Mineralogical alteration of CM carbonaceous chondrites: A view

Abstract

CM carbonaceous chondrites have been considerably affected by aqueous alteration, probably on the regolith of their parent body or bodies. The aqueous alteration resulted in the alteration of anhydrous silicates, metal, and sulfides, producing a complex mixture of Fe-Mg serpentines, Fe-Ni-S-O phase (tochilinite), and minor Fe-rich oxides and Fe-Ni sulfides. We here present a review of recent petrographic and mineralogical studies of CM carbonaceous chondrites and interpretations of their mineralogical alteration process