Antarctic Meteorite Petrographic Description

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Sample Petrographic Description

Sample Number

BTN 00300

Newsletter

24,2

Location

Bates Nunataks

Field Number

12056

Dimensions (cm)

5.0 x 3.5 x 4.0

Weight (g)

124.56

Original Classification

Eucrite (Unbrecciated)

Mineral Composition (%Fa & %Fs)

Ferrosilite (mol%): 28-49

Weathering

Fracturing

Macroscopic Description - Kathleen McBride

The exterior is 100% fully covered with fusion crust. It has no chips or cracks and looks as though it fell to earth yesterday. The fusion crust is black, glassy and has a ropy texture. The interior has a sandy texture, tan in color giving the appearance similar to sandstone. Binocular microscope shows dense, fine-grained clear yellow (citrine colored) and root beer colored crystals. There are some black mineral grains as well. This meteorite was much more dense and difficult to break than most other similar looking stones.

Thin Section Description (,2) - Tim McCoy, Linda Welzenbach

The meteorite exhibits an unbrecciated, fine-grained (~200 micron average grain size) structure of pyroxene and feldspar. Pyroxenes are finely-exsolved with lamellae from 1-5 microns and a range of compositions from Fs₂₈Wo₃₅ to Fs₄₉Wo₇, as well as a range of intermediate composition. Plagioclase is An₈₇Or_0.5. The Fe/Mn ratio of the pyroxene is ~29. The meteorite is a eucrite.

Antarctic Meteorite Images for Sample BTN 00300

Field Photo(s) :

ANSMET BTN 00300 - Field Number: 12056, NASA Photo Number: jsc2018e093901

ANSMET BTN 00300 - Field Number: 12056, NASA Photo Number: jsc2018e093902

Field photo image(s) courtesy of the ANSMET (ANtarctic Search for METeorites) Program, Case Western Reserve University and the University of Utah

Antarctic Meteorite Images for Sample BTN 00300

Lab Photo(s) :

Lab Photo of Sample BTN 00300 Showing East Bottom View

Lab Photo of Sample BTN 00300 Showing Top East View

Lab Photo of Sample BTN 00300 Showing Top North View

Lab Photo of Sample BTN 00300 Showing Top South View

Lab Photo of Sample BTN 00300 Showing Top West View

References for Sample BTN00300

Kumler, B., Day, J.M.D., 2021, Trace element variations generated by magmatic and post-crystallization processes in eucrite meteorites. , Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 301 , 211–229 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2021.03.002 .

McCubbin, F.M., Lewis, J.A., Barnes, J.J., Elardo, S.M., and Boyce, J.W., 2021, The abundances of F, Cl, and H2O in eucrites: Implications for the origin of volatile depletion in the asteroid 4 Vesta. , Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 314 , 270–293 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2021.08.021 .

Jourdan, F., Kennedy, T., Benedix, G.K., Eroglu, E., and Mayer C., 2020, Timing of the magmatic activity and upper crustal cooling of differentiated asteroid 4 Vesta. , Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 273 , 205-225 , doi: 10.1016/j.gca.2020.01.036.

Mittlefehldt, D. W., 2015, Asteroid (4) Vesta: I. The howardite-eucrite-diogenite (HED) clan of meteorites. , Chemie der Erde - Geochemistry, 75 Issue 2 , Jun-15 , 155-183 , ISSN 0009-2819 , http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chemer.2014.08.002 .

Beck, A. W., Lawrence, D. J., Peplowski, P. N., Prettyman, T. H., Mccoy, T. J., Mcsween, H. Y., Toplis, M. J., Yamashita, N., 2015, Using HED meteorites to interpret neutron and gamma-ray data from asteroidÿ4 Vesta. , Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 50 , 1311-1337 , http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/maps.12467 .

Paniello, R. C., Moynier, F., Beck, P., Barrat, J. A., Podosek, F. A., Pichat, S., 2012, Zinc isotopes in HEDs: Clues to the formation of 4-Vesta, and the unique composition of Pecora Escarpment 82502. , Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 86 , 1-Jun-12 , 76-87 , ISSN 0016-7037 , http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2012.01.045 .

Mayne, R. G., Sunshine, J. M., Mcsween Jr., H. Y., Bus, S. J., Mccoy, T. J., 2011, The origin of Vesta's crust: Insights from spectroscopy of the Vestoids. , Icarus, 214 Issue 1 , Jul-11 , 147-160 , ISSN 0019-1035 , http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2011.04.013 .

Mayne, R. G., Sunshine, J. M., Mcsween, H. Y., Mccoy, T. J., Corrigan, C. M., Gale, A., 2010, Petrologic insights from the spectra of the unbrecciated eucrites: Implications for Vesta and basaltic asteroids. , Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 45 , 1074-1092 , http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1945-5100.2010.01090.x .

Thaisen, K. G., Taylor, L. A., 2009, Meteorite fusion crust variability. , Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 44 , 871-878 , http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1945-5100.2009.tb00774.x .

Mayne, R. G., Mcsween Jr., H. Y, Mccoy, T. J., Gale, A., 2009, Petrology of the unbrecciated eucrites. , Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 73 Issue 3 , 1-Feb-09 , 794-819 , ISSN 0016-7037 , http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2008.10.035 .

RELAB, , Reflectance Experiment Lab , catalogue of samples, .

Antarctic Meteorite Petrographic Description

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