Ureilites are not igneous differentiates

Abstract

Although most all meteorites are as old as the solar system (4.5 billion years), they can be subdivided into primitive and evolved groups, depending on the extent of their chemical and physical processing. Primitive meteorites, most of which are chondrites, are assemblages of dust and millimeter-sized pellets from the presolar nebula, which were not extensively heated and processed since their assembly. Thus they provide information about the conditions in the nebular cloud. Many of the evolved meteorites are achondrites, which are igneous rocks produced by melting on or within an asteroidal object known as the parent body. A major unsolved problem in solar system studies is identification of the source of heat which led to melting of the achondrites. The role of oxygen isotopes in establishing genetic relationships among meteorites is examined.