Hi all, Thought some may find this abstract that I just found interesting.
http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?bibcode=2006AGUFM.P51E1247K Cheers, Jeff ------------------------------------------------------ Title: EL3 Chondrite (not Aubrite) Northwest Africa 2828: An Unusual Paleo-meteorite Occurring as Cobbles in a Terrestrial Conglomerate Authors: Kuehner, S. M.; Irving, A. J.; Bunch, T. E.; Wittke, J. H. Publication: American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2006, abstract #P51E-1247 Publication Date: 12/2006 Abstract: Although we recently classified NWA 2828 as an aubrite [1], our examination of new material (now comprising over 120 stones totaling >27 kg) requires revision of that classification. New information on the find site in Algeria indicates that these stones were excavated from a subsurface deposit, and we have found terrestrial rhyolite pebbles and sandy matrix attached to several NWA 2828 stones (see images at http://www.ess.washington.edu/meteoritics). Thus this is a rare example of a paleo-meteorite or 'fossil' meteorite. Some stones contain sparse (<5 vol.%) but very distinct round, radial pyroxene chondrules (up to 3 mm across), as well as rounded, fine-grained aggregates (up to 6 mm across) rich in either enstatite or sodic plagioclase. Remnant Na-Al-Si-rich glass is present within cavities in chondrules, both between enstatite blades and in annular zones. The matrix contains pervasive 0.2-0.5 mm cavities with coatings of calcite and minor halite and gypsum. Iron sulfate (after troilite), jarosite, an inhomogeneous (possibly amorphous) phase rich in Fe, Cr, Si, Ca, Ti, P, S and Cl, minor native sulfur and silica also are present, and brown Fe-rich rinds on one stone contain up to 6.5 wt.% Ni. These secondary minerals signify terrestrial alteration of primary metal, sulfides, phosphides, nitrides and glass in an ancient fluvial and/or acidic lacustrine environment. The dominant primary phase in NWA 2828 is enstatite (En98.4Wo1.4), which forms stubby prismatic grains (lacking polysynthetic twinning indicative of inverted clinoenstatite [cf., 1]). Our original classification was based on a very small specimen of an apparently igneous-textured rock, but the discovery of chondrules and the absence of twinned enstatite now suggests that it is instead an unequilibrated enstatite chondrite. Additional primary phases noted previously [1] are sodic plagioclase (An14- 15Or3-4), troilite, graphite, daubreelite, alabandite, oldhamite, schreibersite, glass and very rare kamacite. The well-formed, round chondrules containing glass coupled with the unrecrystallized matrix lead us to re-classify NWA 2828 as an EL3 chondrite. We also must revise our opinion [1] about the relationship between NWA 2828 and material classified as EL chondrites NWA 2965 and NWA 2736, which evidently come from the more extensively weathered top of the same ancient conglomerate layer as NWA 2828. [1] Irving A.J. et al. (2006) 69th Met. Soc. Mtg., #5264 (MAPS 41 Suppl., A84) ______________________________________________ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
