The CR chondrite clan

The (1) CR chondrites, (2) LEW 85332,(3) Acfer 182,(4) ALH 85085-like chondrites, and (5) Bencubbin-like chondritic breccias are five kinds of chondritic groups which have dramatically different petrographic characteristics, but have mineralogical, bulk chemical, and oxygen and nitrogen isotopic similarities that indicate they are closely related. They are all considered to be members of what we term the CR chondrite clan. Distinguishing characteristics of CR clan chondrites include : (a) reduced, Mg-rich mafic silicates, (b) hydrous matrix and/or dark inclusions (except for Bencubbin-like chondrites), (c) high modal abundances of FeNi metal, (d) FeNi metal having a solar Ni : Co ratio, (e) solar (CI) abundances of refractory and moderately volatile lithophiles, and highly depleted abundances of volatile lithophiles, (f) similar oxygen isotopic compositions of whole rocks, chondrules and matrices, which are on or near the CR mixing line, and (g) anomalously high ^N abundances. CR clan chondrites must have formed in the same local region of the nebula, from closely related reservoirs of materials. The coexistence of anhydrous chondrules with hydrous matrix (and dark inclusions) in the LEW 85332,Acfer 182,and ALH 85085-like chondrites, as well as the widely differing degrees of hydration within and between chondritic samples, implies that hydration of the components was not variable in a single locality, but took place at a variety of locales prior to final lithification of the CR clan chondrites

Preliminary report on the Yamato-86032 lunar meteorite: III. Ages, noble gas isotopes, oxygen isotopes and chemical abundances

The isotope abundances of He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe, including ^Kr, the oxygen isotopic composition, and the concentrations of Na, K, Sc, Ti, Cr, Fe, Co, Y, Zr, La, Sm, Eu, Hf, Ta, and W were determined for the lunar meteorite Yamato-86032. Based on the radionuclide ^Kr we obtain a terrestrial age of 72000±30000 years, whereas the cosmic-ray exposure age is 10.6±0.6 Ma assuming exposure of the meteorite as a small object in space. Exposure to cosmic rays occurred at shallow shielding of about 40g/cm^2. The K-Ar gas retention ages of two separate splits are 3680±300 Ma and 3810±400 Ma, respectively. All ages agree with those for the lunar meteorites Y-82192 and Y-82193 recovered in the same area on the antarctic ice. The small amounts of trapped solar wind noble gases indicate that the Y-86032 material was exposed only briefly, some grains perhaps not at all, to the solar wind. The concentrations are similar to those of the Yamato-82 lunar meteorites. The oxygen isotopic composition is within the range of that for lunar rocks. The chemical composition of the samples from Y-86032,Y-82192,and Y-82193 is uniform for most major elements but not for all minor and trace elements, probably due to inhomogeneity of the source material. From the fact that the history of Y-86032 is the same as that of Y-82192/3 we conclude that these three rocks are pieces of the same meteorite fall

Oxygen Isotopes in Several Yamato Meteorites

Oxygen isotopic compositions (^O/^O and ^O/^O) of five Yamato meteorites have revealed that Yamato-7303 (m), -74190,-74191,and -7308 (l), -74013 can be classified as L ordinary chondrites and differentiated meteorites, respectively. The former three meteorites may have been derived from one parent body, and the latter two meteorites are from another parent body in the solar system

Oxygen isotopic compositions of some Yamato meteorites

Oxygen isotopic compositions are reported for eight Yamato meteorites, selected because of unusual compositions or textures. Y-791197 is confirmed to be of lunar origin; Y-74357,Y-75274,and Y-791493 are unusual achondrites possibly related to Lodran; Y-790981 is a slightly weathered ureilite; Y-790112 is a member of the Renazzo-class (CR) of the carbonaceous chondrites; Y-75097 is an L6 chondrite containing an achondritic inclusion with H-chondrite isotopic composition; Y-790269 is a badly weathered H-chondrite

Oxygen isotope studies of ordinary chondrites

Several stages in the evolution of ordinary chondritic meteorites are recorded in the oxygen isotopic composition of the meteorites and their separable components (chondrules, fragments, clasts, and matrix). The whole-rock isotopic compositions reflect the iron-group of the meteorite (H, L, or LL). Isotopic uniformity of H3 to H6 and L3 to L6 are consistent with closed-system metamorphism within each parent body. LL3 chondrites differ slightly from LL4 to LL6, implying a small degree of opensystem aqueous alteration and carbon reduction. On the scale of individual chondrules, the meteorites are isotopically heterogeneous, allowing recognition of the solar-nebular processes of chondrule formation. Chondrules for all classes of ordinary chondrites are derived from a common population, which was separate from the population of chondrules in carbonaceous or enstatite chondrites. Chondrules define an isotopic mixing line dominated by exchange between 16O-rich and 16O-poor reservoirs. The oxygen isotopic compositions of chondrites serve as "fingerprints" for identification of genetic association with other meteorite types (achondrites and iron) and for recognition of source materials in meteoritic breccias

Murchison xenoliths

C3 xenoliths in a C2 host (Murchison) are unique among known meteoritic xenolith-host occurrences. They offer an opportunity to determine possible effects on the xenoliths by the hydrated host. Eleven xenoliths were found ranging from 2 to 13 mm. Four of these Murchison Xenoliths (MX1, MX2, MX3 and MX4) have been studied in detail. MX1 and MX2 were large enough for trace element, oxygen isotope, carbon isotope, bulk carbon and bulk nitrogen determinations. All four were studied petrographically and by analytical SEM. The xenoliths cannot be unequivocally identified as C3V or C3O subtypes. MX1 contains some matrix phyllosilicate, indicating reaction with water. MX 1, MX2 and MX3 all show extensive alteration by an FeO-rich medium, and some minerals in them contain ferric iron. MX4, however, exhibits very minor alteration by FeO only. Oxygen isotopic and chemical data show that the alteration of these xenoliths did not take place in the Murchison host. The alterations occurred in one or more parent bodies, which were later disrupted to release these xenoliths that ultimately accreted onto the Murchison parent body