EH Chondrites Research Articles

Origin of Halogens and Nitrogen in Enstatite Chondrites

The EH and EL enstatite chondrites are the most reduced chondrite groups, having formed in nebular regions where the gas may have had high C/O and/or pH2/pH2O ratios. Enstatite chondrites (particularly EH) have higher CI- and Mg-normalized abundances of halogens (especially F and Cl) and nitrogen than ordinary chondrites and most groups of carbonaceous chondrites. Even relative to CI chondrites, EH and EL chondrites are enriched in F. We have found that literature values for the halogen abundance ratios in EH and EL chondrites are strongly correlated with the electronegativities of the individual halogens. We suggest that the most reactive halogens were the most efficient at forming compounds (e.g., halides) that were incorporated into EH-chondrite precursor materials. It seems plausible that, under the more-oxidizing conditions pertaining to the other chondrite groups, a larger fraction of the halogens remained in the gas. Nitrogen may have been incorporated into the enstatite chondrites as simple nitrides that did not condense under the more-oxidizing conditions in the regions where other chondrite groups formed. Literature data show that unequilibrated enstatite chondrites have light bulk N (δ 15N ≈ −20‰) compared to most ordinary (−5 to +20‰) and carbonaceous (+20 to +190‰) chondrites; this may reflect the contribution in enstatite chondrites of nitride condensates with δ15 N values close to the proposed nebular mean (~−400‰). In contrast, N in carbonaceous chondrites is mainly contained within 15N-rich organic matter. The major carrier of N in ordinary chondrites is unknown.

Explicating the behavior of Mn‐bearing phases during shock melting and crystallization of the Abee EH‐chondrite impact‐melt breccia

Abstract— –Literature data show that, among EH chondrites, the Abee impact‐melt breccia exhibits unusual mineralogical characteristics. These include very low MnO in enstatite (<0.04 wt%), higher Mn in troilite (0.24 wt%) and oldhamite (0.36 wt%) than in EH4 Indarch and EH3 Kota‐Kota (which are not impact‐melt breccias), low Mn in keilite (3.6–4.3 wt%), high modal abundances of keilite (11.2 wt%) and silica (∼7 wt%, but ranging up to 16 wt% in some regions), low modal abundances of total silicates (58.8 wt%) and troilite (5.8 wt%), and the presence of acicular grains of the amphibole, fluor‐richterite. These features result from Abee's complex history of shock melting and crystallization. Impact heating was responsible for the loss of MnO from enstatite and the concomitant sulfidation of Mn. Troilite and oldhamite grains that crystallized from the impact melt acquired relatively high Mn contents. Abundant keilite and silica also crystallized from the melt; these phases (along with metallic Fe) were produced at the expense of enstatite, niningerite and troilite. Melting of the latter two phases produced a S‐rich liquid with higher Fe/Mg and Fe/Mn ratios than in the original niningerite, allowing the crystallization of keilite. Prior to impact melting, F was distributed throughout Abee, perhaps in part adsorbed onto grain surfaces; after impact melting, most of the F that was not volatilized was incorporated into crystallizing grains of fluor‐richterite. Other EH‐chondrite impact‐melt breccias and impact‐melt rocks exhibit some of these mineralogical features and must have experienced broadly similar thermal histories.

A database of chondrite analyses including platinum group elements, Ni, Co, Au, and Cr: Implications for the identification of chondritic projectiles

Abstract— Siderophile elements have been used to constrain projectile compositions in terrestrial and lunar impact melt rocks. To obtain a better knowledge of compositional differences between potential chondritic projectile types, meteorite analyses of the elements Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir, Pt, Cr, Co, Ni, and Au were gathered into a database. The presented compilation comprises 806 analyses of 278 chondrites including new ICP‐MS analyses of Allende and two ordinary chondrites. Each data set was evaluated by comparing element ratios of meteorites from the same chondrite group. Characteristic element abundances and ratios were determined for each group. Features observed in the element abundance patterns can be linked directly to the presence of certain components, such as the abundance of refractory elements Os, Ir, and Ru correlating with the occurrence of refractory inclusions in CV, CO, CK, and CM chondrites. The refined characteristic element ratios appear to be representative not only for meteorites, but also for related asteroidal bodies. Chondrite element ratios were compared to previously published values from impact melt rocks of the Popigai and Morokweng impact structures confirming that an identification of the specific type of projectile (L and LL chondrite, respectively) is possible. The assessment for Morokweng is supported by the recent discovery of an LL chondrite fragment in the impact melt rocks. Ultimately, the database provides valuable information for understanding processes in the solar nebula as they are recorded in chondrites. A new type of complementarity between element patterns of CK and EH chondrites is suggested to be the result of condensation, redox, and transportation processes in the solar nebula.

Trapped noble gas components and exposure history of the enstatite chondrite ALH84206

Noble gases in the Allan Hills (ALH) 84206 EH3 chondrite were measured with stepwise heating of a large sample (98.9 mg) and with total extraction of small samples (0.9-2.3 mg). Light noble gases show solar and cosmogenic components. The elemental ratios of solar gases in the samples suggest no significant loss of solar 36Ar. Some of small samples are richer in cosmogenic 21Ne than the large sample. Assuming that the excesses are due to a parent body exposure to cosmic rays, we obtain a parent body exposure age longer than 51 Ma and a meteoroid exposure age shorter than 39 Ma. Heavy noble gases are dominated by elementally fractionated Q-gases and atmospheric noble gases. The presence of fractionated Q-gases combined with no loss of solar 36Ar suggests that solar wind exposure occurred after Q-gas fractionation. Kr isotopic ratios show the presence of neutron-induced 80Kr and 82Kr from Br. The minimum radius of the ALH84206 meteoroid was calculated as 27 cm from the abundances of neutron-induced Kr, assuming that these were produced during exposure of the meteoroid.

Aubrite basalt vitrophyres: The missing basaltic component and high-sulfur silicate melts

Aubrite basalt vitrophyres (ABVs) are clastic inclusions found in enstatite chondrites and aubrites. Three have been discovered so far; PAI from the Parsa EH3 chondrite, KTI from the Khor Temiki aubrite and L87I from the LEW 87007 aubrite. Their significance stems from the fact that their parental melts were formed from source materials similar to E chondrites; therefore, they provide an opportunity to study the process of aubrite formation from an E chondrite-like protolith. KTI, PAI and L87I contain the FeO-poor highly reduced assemblage: forsterite + enstatite + silicate glass + kamacite + troilite. Additionally, KTI and PAI contain alabandite while L87I contains diopside. ABV glass contents are: 51 vol% for KTI; 30 vol% for PAI and 13 vol% for L87I. The ABVs are, thus, representative of the different stages of crystallization of a reduced precursor basalt similar to that which gave rise to the aubrites. The chemistry of all three ABVs can be projected onto the system forsterite-albite-silica. This system is where the bulk compositions of E chondrites fall. The melting relations in this system outline the melting of aubrite parental liquids. ABV bulk compositions lie along the enstatite-forsterite reaction boundary and are generally distinct from E chondrite bulk compositions. Analysis of the forsterite-albite-silica system, and the loci of ABV bulk compositions relative to that of the enstatite chondrites shows that the ABVs can be derived by partial melting of an E chondrite protolith. The L87I vitrophyre is more oxidizing than KTI and PAI. This was determined by its: higher enstatite and forsterite FeO content, lack of alabandite, low kamacite Si content and low Ti in troilite. Forsterites enclosed in enstatite display a solid trend of anticorrelated MnO and FeO; contrary to the positive correlation found for olivines in most gecochemical settings. This anticorrelation can be explained by an oxidizing or reducing event that occurred to the L87I parental melt. L87I olivine also displays an anticorrelation of CaO with FeO. The event was determined to be an oxidizing one based upon the MnO-CaO-FeO systematics of the olivine and an analysis of the effects of increasing oxygen fugacity on the chemistry of forsterite. ABV glasses contain high amounts of dissolved S that range up to 2.5 wt% in PAI. These dissolved S contents are greater, by over an order of magnitude, than those determined by experiment under oxidizing conditions. The high S contents are the result of the S solubility mechanisms under reducing conditions where CaS° and MgS° complexes occur in the silicate melt. Both igneous and impact melt origins were considered for the ABVs. An igneous origin appears to be most consistent with: (a) ABV chemistry, petrology and texture, (b) phase equilibrium analysis of the melting and crystallization of ABV melts and (c) theoretical considerations of the melting of an E chondrite-like protolith. ABV formation can be modeled by the partial melting of an E chondrite-like protolith. The model provides a good explanation for the chemistry of ABV bulk compositions and their positions along the enstatite-forsterite reaction boundary. A partial melt origin, however, is highly inconsistent with an impact origin since impact melting in a asteroidal setting cannot produce partial melts. ABVs are good candidate materials for the “missing basaltic component” that links aubrites with their protolith material.

Thermal Metamorphism of Primitive Meteorites—XII. The Enstatite Chondrites Revisited

Environmental Context.The first Solar System material condensed 4.567 billion years ago, rapidly forming planetesimals—solid bodies that might combine to form planets (accretion) or survive as asteroidal meteorites. Earth’s main accretion ended within the next 30 million years, but subsequent high temperatures essentially erased evidence of this history. However, heating in these early episodes produced effects uniquely recorded by 14 volatile trace elements. The volatile element composition of chondritic meteorites, whose parent material formed closest to Earth, may thus provide important information about early planetesimal evolution. Abstract.We report data for 14 trace and ultratrace elements—Au, Co, Sb, Ga, Rb, Ag, Cs, Te, Zn, Cd, Bi, Tl, In (ordered by increasing putative nebular volatility)—in 13 enstatite (E) chondrites recovered from Antarctica and two E inclusions in the Kaidun polymict breccia that fell in 1980. These data, determined by radiochemical neutron activation analysis (RNAA), essentially double the amount of information known for E chondrites, whose parent materials formed closest to the Sun in the chondrite-forming nebular region. We discuss here the data for all 29 samples studied. The meteoritic suite studied here includes both representatives of previously rare types—like high-iron EH3 and EH5 individuals—but also unique individuals and previously unknown low-iron, EL3, chondrites. Prior hypothetical assertions by others are corrected by the new data. Volatile element contents of EL3 and EH3 chondrites are variable, but comparable, like those of type 3 ordinary chondrites (i.e. H3, L3, and LL3). Volatile element contents of EH4 chondrites are at least as high as those of the E3 types, in contrast to the lower contents of H4, L4, and LL4 types. Compositionally, E3,4 chondrites reflect only nebular condensation and/or accretion processes. Volatiles in E5 and E6 chondrites—whether of EH, EL or unique ones—are depleted relative to cosmic (i.e. CI1) or E3,4 chondrite abundances. The evidence indicates that E5,6 chondrites compositionally reflect vaporization and loss of volatiles during open-system, thermal metamorphism of their parent(s); this may have been the terrestrial environment during Earth’s formation from early planetesimals. Compositional differences between Antarctic E5,6 chondrites and contemporary falls probably do not reflect weathering during the long residence of these chondrites in Antarctica. They might reflect differences in the starting compositions and/or metamorphic conditions in the parent(s).

Are high‐temperature fractionations in the solar nebula preserved in highly siderophile element systematics of the Earth's mantle?

Abstract— The relative abundances of the highly siderophile elements (HSE) Os, Ir, Ru, Pt, Rh, and Pd in relatively pristine lherzolites differ from solar abundance ratios and are several orders of magnitude higher than predicted for equilibrium distribution between metal/silicate (core‐mantle). The samples are characterized by a mean Ca/Al ratio of 1.18 ± 0.09 σM and a mean Ca/Si ratio of 0.10 ± 0.01 σM, overlapping with a mean Ca/Al of 1.069 ± 0.044 σM and a mean Ca/Si of 0.081 ± 0.023 σM found in chondrites (Wasson and Kallemeyn 1988). Interestingly, the CI‐normalized abundance pattern shows decreasing solar system normalized abundances with increasing condensation temperatures. The abundance of the moderately volatile element Pd is about 2x higher than those in the most refractory siderophiles Ir and Os. Thus, the HSE systematics of upper mantle samples suggest that the late bombardment, which added these elements to the accreting Earth, more closely resembles materials of highly reduced EH or EL chondrites than carbonaceous chondrites. In fact, the HSE in the Earth mantle are even more fractionated than the enstatite chondrites—an indication that some inner solar system materials were more highly fractionated than the latter.

Photomosaics of the cathodoluminescence of 60 sections of meteorites and lunar samples

Cathodoluminescence (CL) petrography provides a means of observing petrographic and compositional properties of geological samples not readily observable by other techniques. We report the low‐magnification CL images of 60 sections of extraterrestrial materials. The images we report include ordinary chondrites (including type 3 ordinary chondrites and gas‐rich regolith breccias), enstatite chondrites, CO chondrites and a CM chondrite, eucrites and a howardite, lunar highland regolith breccias, and lunar soils. The CL images show how primitive materials respond to parent body metamorphism, how the metamorphic history of EL chondrites differs from that of EH chondrites, how dark matrix and light clasts of regolith breccias relate to each other, how metamorphism affects eucrites, the texture of lunar regolith breccias and the distribution of crystallized lunar spherules (“lunar chondrules”), and how regolith working affects the mineral properties of lunar soils. More particularly, we argue that such images are a rich source of new information on the nature and history of these materials and that our efforts to date are a small fraction of what can be done.

Enstatite aggregates with niningerite, heideite, and oldhamite from the Kaidun carbonaceous chondrite: Relatives of aubrites and EH chondrites?

Abstract— We studied 2 enstatite aggregates (En >99), with sizes of 0.5 and 1.5 mm, embedded in the carbonaceous matrix of Kaidun. They contain sulfide inclusions up to 650 μm in length, which consist mainly of niningerite but contain numerous grains of heideite as well as oldhamite and some secondary phases (complex Fe, Ti, S hydroxides and Ca carbonate). Both niningerite and heideite are enriched in all trace elements relative to the co‐existing enstatite except for Be and Sc. The niningerite has the highest Ca content (about 5 wt%) of all niningerites analyzed so far in any meteorite and is the phase richest in trace elements. The REE pattern is fractionated, with the CI‐normalized abundance of Lu being higher by 2 orders of magnitude than that of La, and has a strong negative Eu anomaly. Heideite is, on average, poorer in trace elements except for Zr, La, and Li. Its REE pattern is flat at about 0.5 × CI, and it also has a strong negative Eu anomaly. The enstatite is very poor in trace elements. Its Ce content is about 0.01 that of niningerite, but Li, Be, Ti, and Sc have between 0.1 and 1 × CI abundances. The preferential partitioning of typical lithophile elements into sulfides indicates highly O‐deficient and S‐dominated formation conditions for the aggregates. The minimum temperature of niningerite formation is estimated to be ˜850–900 °C. The texture and the chemical characteristics of the phases in the aggregates suggest formation by aggregation and subsequent sintering before incorporation into the Kaidun breccia. The trace element data obtained for heideite, the first on record, show that this mineral, in addition to oldhamite and niningerite, is also a significant carrier of trace elements in enstatite meteorites.

Unusually abundant refractory inclusions from Sahara 97159 (EH3): a comparative study with other groups of chondrites

Sixty-eight refractory inclusions and fragments were found in two polished thin sections of the Sahara 97159 EH3 chondrite, indicative of the highest abundance of refractory inclusions (22/cm 2, or 0.06 vol.%) in enstatite chondrites studied to date. All of the inclusions are intensely altered, mainly producing feldspathoids and albite, CaO depletion and minor Ti-rich compounds, such as Ti-sulfides. The alteration assemblages and FeO-poor spinel suggest that the reactions took place under reducing and SiO 2-rich conditions. This is consistent with the redox state of the host enstatite chondrite. The presence of Ti sulfides and low FeO alteration phases distinguishes alteration of E chondrite refractory inclusions from that of carbonaceous and ordinary chondrites. Most of the inclusions are referred to as Type A–like (35) and spinel-rich (26), respectively. Assuming melilite has been altered, these inclusions could be analogues of individual concentrically zoned objects of fluffy melilite-spinel-rich (Type A) and spinel-pyroxene-rich inclusions from carbonaceous chondrites such as the Ningqiang (CV anomalous) and Y 81020 (CO3) chondrites. Two inclusions consist mainly of Ca-pyroxene, fine-grained alteration products (feldspathoids and albite) and spinel. They are probably altered fragments of Ca-pyroxene-plagioclase-rich (Type C) inclusions, assuming all plagioclase has been altered to produce the fine-grained groundmass. Five other inclusions are hibonite and/or corundum bearing, similar to those reported in carbonaceous chondrites. Abundance ratios of various types of the inclusions from Sahara 97159 are similar to those from Ningqiang and Y 81020. Most of the observations, including mineral assemblages, mineral chemistry, texture, bulk compositions, O isotopic compositions and REE patterns, of the Sahara inclusions suggest a common reservoir of refractory inclusions in enstatite, ordinary and carbonaceous chondrites. The apparent differences, such as absence of melilite and anorthite, rare Wark-Lovering rim and small size, can be explained by intense alteration due to large change of postformation environment of these inclusions, size sorting and collision during transfer. Hence, these differences are not inconsistent with the common reservoir model. Refractory inclusions in non-carbonaceous chondrites may put additional constraints on origins of refractory inclusions, and provide hints for a spatial relationship of their host meteorites.

Metal size distributions in EH and EL chondrites

EL chondrites exhibit larger average metal grain sizes than EH chondrites, a difference attributed by Easton [1983] to metamorphic coarsening, as most EL chondrites are equilibrated, and most EH chondrites are unequilibrated. In this paper, we present metal grain size data for three unequilbrated EL3 chondrites (PCA 91020; ALH 85119; MAC 88180) , and three EH3 chondrites (ALH 84170; PCA 91085; PCA 91238). We find that EL3 chondrites have larger average metal grain sizes than EH3 chondrites, and that grain sizes of the unequilibrated enstatite chondrites are similar to those of equilibrated chondrites of the same class. We thus interpret the metal size distributions of enstatite chondrites as primarily reflecting their pre‐metamorphic distributions. Shock processing appears to have had only minor influence on metal grain size distributions in these meteorites.

FeO‐rich silicates in the Sahara 97159 (EH3) enstatite chondrite: Mineralogy, oxygen isotopic compositions, and origin

Abstract— We report the mineralogy and oxygen isotopic compositions of FeO‐rich silicates in the Sahara 97159 EH3 chondrite. This component is referred to as FeO‐rich because it contains substantially more FeO than the characteristic FeO‐poor silicates in the highly reduced enstatite meteorites. These FeO‐rich silicates are mostly low‐Ca pyroxene (Fs5–35) and their compositions suggest an origin under more oxidizing conditions, like those for the ordinary chondrites. However, the mafic silicates in ordinary and carbonaceous chondrites are dominantly olivine, and the FeO‐rich silicates in the E chondrites are less commonly olivine. The oxygen isotopic compositions of the FeO‐rich silicates are indistinguishable from those of FeO‐poor silicates in Sahara 97159. These observations suggest that both the FeO‐rich silicates and the FeO‐poor silicates in EH chondrites formed from the same oxygen reservoir where redox conditions varied widely.

Highly siderophile elements in chondrites

The abundances of the highly siderophile elements (HSE), Re, Os, Ir, Ru, Pt and Pd, were determined by isotope dilution mass spectrometry for bulk samples of 13 carbonaceous chondrites, 13 ordinary chondrites and 9 enstatite chondrites. These data are coupled with corresponding 187Re– 187Os isotopic data reported by Walker et al. [Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 2002] in order to constrain the nature and timing of chemical fractionation relating to these elements in the early solar system. The suite of chondrites examined displays considerable variations in absolute abundances of the HSE, and in the ratios of certain HSE. Absolute abundances of the HSE vary by nearly a factor of 80 among the chondrite groups, although most vary within a factor of only 2. Variations in concentration largely reflect heterogeneities in the sample aliquants. Different aliquants of the same chondrite may contain variable proportions of metal and/or refractory inclusions that are HSE-rich, and sulfides that are HSE-poor. The relatively low concentrations of the HSE in CI1 chondrites likely reflect dilution by the presence of volatile components. Carbonaceous chondrites have Re/Os ratios that are, on average, approximately 8% lower than ratios for ordinary and enstatite chondrites. This is also reflected in 187Os/ 188Os ratios that are approximately 3% lower for carbonaceous chondrites than for ordinary and enstatite chondrites. Given the similarly refractory natures of Re and Os, this fractionation may have occurred within a narrow range of high temperatures, during condensation of these elements from the solar nebula. Superimposed on this major fractionation are more modest movements of Re or Os that occurred within the last 0–2 Ga, as indicated by minor open-system behavior of the Re–Os isotope systematics of some chondrites. The relative abundances of other HSE can also be used to discriminate among the major classes of chondrites. For example, in comparison to the enstatite chondrites, carbonaceous and ordinary chondrites have distinctly lower ratios of Pd to the more refractory HSE (Re, Os, Ir, Ru and Pt). Differences are particularly well resolved for the EH chondrites that have Pd/Ir ratios that average more than 40% higher than for carbonaceous and ordinary chondrite classes. This fractionation probably occurred at lower temperatures, and may be associated with fractionation processes that also affected the major refractory lithophile elements. Combined, 187Os/ 188Os ratios and HSE ratios reflect unique early solar system processing of HSE for each major chondrite class.

Properties of chondrules in EL3 chondrites, comparison with EH3 chondrites, and the implications for the formation of enstatite chondrites

Abstract— The study of chondrules provides information about processes occurring in the early solar system. In order to ascertain to what extent these processes played a role in determining the properties of the enstatite chondrites, the physical and chemical properties of chondrules from three EL3 chondrites and three EH3 chondrites have been examined by optical, cathodoluminescence (CL), and electron microprobe techniques. Properties examined include size, texture, CL, and composition of both individual phases and bulk chondrules. The textures, distribution of textures, and composition of silicates of the EL3 chondrules resemble those of EH3 chondrules. However, the chondrules from the two classes differ in that (1) the size distribution of the EL chondrules is skewed to larger values than EH chondrules, (2) the enstatite in EL chondrules displays varying shades of red CL due to the presence of fine‐grained sulfides and metal in the silicates, and (3) the mesostasis of EH chondrules is enriched in Na relative to that of EL chondrules. The similarities between the chondrules of the two classes suggest similar precursor materials, while the differences suggest that there was not a single reservoir of meteoritic chondrules, but that their origin was fairly local. The differences in the size distribution of chondrules in EH and EL chondrites may be explained by aerodynamic and gravitational sorting during accumulation of the meteoric material, while differences in CL and mesostasis properties may reflect differences in formation conditions and cooling rate following chondrule formation. We argue that our observations are consistent with the formation of enstatite chondrites in a thick dynamic regolith on their parent body.

Targeting the impactors: siderophile element signatures of lunar impact melts from Serenitatis

Highly siderophile element compositions of lunar impact melt breccias provide a unique record of the asteroid population responsible for large cratering events in the inner Solar System. Melt breccias associated with the 3.89 Ga Serenitatis impact basin resolve at least two separate impact events. KREEP-rich melt breccias representing the Apollo 17 poikilitic suite are enriched in highly siderophile elements (3.6–15.8 ppb Ir) with CI-normalized patterns that are elevated in Re, Ru and Pd relative to Ir and Pt. The restricted range of lithophile element compositions combined with the coherent siderophile element signatures indicate formation of these breccias in a single impact event involving an EH chondrite asteroid, probably as melt sheet deposits from the Serenitatis Basin. One exceptional sample, a split from melt breccia 77035, has a distinctive lithophile element composition and a siderophile element signature more like that of ordinary chondrites, indicating a discrete impact event. The recognition of multiple impact events, and the clear signatures of specific types of meteoritic impactors in the Apollo 17 melt breccias, shows that the lunar crust was not comprehensively reworked by prior impacts from 3.9 to 4.5 Ga, an observation more consistent with a late cataclysm than a smoothly declining accretionary flux. Late accretion of enstatite chondrites during a 3.8–4.0 Ga cataclysm may have contributed to siderophile element heterogeneity on the Earth, but would not have made a significant contribution to the volatile budget of the Earth or oxidation of the terrestrial mantle. Siderophile element patterns of Apollo 17 poikilitic breccias become more fractionated with decreasing concentrations, trending away from known meteorite compositions to higher Re/Ir and Pd/Pt ratios. The compositions of these breccias may be explained by a two-stage impact melting process involving: (1) deep penetration of the Serenitatis impactor into meteorite-free lower crust, followed by (2) incorporation of upper crustal lithologies moderately contaminated by prior meteoritic infall into the melt sheet. Trends to higher Re/Ir with decreasing siderophile element concentrations may indicate an endogenous lunar crustal component, or a non-chondritic late accretionary veneer in the pre-Serenitatis upper crust.

A comparative study of opaque phases in Qingzhen (EH3) and MacAlpine Hills 88136 (EL3): Representatives of EH and EL parent bodies

Abstract— Opaque minerals in the Qingzhen (EH3) and MacAlpine Hills (MAC) 88136 (EL3) enstatite chondrites were studied and compared with other EH and EL chondrites. All opaque minerals usually occur in multi‐sulfide‐metal clasts and nodules in the matrix between chondrules (El Goresy et al., 1988). The higher abundance of opaque minerals, the occurrence of niningerite and various alkali‐sulfides (e.g., caswellsilverite, phases A and B, djerfisherite) are diagnostic criteria for EH chondrites, while alabandite is characteristic for EL chondrites. In addition, EH chondrites are characterized by enrichments of Si in both kamacite and perryite, and alkali elements in sphalerite and chalcopyrite. The Mn contents of daubreelite and sphalerite are lower in EH than in EL chondrites. These are consistent with lower oxygen fugacity and higher H2S fugacity of EH than EL chondrites. In contrast, the discovery of sphalerite and Zn‐rich daubreelite in MAC 88136 indicates that their absence in EL6 chondrites is probably related to thermal metamorphism in the parent body.Schreibersite microspherules are commonly enclosed in most sulfides in Qingzhen, but are absent in MAC 88136. They were once molten, and probably predated all sulfide host phases. The petrographic setting and chemical compositions of the sulfide hosts of the schreibersite microspherules in EH3 chondrites are consistent with formation by condensation. The earliest sulfide condensates oldhamite and niningerite occupy the interiors of the clasts and nodules, whereas the rims consist of troilite and djerfisherite. In addition, in Qingzhen, some other troilite, djerfisherite and sphalerite assemblages coexist with perryite. They were produced by sulfurization of metallic Fe‐Ni in the nebula. In MAC 88136, sulfurization of Si‐bearing Fe‐Ni metal is less pronounced, and it produced troilite, schreibersite and less abundant perryite. Two kinds of normal zoning and a reverse zoning trends of niningerite, and both normal and reverse zoning of sphalerite were found in clasts and nodules in Qingzhen. The coexistence of normal and reverse zoning profiles in niningerite grains in the same meteorite strongly suggests that they formed before accretion in the parent body, because an asteroidal metamorphic or an impact event in the parent body would have erased these contrasting profiles and destroyed the textural settings. In contrast, alabandite in MAC 88136 shows only normal zoning, with the FeS content decreasing to 9.3 mol% toward troilite, indicating very slow cooling at low temperature.

Noble gases in enstatite chondrites II: The trapped component

Abstract— The trapped noble gas record of 57 enstatite chondrites (E chondrites) has been investigated. Basically, two different gas patterns have been identified dependent on the petrologic type. All E chondrites of type 4 to 6 show a mixture of trapped common chondritic rare gases (Q) and a subsolar component (range of elemental ratios for E4–6 chondrites: 36Ar/132Xe = 582 ± 270 and 36Ar/84Kr = 242 ± 88). E3 chondrites usually contain Q gases, but also a composition with lower 36Ar/132Xe and 36Ar/84Kr ratios, which we call sub‐Q (36Ar/132Xe = 37.0 ± 18.0 and 36Ar/84Kr = 41.7 ± 18.1). The presence of either the subsolar or the sub‐Q signature in particular petrologic types cannot be readily explained by parent body metamorphism as postulated for ordinary chondrites. We therefore present a different model that can explain the bimodal distribution and composition of trapped heavy noble gases in E chondrites.Trapped solar noble gases have been observed only in some E3 chondrites. About 30% of each group, EH3 and EL3 chondrites, amounting to 9% of all analyzed E chondrites show the solar signature. Notably, only one of those meteorites has been explicitly described as a regolith breccia.

Itqiy: A metal‐rich enstatite meteorite with achondritic texture

Abstract— Itqiy is a unique coarse‐grained, metal‐rich enstatite meteorite that was found in the Western Sahara and consists of two rocks together weighing 4.72 kg, which are both completely coated with fusion crust. We report results from our electron microprobe and instrumental neutron activation analysis techniques.Itqiy consists of subhedral, equigranular, millimeter‐sized enstatite, −25 vol% of millimeter‐sized kamacite and a few tiny intergrowths of sulfides and kamacite. Relic chondrules are absent. Pyroxene (Fs0.2) is chemically similar to enstatite in EL chondrites, but the metal is closer in composition to that in EH chondrites. Sulfides resemble those in E chondrites but their compositions are distinct from those in both EL and EH chondrites. Itqiy clearly formed under very reducing conditions, but it does not appear to have formed from EH or EL chondrites.Two thermal events can be distinguished. Silicate compositions including rare earth element abundances indicate loss of partial melt and slow cooling. Heterogeneous sulfides indicate a subsequent reheating and quenching event, which may have been due to shock as many enstatite grains show shock stage S3 features.

Siderophile elements in Earth's upper mantle and lunar breccias: Data synthesis suggests manifestations of the same late influx

Abstract— The platinum group elements (PGE; Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir, Pt), Re and Au comprise the highly siderophile elements (HSE). We reexamine selected isotopic and abundance data sets for HSE in upper mantle peridotites to resolve a longstanding dichotomy. Re‐Os and Pt‐Os isotope systematics, and approximately chondritic proportions of PGE in these rocks, suggest the presence in undepleted mantle of a chondrite‐like component, which is parsimoniously explained by late influx of large planetisimals after formation of the Earth's core and the Moon. But some suites of xenolithic and orogenic spinel lherzolites, and abyssal peridotites, have a CI‐normalized PGE pattern with enhanced Pd that is sometimes termed “non‐chondritic”. We find that this observation is consistent with other evidence of a late influx of material more closely resembling enstatite, rather than ordinary or carbonaceous, chondrites. Regional variations in HSE patterns may be a consequence of a late influx of very large objects of variable composition.Studies of many ancient (>3.8 Ga) lunar breccias show regional variations in Au/Ir and suggest that “graininess” existed during the early bombardment of the Earth and Moon. Reliable Pd values are available only for Apollo 17 breccias 73215 and 73255, however. Differences in HSE patterns between the aphanitic and anorthositic lithologies in these breccias show fractionation between a refractory group (Re, Os and Ir) and a normal (Pd, Ni, and Au) group and may reflect the compositions of the impacting bodies. Similar fractionation is apparent between the EH and EL chondrites, whose PGE patterns resemble those of the aphanitic and anorthositic lithologies, respectively.The striking resemblance of HSE and chalcogen (S, Se) patterns in the Apollo aphanites and high‐Pd terrestrial peridotites suggest that the “non‐chondritic” abundance ratios in the latter may be reflected in the composition of planetisimals striking the Moon in the first 700 Ma of Earth–Moon history. Most notably, high Pd may be part of a general enhancement of HSE more volatile than Fe suggesting that the Au abundance in at least parts of the upper mantle may be 1.5 to 2x higher than previously estimated.The early lunar influx may be estimated from observed basin‐sized craters. Comparison of relative influx to Earth and Moon suggests that the enrichment of HSE is limited to the upper mantle above 670 km. To infer enrichment of the whole mantle would require several large lunar impacts not yet identified.

Noble gases in enstatite chondrites I: Exposure ages, pairing, and weathering effects

Abstract— Cosmic‐ray exposure ages calculated from cosmogenic noble gas nuclides are reported for 57 enstatite (E) chondrites, 43 of them were measured for the first time. With a total of 62 individual E chondrites (literature and this data, corrected for pairing) the observed spectrum of ages ranges between 0.07 and 66 Ma. Three clusters seem to develop at about 3.5, 8, and 25 Ma, respectively. Since the uncertainty of ages is estimated to be ∼20% (in contrast to 10 to 15% for ordinary chondrites) and the number of examined samples is still comparatively small, these peaks have to be confirmed by more measurements. Regarding the two subgroups, EH and EL chondrites, no systematic trend is apparent in the distribution of cosmic‐ray exposure ages.Several E chondrites yield significantly lower 38Ar ages compared to those calculated from cosmogenic 3He and 21Ne. For these E chondrites, we suggest a reduction of cosmogenic 38Ar as a result of weathering. In order to prove the possible influence of terrestrial alteration on the cosmogenic noble gas record of E‐chondritic material, we simulated terrestrial weathering in an experiment of 12 weeks duration. The treatment showed that a significant amount of cosmogenic 38Ar is lost on Earth by the influence of water.