Renewed Search for FUN (Fractionated and Unidentified Nuclear Effects) in Primitive Chondrites
Ca-Al-rich inclusions (CAIs) found in primitive chondrites record processes and conditions of the earliest solar system as they are the oldest known solid objects formed in the solar system [1,2]. CAIs with fractionation and unidentified nuclear anomalies (FUN CAIs; [3]) are very rare and thusfar found exclusively in CV carbonaceous chondrites (e.g., Allende and Vigarano)[4]. FUN CAIs are characterized by large nucleosynthetic anomalies in several elements (Ca, Ti, Si, Sr, Ba, Nd, and Sm), large mass-dependant isotope fractionation (Mg, Si, and O), and very little initial {sup 26}Al [4,5 and reference therein]. Formation of FUN CAIs by thermal processing of presolar dust aggregates prior to the injection of {sup 26}Al into the protoplanetary disk has been proposed. More recently [5] proposed that FUN CAIs formed from a protosolar molecular cloud after injection of {sup 26}Al but before {sup 26}Al and {sup 27}Al were completely homogenized. Therefore discovering more FUN CAIs to perform U-Pb and other short-lived chronometric dating will provide key constraints on the age of the solar system, the isotopic composition of the protosolar molecular cloud, the earliest stages of the thermal processing in the solar system and the timing of {sup 26}Al and other short-lived radionuclide injection into the nascent solar system. Most known FUN CAIs were discovered and studied > 30 yr ago, and their isotope ratios determined using thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS). Most of these FUN CAIs were almost or entirely consumed during their respective analyses. [5] recently identified a new FUN CAI (NWA 779 KS-1) based on O and Mg isotope ratios determined by SIMS and MCICPMS, respectively. We have initiated a systematic search for FUN CAIs in primitive chondrites, taking advantage of the large mass-dependant Mg isotope effects known for FUN inclusions with little or no inferred {sup 26}Al. Our strategy is to use newly developed sample cells capable of holding very large slabs of meteorites for laser ablation interfaced with a multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-MC-ICPMS) at UC Davis. Here report the initial findings of our search and describe the instrument setup we use that provides rapid throughput and accurate results.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 1022885
- Report Number(s):
- LLNL-CONF-479953; TRN: US201118%%571
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Presented at: 42nd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (2011), The Woodlands, TX, United States, Mar 07 - Mar 11, 2011
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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