Antarctic Meteorite Petrographic Description

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Sample Petrographic Description

Sample Number

QUE 93351

Newsletter

18,1

Location

Queen Alexandra Range

Field Number

8485

Dimensions (cm)

1.8 x 1.5 x 0.9

Weight (g)

4.74

Original Classification

E3 Chondrite

Pairing

QUE 93351; QUE 94321; QUE 94594

Mineral Composition (%Fa & %Fs)

Ferrosilite (mol%): 0-10

Weathering

B/C

Fracturing

Macroscopic Description - Cecilia Satterwhite

Forty percent of the exterior of this chondrite is covered with brown/black fusion crust. Areas devoid of fusion crust have a polished look. The interior matrix is dark brown to black. Metal is visible. The areas that are oxidized are a yellowish-brown.

Thin Section Description (,2) - Brian Mason

The section shows an aggregate of chondrules and chondrule fragments, up to 1.8 mm across, and mineral grains in a moderate amount of dark matrix. The chondrules and mineral grains consist almost entirely of pyroxene, with possible traces of olivine. The matrix contains a considerable amount of nickel-iron and minor sulfides. Weathering is extensive, with veinlets and patches of brown limonite throughout the section. Microprobe analyses show that most of the pyroxene is close to MgSiO₃ in composition, but a few more iron-rich grains were analyzed. The nickel-iron contains 0.5-1.1% Si. The meteorite is classified as an E3 chondrite.

References for Sample QUE93351

Van Niekerk, D., Keil, K., 2011, Metal/sulfide-silicate intergrowth textures in EL3 meteorites: Origin by impact melting on the EL parent body. , Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 46 , 1484-1497 , http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1945-5100.2011.01244.x .

Rubin, A. E., 2010, Physical properties of chondrules in different chondrite groups: Implications for multiple melting events in dusty environments. , Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 74 Issue 16 , 15-Aug-10 , 4807-4828 , ISSN 0016-7037 , http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2010.05.018 .

Schultz, L., Franke, L., 2004, Helium, neon, and argon in meteorites: A data collection. , Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 39 , 1889-1890 , http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1945-5100.2004.tb00083.x .

Patzer, A., Schultz, L., 2002, Noble gases in enstatite chondrites II: The trapped component. , Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 37 , 601-612 .

Patzer, A., Schultz, L., 2001, Noble gases in enstatite chondrites I: Exposure ages, pairing, and weathering effects. , Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 36 , 947-961 , http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1945-5100 .

Fagan, T. J., Krot, A. N., Keil, K., 2000, Calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions in enstatite chondrites (I): Mineralogy and textures. , Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 35 , 771-781 .

Rubin, A. E., Scott, E. R. D., Keil, K., 1997, Shock metamorphism of enstatite chondrites. , Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 61 Issue 4 , Feb-97 , 847-858 , ISSN 0016-7037 , http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0016-7037(96)00364-X .

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

Antarctic Meteorite Petrographic Description

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