for determining the mafic silicate compositions of partially melted S‐type asteroid parent bodies. Stony meteorite spectra have previously been used to delineate meteorite analog spectral zones in Band I versus band area ratio (BAR) parameter space for the establishment of asteroid–meteorite connections with S‐type asteroids. However, the spectral parameters of the partially melted ALC overlap with those of ordinary (H) chondrites in this parameter space. We find that Band I versus Band II center parameter space reveals a clear distinction between the ALC and the H chondrites. This work allows the distinction of S‐type asteroids as nebular (ordinary chondrites) or geologically processed (primitive achondrites).

Evidence for a multilayered internal structure of the chondritic acapulcoite-lodranite parent asteroid

We report a petrography, mineral chemistry, oxygen and chromium isotopic study of Grove Mountains (GRV) 020043 together with a subset of other acapulcoites and lodranites. GRV 020043 is a petrologic type 4 chondrite, with chondrules of diverse types and sizes, and is composed of low-Ca pyroxene (40 vol.%), olivine (24 vol.%), diopside (8 vol.%), plagioclase (10 vol.%), Fe-Ni metal (kamacite and taenite), troilite and some accessory minerals (chromite and apatite). The olivine in GRV 020043 has an average fayalite content (Fa) of 10.7 mol.% with the low-Ca pyroxene having an average ferrosilite content (Fs) of 10.8 mol.%. The whole rock oxygen isotopic composition of GRV 020043 is +3.226 ± 0.267‰, +0.797 ± 0.131‰, and −0.927 ± 0.017‰ for δ18O, δ17O, and Δ17O, respectively, with a bulk chromium isotopic compositions of ε54Cr = −0.48 ± 0.10. These characteristics of GRV 020043 are different from all established or ungrouped chondrites but agree with those of the acapulcoite-lodranite clan. We therefore suggest that GRV 020043 represents the chondritic precursor of acapulcoite-lodranite parent body.The similarity of bulk oxygen and chromium isotopic compositions among GRV 020043, Acapulco, Northwest Africa (NWA) 468 (metal-rich lodranite), NWA 8118 (lodranite), NWA 8287 (acapulcoite), and NWA 8422 (lodranite) indicates that they originated from a common oxygen and chromium reservoir in the protoplanetary disk or may have derived from a parent body with a differentiated multilayer structure.

Brachinites: Igneous rocks from a differentiated asteroid

Abstract— We have done petrologic studies of brachinites Allan Hills (ALH) 84025, Elephant Moraine (EET) 99402, and EET 99407; bulk geochemical studies of EET 99402 and EET 99407; Ar‐Ar studies of Brachina and EET 99402; and a Xe isotopic study of Brachina. Textural, mineral compositional, and bulk compositional evidence show that EET 99402 and EET 99407 are paired. ALH 84025, EET 99402, and EET 99407 have igneous textures. Petrofabric analyses of ALH 84025 and EET 99407 demonstrate the presence of lineations and probable foliations of olivine grains that support formation as igneous cumulates. Mineral minor element chemistry and bulk rock incompatible lithophile element contents of the brachinites are distinct from those of acapulcoitelodranite clan meteorites, a suite of high‐grade metamorphic rocks and anatectic residues. The differences demonstrate a higher blocking temperature of equilibration for the brachinites and that cumulus plagioclase is present in EET 99402, EET 99407, and probably ALH 84025, thus indicating an igneous origin. Brachinites are differentiated, ultramafic achondrites, and are not part of a suite of primitive achondrites. We infer that their parent asteroid is a differentiated body.Brachina has an excess of 129Xe correlated with reactor‐produced 128Xe, demonstrating that short‐lived 129I was present at the time of formation. This, plus literature data, attests to early formation of the brachinites, within a few Ma of the formation of chondrites. Ar‐Ar age data show that Brachina and EET 99407 were degassed about 4.13 Ga ago, possibly by a common impact event. EET 99402 and EET 99407 show petrographic evidence for shock, including possible conversion of plagioclase to maskelynite followed by devitrification. Brachina is unshocked, making a direct association between the Ar‐Ar age and textures ambiguous.