Chemical and physical studies of type 3 chondrites - VI: siderophile elements in ordinary chondrites

Journal Article · Mon Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1986 · Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(86)90229-2· OSTI ID:6824788

Sears, D W.G.; Weeks, K S

The abundances of Fe, Ni, Co, Au, Ir, Ga, As and Mg have been determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis in 38 type 3 ordinary chondrites (10 of which may be paired) and 15 equilibrated chondrites. Classification of type 3 ordinary chondrites into the H, L and LL classes using oxygen isotopes and parameters which reflect oxidation state (Fa and Fs in the olivine and pyroxene, and Co in kamacite) is difficult or impossible. Bulk compositional parameters, based on the equilibrated chondrites, have therefore been used to classify the type 3 chondrites. The distribution of the type 3 ordinary chondrites over the classes is very different from that of the equilibrated chondrites, the LL chondrites being more heavily represented. The type 3 ordinary chondrites contain 5 to 15% lower abundances of siderophile elements, and a compilation of the present data and literature data indicates a small, systematic decrease in siderophile element concentration with decreasing petrologic type. The type 3 ordinary chondrites have, like the equilibrated ordinary chondrites, suffered a fractionation of their siderophile elements, but the loss of Ni in comparison with Au and Ir is greater for the type 3 chondrites. These siderophile element trends were established at the nebula phase of chondritic history and the co-variation with petrologic type implies onion-shell structures for the ordinary chondrite parent bodies. It is also clear that the relationship between the type 3 and the equilibrated ordinary chondrites involves more than simple, closed-system metamorphism.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Arkansas, Fayetteville
• DOE Contract Number: FG02-80ER10725
• OSTI ID: 6824788
• Journal Information: Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta; (United States), Vol. 50:12
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CHONDRITES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
MINERALOGY
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
ARSENIC
COBALT
GALLIUM
GOLD
IRIDIUM
IRON
MAGNESIUM
NICKEL
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
ELEMENTS
METALS
METEORITES
PLATINUM METALS
SEMIMETALS
STONE METEORITES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
640107* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Planetary Phenomena