Presolar Silicate Research Articles

LABORATORY ANALYSIS OF PRESOLAR SILICATE STARDUST FROM A NOVA

We report the major element as well as the oxygen, magnesium, and silicon isotope composition of a unique presolar silicate grain found in the fine-grained fraction of the Antarctic CR2 chondrite Graves Nunataks 95229. The grain is characterized by an extremely high 17 O/ 16 O ratio (6.3 ± 0.2 × 10 −3 ) relative to solar values, whereas its 18 O/ 16 O ratio is solar within measurement uncertainty. It also shows enrichments in 25,26 Mg and a significant excess in 30 Si relative to solar system compositions, with δ 25 Mg = 79 ± 21‰, δ 26 Mg = 70 ± 20‰, and δ 30 Si = (‰) (‰)

Circumstellar and interstellar material in the CO3 chondrite ALHA77307: An isotopic and elemental investigation

We have carried out a NanoSIMS C, N and O ion imaging study of the CO3.0 chondrite ALHA77307. The distribution of O-anomalous grains in ALHA77307 is similar to that observed in other primitive meteorites, and is dominated (84%) by 17O-rich Group 1 grains from low-mass asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars of close-to-solar metallicity. Four percent of the grains belong to Group 2, whose 18O depletions suggest cool-bottom processing in low-mass stars during the AGB phase, while 8% are Group 4 grains with likely origins in Type II supernova (SN) ejecta. One ferromagnesian silicate has a very high 17O enrichment; nova explosions have been suggested as sources for such grains, but recent models with updated reaction rates show large discrepancies with the grain data, leaving the origins of these grains uncertain.Most of the grains are silicates (86%) with the remainder consisting of oxides (8%), three silica grains and two ‘composite’ grains composed of multiple subgrains with different elemental compositions. The elemental compositions of the silicates are similar to those found in other studies, with a predominance of non-stoichiometric compositions and high (up to 44at.%) Fe concentrations. A comparison of isotopic and elemental compositions for all presolar silicates shows that olivine compositions are overabundant in Group 4 grains compared to grains from Groups 1 and 2. This may reflect injection of presolar material from a nearby supernova into the early solar nebula and incorporation into parent bodies before alteration of compositions through irradiation and sputtering in the interstellar medium, as is likely to have occurred for the Group 1 and 2 grains from more distant AGB stars.The matrix material in ALHA77307 contains abundant carbonaceous hotspots with excesses in 15N. However, unlike CR chondrites, the insoluble organic matter (IOM) in ALHA77307 does not have a bulk N isotopic anomaly, consistent with Raman evidence that it has experienced more processing than IOM from CR chondrites. Nevertheless, secondary processing has clearly not been so pervasive as to lead to complete destruction of N isotopic anomalies in this meteorite. Moreover, presolar silicate abundances and elemental compositions show little evidence for thermal processing, indicating a decoupling of the effects of metamorphism on organic matter and matrix silicates.

Presolar silicate and oxide abundances and compositions in the ungrouped carbonaceous chondrite Adelaide and the K chondrite Kakangari: The effects of secondary processing

Abstract– Although it has been suggested that the ungrouped carbonaceous chondrite Adelaide and the K chondrite Kakangari could be considered highly primitive, our study of their presolar grain abundances shows that both have experienced more secondary processing than other primitive chondrites with high presolar grain abundances. Presolar grains are rare in Kakangari and are present in reduced abundances in Adelaide (approximately 70 ppm for O‐anomalous grains). Thermal annealing has led to widespread crystallization of their fine‐grained matrices, and accounts for the partial to complete destruction of presolar grains. In addition, presolar silicates in Adelaide show elevated Fe abundances and Fe‐rich rims indicative of infiltration of Fe into the grains from the surrounding matrix. This process probably also took place during annealing, most likely in the solar nebula, in a region with an enhanced dust‐to‐gas ratio. The most primitive meteorites, with the highest presolar grain abundances, appear to be those whose matrices contain abundant amorphous material that has escaped any significant thermal or aqueous alteration.

CHARACTERIZATION OF PRESOLAR MATERIAL IN THE CR CHONDRITE NORTHWEST AFRICA 852

We investigated the inventory of presolar silicate, oxide, and silicon carbide (SiC) grains in the CR2 chondrite Northwest Africa (NWA) 852. Thirty-one O-anomalous grains were detected: 24 were identified as silicates ({approx}78 ppm); the remaining 7 are Al-rich oxides ({approx}38 ppm). NWA 852 is the first C2 chondrite containing O-anomalous presolar dust in concentrations comparable to other more primitive meteorites. Eight presolar SiC grains have been found, representing the highest abundance ({approx}160 ppm) observed so far in primitive meteorites. {sup 15}N-enriched matter is also present, although very heterogeneously distributed. Twenty-six of the O-anomalous grains are enriched in {sup 17}O, originating from the outflows of low-mass asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars. We calculate a silicate/oxide abundance ratio of {approx}2, which indicates a higher degree of aqueous alteration than observed for other presolar-grain-rich meteorites. NWA 852 thus stands between the presolar-grain-rich CR3 chondrites (MET 00426, QUE 99177) and CR2 chondrites with low presolar grain abundances (Renazzo, NWA 530). We calculate an initial presolar silicate abundance of {approx}800 ppm for NWA 852, if silicate destruction by aqueous alteration is taken into account. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) investigation of one presolar Al-rich grain of an AGB star origin revealed that the grain mainly consistsmore » of a single crystal of hibonite with slightly varying orientations. A distinct subgrain (d < 100 nm) with a Ca/Ti ratio of {approx}1 is located in the central region, most likely indicating a perovskite-like phase. Our data suggest this phase to be a primary condensate and not an alteration product.« less

Cosmochemical evidence for astrophysical processes during the formation of our solar system

Through the laboratory study of ancient solar system materials such as meteorites and comet dust, we can recognize evidence for the same star-formation processes in our own solar system as those that we can observe now through telescopes in nearby star-forming regions. High temperature grains formed in the innermost region of the solar system ended up much farther out in the solar system, not only the asteroid belt but even in the comet accretion region, suggesting a huge and efficient process of mass transport. Bi-polar outflows, turbulent diffusion, and marginal gravitational instability are the likely mechanisms for this transport. The presence of short-lived radionuclides in the early solar system, especially (60)Fe, (26)Al, and (41)Ca, requires a nearby supernova shortly before our solar system was formed, suggesting that the Sun was formed in a massive star-forming region similar to Orion or Carina. Solar system formation may have been "triggered" by ionizing radiation originating from massive O and B stars at the center of an expanding HII bubble, one of which may have later provided the supernova source for the short-lived radionuclides. Alternatively, a supernova shock wave may have simultaneously triggered the collapse and injected the short-lived radionuclides. Because the Sun formed in a region where many other stars were forming more or less contemporaneously, the bi-polar outflows from all such stars enriched the local region in interstellar silicate and oxide dust. This may explain several observed anomalies in the meteorite record: a near absence of detectable (no extreme isotopic properties) presolar silicate grains and a dichotomy in the isotope record between (26)Al and nucleosynthetic (nonradiogenic) anomalies.

Assessment of nebular versus parent body processes on presolar components present in chondrites: Evidence from osmium isotopes

We report Os isotope compositions of acid residues separated from six carbonaceous chondrites that were subjected to varying degrees of aqueous alteration on their parent bodies. The residues from three enstatite chondrites were also investigated in order to evaluate the effects of nebular and parent body processing on the survival of presolar grains in meteorites formed under redox conditions that were markedly reduced, compared to those under which carbonaceous and ordinary chondrites formed. All acid residues from CM and CR chondrites show enrichments in s-process Os isotopes relative to the Solar System average recorded in bulk chondrites. The extent of the anomaly present positively correlates with the degree of aqueous alteration of the host chondrites. This correlation was probably caused by selective destruction/modification of presolar grains carrying r-process-enriched Os during progressive aqueous alteration on the parent bodies. The r-process-enriched component was likely either presolar silicates formed in Type II supernova ejecta, or other unidentified reduced presolar phases such as metal alloys, carbides and silicides. Acid residues from enstatite chondrites have Os isotope anomalies that are much more enriched in the s-process components, relative to the residues from carbonaceous and ordinary chondrites that experienced the same grade of thermal metamorphism. This most likely reflects the selective destruction of s-process-enriched presolar phases that occurred under the more oxidized conditions experienced by carbonaceous and ordinary chondrites, either while components formed in the nebula, or on their parent bodies. To account for the uniform, terrestrial Os isotopic composition in all types of bulk chondrites, it is required that r-process or s-process-enriched Os, released from presolar phases during nebular or parent body processing, was re-incorporated into a new phase(s) which was not lost from the location where the bulk meteorites were derived. However, because parent body processing might have acted differently on other elements (e.g., open system behavior of fluid mobile elements during aqueous alteration), recent findings of isotopic heterogeneities in bulk meteorites should be evaluated not just by invoking nebular heterogeneities, but by also considering the effects of parent body processing.

A NanoSIMS and Auger Nanoprobe investigation of an isotopically primitive interplanetary dust particle from the 55P/Tempel-Tuttle targeted stratospheric dust collector

Abstract– An IDP nicknamed Andric, from a stratospheric dust collector targeted to collect dust from comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle, contains five distinct presolar silicate and/or oxide grains in 14 ultramicrotome slices analyzed, for an estimated abundance of approximately 700 ppm in this IDP. Three of the grains are 17O-enriched and probably formed in low-mass red giant or asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars; the other two grains exhibit 18O enrichments and may have a supernova origin. Carbon and N isotopic analyses show that Andric also exhibits significant variations in its N isotopic composition, with numerous discrete 15N-rich hotspots and more diffuse regions that are also isotopically anomalous. Three 15N-rich hotspots also have statistically significant 13C enrichments. Auger elemental analysis shows that these isotopically anomalous areas consist largely of carbonaceous matter and that the anomalies may be hosted by a variety of components. In addition, there is evidence for dilution of the isotopically heavy components with an isotopically normal endmember; this may have occurred either as a result of extraterrestrial alteration or during atmospheric entry. Isotopically primitive IDPs such as Andric share many characteristics with primitive meteorites such as the CR chondrites, which also contain isotopically anomalous carbonaceous matter and abundant presolar silicate and oxide grains. Although comets are one likely source for the origin of primitive IDPs, the presence of similar characteristics in meteorites thought to come from the asteroid belt suggests that other origins are also possible. Indeed the distinction between cometary and asteroidal sources is somewhat blurred by recent observations of icy comet-like planetesimals in the outer asteroid belt.

COORDINATED ANALYSES OF PRESOLAR GRAINS IN THE ALLAN HILLS 77307 AND QUEEN ELIZABETH RANGE 99177 METEORITES

We report the identification of presolar silicates (~177 ppm), presolar oxides (~11 ppm), and one presolar SiO2 grain in the Allan Hills (ALHA) 77307 chondrite. Three grains having Si isotopic compositions similar to SiC X and Z grains were also identified, though the mineral phases are unconfirmed. Similar abundances of presolar silicates (~152 ppm) and oxides (~8 ppm) were also uncovered in the primitive CR chondrite Queen Elizabeth Range (QUE) 99177, along with 13 presolar SiC grains and one presolar silicon nitride. The O isotopic compositions of the presolar silicates and oxides indicate that most of the grains condensed in low-mass red giant and asymptotic giant branch stars. Interestingly, unlike presolar oxides, few presolar silicate grains have isotopic compositions pointing to low-metallicity, low-mass stars (Group 3). The 18O-rich (Group 4) silicates, along with the few Group 3 silicates that were identified, likely have origins in supernova outflows. This is supported by their O and Si isotopic compositions. Elemental compositions for 74 presolar silicate grains were determined by scanning Auger spectroscopy. Most of the grains have non-stoichiometric elemental compositions inconsistent with pyroxene or olivine, the phases commonly used to fit astronomical spectra, and have comparable Mg and Fe contents. Non-equilibrium condensation and/or secondary alteration could produce the high Fe contents. Transmission electron microscopic analysis of three silicate grains also reveals non-stoichiometric compositions, attributable to non-equilibrium or multistep condensation, and very fine scale elemental heterogeneity, possibly due to subsequent annealing. The mineralogies of presolar silicates identified in meteorites thus far seem to differ from those in interplanetary dust particles.

AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE ORIGIN OF Fe-RICH PRESOLAR SILICATES IN ACFER 094

Presolar silicate and oxide grains from primitive meteorites are recognized as “stardust” on the basis of their extremely anomalous O isotopic compositions. We report data on 48 O-anomalous grains that were identified in grain size separates of the ungrouped carbonaceous chondrite Acfer 094. A majority of these grains exhibit high 17 O/ 16 O isotopic ratios along with solar to sub-solar 18 O/ 16 O ratios and may have originated in low-mass stars with close-to-solar metallicity. Four silicate grains that contain 18 O enrichments were also measured for their Si isotopes. A comparison of their O and Si isotopic compositions with model predictions indicates that these 18 O-rich grains may have formed in supernova ejecta. Four of the O-anomalous grains are oxides while the remaining 44 are silicates, based on elemental compositions determined by Auger spectroscopy. The presolar oxides include a TiO2 grain and a grain with spinel stoichiometry. The silicate grains largely exhibit ferromagnesian compositions, although a few grains also contain small amounts of Ca and/or Al. Stoichiometric silicates were further classified as either olivine-like or pyroxene-like, and in this study pyroxene-like grains are more abundant than olivinelike ones. The majority of silicates contain more Fe than Mg, including a few grains with Fe-rich end-member compositions. Spectroscopic observations indicate the presence of Mg-rich silicates in the atmospheres of stars and the interstellar medium. Mg-rich minerals such as forsterite and enstatite form by equilibrium condensation in stellar environments. However, non-equilibrium condensation can result in higher Fe contents and the occurrence of such processes in the outflows of stars may account for the Fe-rich grains. Alternatively, secondary processes may play a role in producing the Fe enrichments observed in the presolar silicate grains identified in the matrix of Acfer 094.

Osmium isotope anomalies in chondrites: Results for acid residues and related leachates

We have investigated Os isotope anomalies in acid residues enriched in insoluble organic matter (IOM) extracted from ten primitive chondrites, acid leachates and residues of these fractions, as well as acid leachates of bulk chondrites. Osmium isotopic compositions of bulk carbonaceous, ordinary and enstatite chondrites are also reported. Consistent with prior results, bulk chondrites have homogeneous Os isotope compositions for s-, r-, and p-process nuclides that are indistinguishable from terrestrial, at the current level of resolution. In contrast, nearly all the IOM-rich residues are enriched in s-process Os, evidently due to the preferential incorporation of s-process enriched presolar grains (most likely presolar SiC). Presolar silicate grains that formed in red giant branch (RGB) or asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars are also likely hosts of additional s-process Os in chondrites. Consistent with one prior study, Os released by weak acid leaching of bulk chondrites is slightly to strongly enriched in r-process nuclides, of which the carrier may be fine-grained presolar silicates formed in supernovae or unidentified solar phases. Collectively, the different, chemically concentrated components in these meteorites are variably enriched in s-, r-, and possibly p-process Os, of which the individual carriers must have been produced in multiple stellar environments. The lack of evidence for Os isotopic heterogeneity among bulk chondrites contrasts with evidence for isotopic heterogeneities for various other elements at approximately the same levels of resolution (e.g., Cr, Mo, Ru, Ba, Sm, and Nd). One possible explanation for this is that the heterogeneities for some elements in bulk materials reflect selective removal of some types of presolar grains as a result of nebular processes, and that because of the strong chemical differences between Os and the other elements, the Os was not significantly affected. Another possible explanation is that late-stage injection of isotopically distinct materials into the nebula led to heterogeneous distribution of some elements. Osmium may not have been affected because of a lack of isotopic contrast with the pre-injection, well mixed nebula.

SURFACE TEMPERATURE OF PROTOPLANETARY DISKS PROBED BY ANNEALING EXPERIMENTS REFLECTING SPITZER OBSERVATIONS

Pyroxenes and olivines are the dominant crystalline silicates observed in protoplanetary disks. Recent spectral observations from the Spitzer Space Telescope indicate that the abundance of olivine, generally associated with silica polymorphs, relative to pyroxene is higher in the outer cold part of the disk than in the inner warmer part. The interpretation of these unexpected results requires a comprehensive knowledge of the thermal processing of Mg-rich silicate dust. In this respect, amorphous analogs were thermally annealed to identify microscopic crystallization mechanisms. We show that pyroxenes are not produced in significant proportions below the glass transition temperature of the amorphous precursor. The annealing of amorphous enstatite leads to a mineralogical assemblage dominated by forsterite, with only minute amounts of pyroxenes at temperatures as high as the glass transition temperature of enstatite (1050 K). The decoupling of cation mobility in amorphous silicates, favors the crystallization of the most Mg-enriched silicates. These results are consistent with Spitzer observations of silicate dust and also with the documented mineralogy of presolar silicates, making the low-temperature annealing a likely formation process for these objects. Based on these laboratory experiments and Spitzer observations, it appears that the reported zoned mineralogy may directly records and calibrates the thermal gradient at the scale of protoplanetary disks.

Ultra-primitive interplanetary dust particles from the comet 26P/Grigg–Skjellerup dust stream collection

Cometary material and pristine interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) best resemble the unaltered components from which our solar system was built because they have remained largely unaltered in a cold undisturbed environment since accretion in the outer protoplanetary disk. IDPs might supply more primitive assemblages for laboratory analysis than Stardust samples from comet 81P/Wild 2 but their individual provenances are typically unknown. We speculate that some IDPs collected by NASA in April 2003 may be associated with comet 26P/Grigg–Skjellerup because their particularly pristine character coincides with the collection period that was predicted to show an enhanced flux of particles from this Jupiter-family comet. Some IDPs from this collection contain the most primitive assembly of interstellar matter found to date including an unusually high abundance of presolar grains and very isotopically anomalous and disordered organic matter as well as fine-grained carbonates and an amphibole associated with a GEMS-like object (glass with embedded metals and sulfides) that potentially imply formation in a nebular rather than planetary environment. The two most primitive IDPs may contain assemblages of molecular cloud material at the percent level which is supported by the presence of four rare 17O-depleted presolar silicate grains possibly of supernova(e) origin within one ~ 70 μm 2-sized IDP and the close association of a Group 1 Mg-rich olivine from a low-mass red giant star with a carbonaceous nano-globule of potentially interstellar origin. Our study together with observations of comet 9P/Tempel 1 during the Deep Impact experiment and 81P/Wild 2 dust analyses reveal some compositional variations and many similarities among three Jupiter-family comets. Specifically carbonates and primitive organic matter or amorphous carbon were widespread in the comet-forming regions of the outer protoplanetary disk and not all comets contain as much inner solar system material as has been inferred for comet 81P/Wild 2. The bulk and hotspot hydrogen and nitrogen isotopic anomalies as well as the carbon Raman characteristics of the organic matter in IDPs and the most primitive meteorites are remarkably similar. This implies that the same mixture of molecular cloud material had been transported inward into the meteorite-forming regions of the solar system.

NanoSIMS analysis and Auger electron spectroscopy of silicate and oxide stardust from the carbonaceous chondrite Acfer 094

We have detected 138 presolar silicate, 20 presolar oxide and three presolar complex grains within the carbonaceous chondrite Acfer 094 by NanoSIMS oxygen isotope mapping. These grains were further investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Auger electron spectroscopy for morphological and chemical details and their distribution within the meteorite matrix. The three complex grains consist of Al-rich oxides (grossite and hibonite) attached to non-stoichiometric Si-rich silicates. Refractory Al-rich oxides therefore serve as seed nuclei for silicates to condense onto, which is proposed by condensation theory and astronomical observations. However, in the majority of presolar silicates we did not find any indications for large subgrains. Most of the grains (80%) belong to O isotope Group I ( 17O-enriched) and come from 1 to 2.5 M ⊙ asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars of close-to-solar or slightly lower-than-solar metallicity. About 60% of these grains are irregular in shape; ∼40% display elliptical morphologies together with smooth, platy surfaces. Three grains with large 17O enrichments ( 17O/ 16O > 3 × 10 −3) have highly irregular shapes and are very small (<250 nm); these grains may have formed in binary star systems or around higher mass ( ∼ 3 M ⊙ ) AGB stars. About 10% of the presolar silicates in this study can be assigned to the O isotope Group IV, which most likely originate from type II supernovae (SNeII). These grains are also generally smaller than 300 nm and are often irregular in shape (88%), consistent with the SNII origin scenario. The presolar grains are generally evenly distributed within the matrix on an mm scale, although in one case a statistically significant clustering of five grains in one 10 × 10 μm 2 sized field is observed. This could be an important hint that the distribution of presolar material in the parental molecular cloud was heterogeneous on a very fine scale. The matrix-normalized abundance of silicate stardust in Acfer 094 is 163 ± 14 ppm, which is among the highest abundance of O-rich stardust in primitive meteorites. Oxide stardust comprises 26 ± 6 ppm of the matrix. Auger Nanoprobe measurements of 69 presolar silicates and oxides (30 on a quantitative, 39 on a qualitative basis) indicate that most of the grains are Fe-rich (Mg/(Mg + Fe) of 0.82 and lower), which is either due to non-equilibrium condensation, secondary alteration, or both. (Mg + Fe)/Si ratios of the silicates are mostly non-stoichiometric and scatter around pyroxene-like rather than olivine-like compositions, which is consistent with recent Auger and transmission electron microscopy observations and astrophysical predictions. Mg-rich grains (Mg/(Mg + Fe) > 0.5) more likely exhibit elliptical, smooth surfaces (14 out of 18 grains), which is an indication that these grains have not been strongly altered since their circumstellar condensation. We identified only one grain similar to the “glass with embedded metal and sulfides” (GEMS) with a statistically significant sulfur content (>2–3 at.%). It remains unclear why the typical high-sulfur GEMS grains are only found in interplanetary dust particles, but have not yet been unequivocally identified in primitive meteorites.

DIRECT LABORATORY ANALYSIS OF SILICATE STARDUST FROM RED GIANT STARS

We performed combined focused ion beam/transmission electron microscopy studies to investigate the chemistry and structure of eight presolar silicate grains that were previously detected by NanoSIMS oxygen isotope mapping of the carbonaceous chondrite Acfer 094. The analyzed presolar silicates belong to the O isotope Groups I/II (17O-enriched and 18O-depleted) and therefore come from 1–2.5 M☉ asymptotic giant branch stars of close-to-solar or slightly lower-than-solar metallicity. Three grains are amorphous, Mg-rich, and show a variable, but more pyroxene-like composition. Most probably, these grains have formed under circumstellar low-temperature conditions below the crystallization temperature. Three grains are Fe-bearing glasses similar to the "glass with embedded metal and sulfides" (GEMS) grains found in interplanetary dust particles. However, two of the meteorite GEMS grains from this study lack comparatively large (≳20 nm) Fe-rich inclusions and have sulfur contents <1 at.%, which is different than observed for the majority of GEMS grains. These grains likely condensed under strong non-equilibrium conditions from an Si-enriched gas. One olivine is characterized by a crystalline core and an amorphous, more Fe-rich rim, which is probably the result of interstellar medium sputtering combined with Mg removal. The detection of another olivine with a relatively high Fe content (Mg# 0.9) shows that circumstellar crystalline silicates are more Fe-rich than astrophysical models usually suggest. The overall predominance of olivine among the crystalline silicate stardust population compared to pyroxene indicates preferential formation or survival of this type of mineral. As pyroxene is indeed detected in circumstellar outflows, it remains to be seen how this result is compatible with astrophysical observations and experimental data.

The use of Auger spectroscopy for the in situ elemental characterization of sub‐micrometer presolar grains

Abstract— Presolar grains are small samples of stardust that can be found at low abundances in some of the most unaltered types of extraterrestrial materials. While earlier laboratory studies of stardust mainly focused on grain types that can be extracted from bulk meteorites by acid dissolution techniques, such as silicon carbide and graphite, recent analyses of presolar silicates rely on isotope imaging searches for locating these grains in situ. Since presolar silicates are generally less than a micrometer in diameter and represent at best only a few hundred ppm of their host materials (e.g., primitive meteorites or interplanetary dust particles), locating and studying these particles can be analytically challenging. Recently, we began using scanning Auger spectroscopy for the in situ elemental characterization of presolar silicate grains as a complement to NanoSIMS isotopic studies for obtaining spatially matched compositional data. Auger spectroscopy is a well‐established analytical technique for elemental characterizations in the material sciences, but has not been widely used in geological applications. We discuss the application of this technique to sub‐micrometer sized silicate grains and address practical issues such as sample preparation, measurement settings, spatial resolution, data processing, and elemental quantification.

TEM foil preparation of sub‐micrometre sized individual grains by focused ion beam technique

Analysis of presolar silicate grains provides new knowledge on interstellar and circumstellar environments and can be used to test models of the Galactic chemical evolution. However, structural information of these grains is rare because sample preparation for transmission electron microscopy is very difficult due to the small dimensions of these grains (<0.5 mum). With the use of the focused ion beam technique thin foils from these grains for transmission electron microscopy analysis can be prepared. Nevertheless, reaching the required precision of some tens of nanometres for the preparation of the transmission electron microscopy foil in the place of interest is not trivial. Furthermore, in the current samples, the grain of interest can only be identified by its different isotopic composition; i.e. there is no contrast difference in scanning electron microscopy or transmission electron microscopy images which allow the identification of the grain. Therefore, the grain has to be marked in some way before preparing the transmission electron microscopy foil. In the present paper, a method for transmission electron microscopy foil preparation of grains about 200 to 400 nm in diameter is presented. The method utilizes marking of the grain by Pt deposition and milling of holes to aid in the exact orientation of the transmission electron microscopy foil with respect to the grain. The proposed method will be explained in detail by using an example grain.

HIGH ABUNDANCES OF CIRCUMSTELLAR AND INTERSTELLAR C-ANOMALOUS PHASES IN THE PRIMITIVE CR3 CHONDRITES QUE 99177 AND MET 00426

QUE 99177 and MET 00426 are the first known CR3 chondrites and have largely escaped the aqueous alteration experienced by most of the CR chondrite group. In addition to high presolar silicate and oxide grain abundances, these meteorites also contain high abundances of phases with anomalous C isotopic compositions. Presolar SiC abundances (~65 ppm) are consistent with independent estimates for CR1 and CR2 chondrites, indicating that aqueous alteration does not destroy SiC, but are significantly higher than earlier abundance estimates based on noble gas contents. Particularly notable are the high abundances (~120 ppm) of carbonaceous matter with anomalous C isotopic compositions that probably formed in cold molecular clouds via ion-molecule reactions. The observation of both 13C-enriched and 13C-depleted compositions suggests that multiple chemical pathways contribute to the formation of this material. The abundance of such material is significantly higher in QUE 99177 and MET 00426 than in other primitive meteorites and attests to the primitive nature of the CR3 chondrites.

Auger Nanoprobe analysis of presolar ferromagnesian silicate grains from primitive CR chondrites QUE 99177 and MET 00426

We have investigated the presolar grain inventories of two CR chondrites, QUE 99177 and MET 00426, which are less altered than most members of this meteorite group. Both meteorites contain high abundances of O-anomalous presolar grains, with concentrations of 220 ± 40 and 160 ± 30 ppm for QUE 99177 and MET 00426, respectively. The presolar grain inventories are dominated by ferromagnesian silicates with group 1 oxygen isotopic compositions, indicative of origins in low mass red giant or asymptotic giant branch stars. Grains with pyroxene-like compositions are somewhat more common than those with olivine-like compositions, but most grains are non-stoichiometric with compositions intermediate between these two phases, consistent with recent work suggesting that amorphous interstellar silicates have stoichiometries between olivine and pyroxene type silicates. Although structural data are not available, one grain contains only Si and O, and has a stoichiometry consistent with SiO 2. Our presolar grains are much more Fe-rich than predicted by astronomical observations. Although secondary alteration may play a role in enhancing the Fe contents of presolar grains, it seems unlikely that the large and ubiquitous Fe enrichments observed in the grains from this study can be due only to secondary processing, particularly given the highly primitive nature of these two meteorites. Grain condensation in the stellar outflows where these grains formed likely proceeded under rapidly changing kinetic conditions that may have enhanced the incorporation of Fe into the grains over that expected based on equilibrium condensation theory. Both QUE 99177 and MET 00426 appear to contain unusually low abundances of oxide grains and have higher silicate/oxide ratios than other primitive meteorites analyzed to date. We explore various possibilities for this discrepancy, but note that most scenarios are not likely to result in the preferential destruction of oxides relative to silicates. Thus, the highest silicate/oxide ratios, such as those observed in the CR chondrites, should reflect the true initial proportions of presolar silicate and oxide grains in the parent molecular cloud from which the solar nebula evolved.

The Effect of Aqueous Alteration and Metamorphism in the Survival of Presolar Silicate Grains in Chondrites

AbstractRelatively small amounts (typically between 2 and 200 ppm) of presolar grains have been preserved in the matrices of chondritic meteorites. The measured abundances of the different types of grains are highly variable from one chondrite to another, but are higher in unequilibrated chondrites that have experienced little or no aqueous alteration and/or metamorphic heating than in processed meteorites. A general overview of the abundances measured in presolar grains (particularly the recently identified presolar silicates) contained in primitive chondrites is presented. Here we will focus on the most primitive chondrite groups, as typically the highest measured abundances of presolar grains occur in primitive chondrites that have experienced little thermal metamorphism. Looking at the most aqueously altered chondrite groups, we find a clear pattern of decreasing abundance of presolar silicate grains with increasing levels of aqueous alteration. We conclude that measured abundances of presolar grains in altered chondrites are strongly biased by their peculiar histories. Scales quantifying the intensity of aqueous alteration and shock metamorphism in chondrites could correlate with the content of presolar silicates. To do this it would be required to infer the degree of destruction or homogenization of presolar grains in the matrices of primitive meteorites. To get an unbiased picture of the relative abundance of presolar grains in the different regions of the protoplanetary disk where first meteorites consolidated, future dedicated studies of primitive meteorites, IDPs, and collected materials from sample-return missions (like e.g. the planned Marco Polo) are urgently required.

Cosmic Silicate Dust

Silicates form a major component of cosmic dust. This paper summarizes the main structural and spectroscopic properties of amorphous and crystalline silicates. Furthermore, it reviews our knowledge of cosmic silicates in the Galaxy. Recent in-situ studies of presolar silicates extracted from primitive meteorites and anhydrous interplanetary dust grains will be discussed.