Antarctic Meteorite Petrographic Description

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Sample Petrographic Description

Sample Number

QUE 94594

Newsletter

19,1

Location

Queen Alexandra Range

Field Number

10234

Dimensions (cm)

3.4 x 2.6 x 1.6

Weight (g)

12.19

Original Classification

EL3 Chondrite

Pairing

QUE 93351; QUE 94321; QUE 94594

Mineral Composition (%Fa & %Fs)

Fayalite (mol%): 0-1;Ferrosilite (mol%): 0-1

Weathering

B/C

Fracturing

Macroscopic Description - Cecilia Satterwhite

Weathered, iridescent, brown-black fusion crust covers 75-100% of both of these chondrites. Interior is black with some inclusions and metal visible despite the heavily oxidized interior.

Thin Section Description (,2) - Brian Mason

The sections of QUE94321 and 94594 are so similar, one description should suffice. The section shows an aggregate of chondrules and chondrule fragments, up to 0.9 mm across, and mineral grains in a moderate amount of dark matrix. The chondrules and mineral grains consist almost entirely of pyroxene; one chondrule consists of subhedral olivine grains. The matrix contains a minor amount of finely granular sulfides and a little nickel-iron. 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 analysed; olivine composition is essentially pure Mg₂SiO₄. The nickel-iron contains 0.8% Si. One grain of yagiite was analysed. The meteorite is classified as an EL3 chondrite. It is similar to QUE93351, and the possibility of pairing should be considered.

Antarctic Meteorite Images for Sample QUE 94594

Thin Section Photo(s) :

Thin Section Photo of Sample QUE 94594 in Cross-Polarized Light

Thin Section Photo of Sample QUE 94594 in Plane-Polarized Light

References for Sample QUE94594

Weisberg, M. K., Kimura, M., 2012, The unequilibrated enstatite chondrites. , Chemie der Erde - Geochemistry, 72 Issue 2 , Jun-12 , 101-115 , ISSN 0009-2819 , http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chemer.2012.04.003 .

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 .

Rochette, P., Kohout, T., Pesonen, L., Quirico, E., Sagnotti, L., Skripnik, A., Gattacceca, J., Bonal, L., Bourot-Denise, M., Chevrier, V., Clerc, J. P., Consolmagno, G., Folco, L., Gounelle, M., 2008, Magnetic classification of stony meteorites: 2. Non-ordinary chondrites. , Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 43 , 959-980 , http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1945-5100.2008.tb01092.x .

Kimura, M., Weisberg, M. K., Lin, Y., Suzuki, A., Ohtani, E., Okazaki, R., 2005, Thermal history of the enstatite chondrites from silica polymorphs. , Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 40 , 855-868 , http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1945-5100.2005.tb00159.x .

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 .

Newton, J., Franchi, I. A., Pillinger, C. T., 2000, The oxygen-isotopic record in enstatite meteorites. , Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 35 , 689-698 .

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 .

Benoit, P. H., Sears, D. W. G., Akridge, J. M. C., Bland, P. A., Berry, F. J., Pillinger, C. T., 2000, The non-trivial problem of meteorite pairing. , Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 35 , 393-417 .

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 .

Antarctic Meteorite Petrographic Description

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