Showing papers by "Toshiko K. Mayeda published in 1993"

Roosevelt County 075: A petrologic chemical and isotopic study of the most unequilibrated known H chondrite

Abstract: Roosevelt County (RC) 075 was recovered in 1990 as a single 258-gram stone. Classification of this meteorite is complicated by its highly unequilibrated nature and its severe terrestrial weathering, but we favor H classification. This is supported by O isotopes and estimates of the original Fe, Ni metal content. The O isotopic composition is similar to that of a number of reduced ordinary chondrites (e.g., Cerro los Calvos, Willaroy), although RC 075 exhibits no evidence of reduced mineral compositions. Chondrule diameters are consistent with classification as an L chondrite, but large uncertainties in chondrule diameters of RC 075 and poorly constrained means of H, L and LL chondrites prevent use of this parameter for reliable classification. Other parameters are compromised by severe weathering (e.g., siderophile element abundances) or unsuitable for discrimination between unequilibrated H, L and LL chondrites (e.g., Co in kamacite delta C-13). Petrologic subtype 3.2 +/- 0.1 is suggested by the degree of olivine heterogeneity, the compositions of chondrule olivines, the thermoluminescence sensitivity, the abundances and types of chondrules mapped on cathodoluminescence mosaics, and the amount of presolar SiC. The meteorite is very weakly shocked (S2), with some chondrules essentially unshocked and, thus, is classified as an H3.2(S2) chondrite. Weathering is evident by a LREE enrichment due to clay contamination, reduced levels of many siderophile elements, the almost total loss of Fe, Ni metal and troilite, and the reduced concentrations of noble gases. Some components of the meteorite (e.g., type IA chondrules, SiC) appear to preserve their nebular states, with little modification from thermal metamorphism. We conclude that RC 075 is the most equilibrated H chondrite yet recovered and may provide additional insights into the origin of primitive materials in the solar nebula.

Classificational parameters for acapulcoites and lodranites: The cases of FRO 90011, EET 84302 and ALH A81187/84190

Abstract: Acapulcoites and lodranites probably sample a common parent body, which has experienced a range of partial melting. We present classificational parameters which allow acapulcoites-lodranites to be distinguished from other groups of meteorites, as well as from each other. Petrography can complement oxygen isotopic compositions in separating these meteorites from other groups of stony-irons and primitive achondrites, while petrographic properties alone distinguish acapulcoites from lodranites. Acapulcoites differ from lodranites in having smaller grain sizes, abundant Fe, Ni-FeS as micron-sized veins and plagioclase which escaped melting. We have applied these criteria to three new members of the group. FRO 90011 is a typical lodranite; EET 84302 is intermediate in many properties between acapulcoites and lodranites; and ALH A81187/84190 are paired meteorites and are first low-FeO acapulcoites. These meteorites provide a wider spectrum of samples from the acapulcoite-lodranite parent body and suggests that this body may have had a complex structure.

Chaunskij: The Most Highly Metamorphosed, Shock-modified and Metal-rich Mesosiderite

Abstract: The 1990 g Chaunskij meteorite was found in 1985 and classified as an anomalous ungrouped iron. It contains approximately 10 vol. percent mono- and polymineralic troilite-phosphate-silicate inclusions, microns to centimeters in size. We proposed its affinity with mesosiderites; here we present mineralogical, chemical, and isotopic data establishing that Chaunskij is the most highly metamorphosed, shock-modified, and metal-rich of the mesosiderites. The most striking manifestation of metamorphism in Chaunskij is the presence in it of a cordierite-bearing assemblage substituting for basalt lithology.

Martian carbon dioxide: Clues from isotopes in SNC meteorites

Abstract: Attempts to unravel the origin and evolution of the atmosphere and hydrosphere on Mars from isotopic data have been hampered by the impreciseness of the measurements made by the Viking Lander and by Earth-based telescopes The SNC meteorites which are possibly pieces of the Martian surface offer a unique opportunity to obtain more precise estimates of the planet's volatile inventory and isotopic composition Recently, we reported results on oxygen isotopes of water extracted by pyrolysis from samples of Shergotty, Zagami, Nakhla, Chassigny, Lafayette, and EETA-79001 Now we describe complementary results on the stable isotopic composition of carbon dioxide extracted simultaneously from those same samples We will also report on C-14 abundances obtained by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) for some of these CO2 samples