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The origin of dark inclusions in Allende: New evidence from lithium isotopes

The origin of dark inclusions in Allende: New evidence from lithium isotopes
The origin of dark inclusions in Allende: New evidence from lithium isotopes
Aqueous and thermal processing of primordial materials occurred prior to and during planet formation in the early solar system. A record of how solid materials were altered at this time is present in the carbonaceous chondrites, which are naturally delivered fragments of primitive asteroids. It has been proposed that some materials, such as the clasts termed “dark inclusions” found in type III chondrites, suggest a sequence of aqueous and thermal events. Lithium isotopes (6Li and 7Li) can reveal the role of liquid water in dark inclusion history. During aqueous alteration, 7Li passes preferentially into solution leaving 6Li behind in the solid phase and, consequently, any relatively extended periods of interaction with 7Li-rich fluids would have left the dark inclusions enriched in the heavier isotope when compared to the meteorite as a whole. Our analyses of lithium isotopes in Allende and its dark inclusions reveal marked isotopic homogeneity and no evidence of greater levels of aqueous alteration in dark inclusion history.
1039-1043
Sephton, Mark A.
fecf8f55-05e9-4211-a775-74a9edeb9048
James, Rachael H.
79aa1d5c-675d-4ba3-85be-fb20798c02f4
Zolensky, Michael E.
0699b395-7cad-4e67-82f0-ed4312e6c152
Sephton, Mark A.
fecf8f55-05e9-4211-a775-74a9edeb9048
James, Rachael H.
79aa1d5c-675d-4ba3-85be-fb20798c02f4
Zolensky, Michael E.
0699b395-7cad-4e67-82f0-ed4312e6c152

Sephton, Mark A., James, Rachael H. and Zolensky, Michael E. (2006) The origin of dark inclusions in Allende: New evidence from lithium isotopes. Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 41 (7), 1039-1043. (doi:10.1111/j.1945-5100.2006.tb00502.x).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Aqueous and thermal processing of primordial materials occurred prior to and during planet formation in the early solar system. A record of how solid materials were altered at this time is present in the carbonaceous chondrites, which are naturally delivered fragments of primitive asteroids. It has been proposed that some materials, such as the clasts termed “dark inclusions” found in type III chondrites, suggest a sequence of aqueous and thermal events. Lithium isotopes (6Li and 7Li) can reveal the role of liquid water in dark inclusion history. During aqueous alteration, 7Li passes preferentially into solution leaving 6Li behind in the solid phase and, consequently, any relatively extended periods of interaction with 7Li-rich fluids would have left the dark inclusions enriched in the heavier isotope when compared to the meteorite as a whole. Our analyses of lithium isotopes in Allende and its dark inclusions reveal marked isotopic homogeneity and no evidence of greater levels of aqueous alteration in dark inclusion history.

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Published date: 2006
Organisations: Marine Geoscience

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Local EPrints ID: 206119
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/206119
PURE UUID: 4b59ad62-83ab-492c-ae5f-653bcaf0ab99
ORCID for Rachael H. James: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-7402-2315

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Date deposited: 14 Dec 2011 09:42
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:30

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Contributors

Author: Mark A. Sephton
Author: Michael E. Zolensky

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