A Scanning Electron Microscope /SEM/ study of the magnetic domain structure of iron meteorites and their synthetic analogues
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It is found, on the basis of new neutron activation data for group IVB, that log-element - log-Ni trends are best understood in terms of core formation and fractional crytstallizaion. The limited compositional range found in gorup IVB is thought to reflect the fact that, owing to the low concentrations of S, P, and C and the high concentration of Ni, the k sub x (the solid/liquid partition ratio) values are closer to unity than are those in other magmatic groups. Mean volatile abundances in group IVB are significantly lower than those found in any group of chondritic meteorites, indicating that these low abundances are not entirely the result of nebular processes and that planetary outgassing was also involved.
Experimental problems associated with metallic solid/metallic liquid partitioning investigations are evaluated. Of particular concern is the discrepancy of partition coefficient results obtained from experiments which were static (constant temperature for the duration of the experiment) and those which were dynamic (where an experimental charge is slowly drawn from the furnace).
Fe-Ni alloys of meteoritic composition were solidified by a plane front solidification technique. Distribution coefficients of Ni, P, Ir, Ge, and Cu were determined from the composition data of the plane front solidified alloys. Equations that describe the distribution coefficients (P, Ni, Ir, Ge, and Cu) as a function of S and P content as well as S to P ratio were used to calculate solute partitioning between solid and liquid during the solidification of IIAB, IIIAB, and IVA parent bodies. The calculated P versus Ni, Ir versus Ni, Ge versus Ni, and Cu versus Ni trends are in good agreement with the observed meteorite data for each chemical group. It is concluded that each chemical group formed as a single molten pool in a parent body and that solute partitioning that occurred during solidification is responsible for the observed compositional trends within a single meteorite group.
Fission tracking techniques were used to measure the uranium distribution in meteoritic troilite and graphite. The obtained fission tracking data showed a heterogeneous distribution of tracks with a significant portion of track density present in the form of uranium clusters at least 10 microns in size. The matrix containing the clusters was also heterogeneous in composition with U concentrations of about 0.2-4.7 ppb. U/He ages could not be estimated on the basis of the heterogeneous U distributions, so previously reported estimates of U/He ages in the presolar range are probably invalid.
A characterization of the microstructural features of Santa Catharina (SC) from the millimeter to submicron scale is presented. The same specimen was examined using an optical microscope, a scanning electron microscope, an electron probe microanalyzer, and an analytical electron microscope. Findings include the fact that SC metal nodules may have different bulk Ni values, leading to different microstructures upon cooling; that SC USNM 6293 is the less corroded sample, as tetrataenite exists as less than 10 nm ordered domains throughout the entire fcc matrix (it is noted that this structure is the same as that of the Twin City meteorite and identical to clear taenite II in the retained taenite regions of the octahedrites); that SC USNM 3043 has a more complicated microstructure due to corrosion; and that the low Ni phase of the cloudy zone was selectively corroded in some areas and formed the dark regions, indicating that the SC meteorite corrosion process was electrochemical in nature and may involve Cl-containing akaganeite.
The paper concentrates on isotopic measurements of sulfur in different sulfur-carrier phases: troilite inclusions, Fe-Ni alloy, and schreibersite (possibly including daubreelite). Variations in S-34 isotope ratio are observed in some troilite inclusions, and no evidence of nucleosynthetic sulfur isotopic anomalies are found in the troilite inclusions. Excesses of S-33 and S-36 are observed in both FeNi alloy and schreibersite of Grant, Santa Clara, Tlacotepec, and Gibeon, with schreibersite possessing the greater magnitude of presumably spallogenic S-33 and S-36. It is concluded that the magnitude of the observed fractionation is consistent with troilite dissociation and/or vaporization following a collisional impact.
In I-Xe dating, a regular pattern of increasing Xe-129/128Xe-128 ratio with increasing extraction temperature is often observed. If one makes the crude assumption that the temperatures at which the Xe is extracted in the laboratory is approximately the same as the temperature at which those sites closed 4.6 Ga ago, a (zeroth order) model cooling rate can be found. In order to test and refine this model we can apply the cooling theory of Dodson to those extraction steps approaching the I-Xe isochrons. Using an Arrhenius plot for these temperature fractions, and assuming that an only single phase is involved, the effective diffusion parameters can be estimated (frequency factor and activation energy). From the apparent (zeroth order) cooling rate, the closure temperature can be estimated from the Dodson equation. This model closure temperature can then be compared with the actual laboratory temperature at which the isochron begins. The ratio of the closure temperature and the temperature corresponding to the start of the isochron provides the ratio of the two temperature scales, incorporation and extraction. The actual cooling rate is then given by the apparent (zeroth order) cooling rate times the temperature scale factor. Figure 1 shows Arrhenius plots for I-Xe data
Ru, Mo and Pd are very useful indicators for the identification of nucleosynthetic components. We have developed techniques for Pd isotopes, in an effort to check the extent of isotopic effects in this mass region and for a Pt-group element which is less refractory than Ru. Stable Pd isotopes are produced by the process only (102Pd), the s-process only (104Pd), the process only (Pd-110) and by both the r- and s-processes (Pd-105, Pd-106, Pd-108). Kelly and Wasserburg reported a hint of a shift in 102Pd (approx. 25(epsilon)u; 1(epsilon)u (triple bonds) 0.01%) in Santa Clara. Earlier searches for Mo and Ru isotopic anomalies were either positive or negative.
Understanding the organic content of meteorites and the potential delivery of molecules relevant to the origin of life on Earth is an important area of study in astrobiology. There have been many studies of meteoritic organics, with much focus on amino acids as monomers of proteins and enzymes essential to terrestrial life. The majority of these studies have involved analysis of carbonaceous chondrites, primitive meteorites containing approx. 3-5 wt% carbon. Amino acids have been observed in varying abundances and distributions in representatives of all eight carbonaceous chondrite groups, as well as in ungrouped carbonaceous chondrites, ordinary and R chondrites, ureilites, and planetary achondrites [1 and references therein].