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Palisade bodies, mineral assemblages with spinel shells, in coarse-grained Ca-, Al-rich inclusions (CAIs) have been considered either as exotic mini-CAIs captured by their host inclusions (Wark and Lovering ) or as insitu crystallization products of a bubble-rich melt (Simon and Grossman ). In order to clarify their origins, we conducted a comprehensive study of palisade bodies in an Allende Type B CAI (BBA-7), using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), micro-computed tomography (Micro-CT), electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). New observations support the insitu crystallization mechanism: early/residual melt infiltrated into spinel-shelled bubbles and crystallized inside. Evidence includes (1) continuous crystallography of anorthite from the interior of the palisade body to the surrounding host; (2) partial consolidation of two individual palisade bodies revealed by micro-CT; (3) a palisade body was entirely enclosed in a large anorthite crystal, and the anorthite within the palisade body shows the same crystallographic orientation as the anorthite host; and (4) identical chemical and oxygen isotopic compositions of the constituent minerals between the palisade bodies and the surrounding host. Oxygen isotopic compositions of the major minerals in BBA-7 are bimodal-distributed. Spinel and fassaite are uniformly O-16-rich with O-17=-23.3 +/- 1.5 parts per thousand (2SD), and melilite and anorthite are homogeneously O-16-poor with O-17=-3.2 +/- 0.7 parts per thousand (2SD). The latter O-17 value overlaps with that of the Allende matrix (O-17-2.87 parts per thousand) (Clayton and Mayeda ), which could be explained by secondary alteration with a O-16-poor fluid in the parent body. The mobility of fluid could be facilitated by the high porosity (1.56-2.56 vol%) and connectivity (0.17-0.55 vol%) of this inclusion.

Here we present the isotopic concentrations of He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe for the three Martian meteorites, namely Grove Mountains 99027 (GRV 99027), Northwest Africa 7906 (NWA 7906), and Northwest Africa 7907 (NWA 7907). The cosmic ray exposure (CRE) age for GRV 99027 of 5.7 ± 0.4 Ma (1δ) is consistent with CRE ages for other poikilitic basaltic shergottites and suggests that all were ejected in a single event ~5.6 Ma ago. After correcting for an estimated variable sodium concentration, the CRE ages for NWA 7906 and NWA 7907 of 5.4 ± 0.4 and 4.9 ± 0.4 Ma (1r), respectively, are in good agreement with the CRE age of ~5 Ma favored by Cartwright et al. (2014) for NWA 7034. The data, therefore, support the conclusion that all three basaltic regolith breccias are paired. The ⁴⁰Ar gas retention age for NWA 7907 of ~1.3 Ga is in accord with Cartwright et al. (2014). For NWA 7906, we were unable to determine a ⁴⁰Ar gas retention age. The ⁴He gas retention ages for NWA 7906 and 7907 are in the range of 200 Ma and are much shorter than the ⁴⁰Ar gas retention age of NWA 7907, indicating that about 86–88% of the radiogenic ⁴He has been lost. The Kr and Xe isotopic concentrations in GRV 99027 are composed almost exclusively of Martian interior (MI) gases, while for NWA 7906 and NWA 7907, they indicate gases from the MI, elementally fractionated air, and possibly Martian atmosphere.

Rationale Nearly 99% of the total content of extraterrestrial metals is composed of Fe and Ni, but with greatly variable trace element contents. The accuracy obtained in the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analysis of solutions of these samples can be significantly influenced by matrix contents, polyatomic ion interference, and the concentrations of external standard solutions. Methods An ICP-MS instrument (X Series 2) was used to determine 30 standard solutions with different concentrations of trace elements, and different matrix contents. Based on these measurements, the matrix effects were determined. Three iron meteorites were dissolved separately in aqua regia and HNO3. Deviations due to variation of matrix contents in the external standard solutions were evaluated and the analysis results of the two digestion methods for iron meteorites were assessed. Results Our results show obvious deviations due to unmatched matrix contents in the external standard solutions. Furthermore, discrepancy in the measurement of some elements was found between the sample solutions prepared with aqua regia and HNO3, due to loss of chloride during sample preparation and/or incomplete digestion of highly siderophile elements in iron meteorites. Conclusions An accurate ICP-MS analysis method for extraterrestrial metal samples has been established using external standard solutions with matched matrix contents and digesting the samples with HNO3 and aqua regia. Using the data from this work, the Mundrabilla iron meteorite previously classified as IAB-ung is reclassified as IAB-MG. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Two petrographic settings of carbonaceous components, mainly filling open fractures and occasionally enclosed in shock-melt veins, were found in the recently fallen Tissint Martian meteorite. The presence in shock-melt veins and the deuterium enrichments (delta D up to +1183 parts per thousand) of these components clearly indicate a pristine Martian origin. The carbonaceous components are kerogen-like, based on micro-Raman spectra and multielemental ratios, and were probably deposited from fluids in shock-induced fractures in the parent rock of Tissint. After precipitation of the organic matter, the rock experienced another severe shock event, producing the melt veins that encapsulated a part of the organic matter. The C isotopic compositions of the organic matter (delta C-13 = -12.8 to -33.1 parts per thousand) are significantly lighter than Martian atmospheric CO2 and carbonate, providing a tantalizing hint for a possible biotic process. Alternatively, the organic matter could be derived from carbonaceous chondrites, as insoluble organic matter from the latter has similar chemical and isotopic compositions. The presence of organic-rich fluids that infiltrated rocks near the surface of Mars has significant implications for the study of Martian paleoenvironment and perhaps to search for possible ancient biological activities on Mars.

–The Sutter’s Mill (SM) carbonaceous chondrite is a regolith breccia, composedpredominantly of CM2 clasts with varying degrees of aqueous alteration and thermalmetamorphism. An investigation of presolar grains in four Sutter’s Mill sections, SM43,SM51, SM2-4, and SM18, was carried out using NanoSIMS ion mapping technique. A totalof 37 C-anomalous grains and one O-anomalous grain have been identified, indicating anabundance of 63 ppm for presolar C-anomalous grains and 2 ppm for presolar oxides.Thirty-one silicon carbide (SiC), five carbonaceous grains, and one Al-oxide (Al 2 O 3 ) wereconfirmed based on their elemental compositions determined by C-N-Si and O-Si-Mg-Alisotopic measurements. The overall abundance of SiC grains in Sutter’s Mill (55 ppm) isconsistent with those in other CM chondrites. The absence of presolar silicates in Sutter’sMill suggests that they were destroyed by aqueous alteration on the parent asteroid.Furthermore, SM2-4 shows heterogeneous distributions of presolar SiC grains (12–54 ppm)in different matrix areas, indicating that the fine-grained matrix clasts come from differentsources, with various thermal histories, in the solar nebula.INTRODUCTIONThe Sutter’s Mill (SM) carbonaceous chondrite(CM2) fell in California on April 22, 2012. WeatherDoppler radars detected the falling meteorites, resultingin a fast recovery of some stones (Fries and Fries 2010;Jenniskens et al. 2012). The first stones found (SM 1-3)were recovered before rain and have minimal terrestrialweathering. Petrographic studies indicate that Sutter’sMill is a regolith breccia, composed of CM2 lithologieswith various degrees of aqueous alteration and thermalmetamorphism (Jenniskens et al. 2012; Zolensky et al.2012). Previous studies of acid residues show that someCM2 chondrites (e.g., Murchison, Murray) containabundant presolar material, mainly presolar SiC grains(e.g., Zinner 2013). Sutter’s Mill contains abundant fine-grained matrix areas, which are suitable for presolargrain searches. Previous studies have suggested thatdifferent secondary processes (aqueous alteration,thermal metamorphism) may preferentially destroypresolar mineral phases (presolar silicate/oxide, SiC)(e.g., Huss et al. 2003; Floss and Stadermann 2012).Here, we used NanoSIMS ion imaging to investigate thepresolar inventories of different SM fragments, forcomparison with the presolar grain abundances inMurchison and other primitive chondrites, and to gaina better understanding of the effects of secondaryprocesses on the preservation of presolar grains.SAMPLES AND EXPERIMENTALThe fragments analyzed in this study are SM43,SM51, SM2-4 (a subsample of SM2), and SM18 (forthe find locations in the strewn field, see Jenniskens

– Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd isotopic analyses of the lherzolitic shergottite Grove Mountains (GRV) 99027 are reported. GRV 99027 yields a Rb-Sr mineral isochron age of 177 ± 5 (2σ) Ma and an initial 87Sr/86Sr ratio (ISr) of 0.710364 ± 11 (2σ). Due to larger uncertainties of the Sm-Nd isotopic data, no Sm-Nd isochron age was obtained for GRV 99027. The e143Nd value is estimated approximately +12.2, assuming an age of 177 Ma. The ISr of GRV 99027 is distinguishable from other lherzolitic shergottites, confirming our previous conclusion that it is not paired with them (Lin et al. 2005). The new data of GRV 99027 support the same age of approximately 180 Ma for most lherzolitic shergottites, and fill the small gap of ISr between Allan Hills A77005 and Lewis Cliff 88516 (Borg et al. 2002). All available data are consistent with a single igneous source for the intermediate subgroup of lherzolitic shergottites.

The Ulasitai iron was recently found about 130 km southeast to the find site of the Armanty (Xinjiang, IIIE) meteorite. It is a coarse octahedrite with a kamacite bandwidth of 1.2 ± 0.2 (0.9-1.8) mm. Plessite is abundant, as is taenite, kamacite, cohenite, and schreibersite with various microstructures. Schreibersite is Ni-rich (30.5-55.5 wt%) in plessite or coexisting with troilite and daubreelite, in comparison with the coarse laths (20.621.2 wt%) between the Widmansttten pattern plates. The correlation between the center Ni content and the half bandwidth of taenite suggest a cooling rate of ~20 °C/Myr based on simulations. The petrography and mineral chemistry of Ulasitai are similar to Armanty. The bulk samples of Ulasitai were measured, together with Armanty, Nandan (IIICD), and Mundrabilla (IIICD), by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results agree with literature data of the same meteorites, and our analyses of four samples of Armanty (L1, L12, L16, L17) confirm a homogeneous composition (Wasson et al. 1988). The bulk composition of Ulasitai is identical to that of Armanty, both plotting within the IIIE field. We classify Ulasitai as a new IIIE iron and suggest that it pairs with Armanty.

We report the concentration of 50 elements, including rare earth elements (REEs) and platinum group elements (PGEs) in bulk samples of the Grove Mountains (GRV) 99027 lherzolitic shergottite. The abundances of REEs are distinctly lower than those of Allan Hills (ALH) A77005 and other lherzolitic shergottites, indicating that GRV 99027 is not paired with them. It may, nevertheless, sample the same igneous unit as the others (Lin et al. 2005b; Wang and Chen 2006). The CI- normalized elemental pattern of GRV 99027 reveals low (0.004-0.008 × CI) and unfractionated PGEs (except for Pd of 0.018 × CI) without depletion of W or Ga relative to lithophile element trends. Fractionation between siderophile and lithophile elements become less pronounced with increase of volatility, except for high abundances of Ni and Co. These characteristics are probably representative of the mantle of Mars, which is consistent with previous work that the Martian mantle formed in a deep magma ocean followed by a later accretion of chondritic materials.

High-precision Mg isotopic compositions of Ca-Al-rich inclusions (CAIs) from both Ningqiang (ungrouped) and Allende (CV3) carbonaceous chondrites and amoeboid olivine aggregations (AOAs) from Allende were analyzed by multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS). The CAIs from Allende plot on a line, with an inferred initial 26Al/ 27Al ratio of (4.77 ± 0.39) 10^(-5) close to the canonical value. This indicates a relatively closed Al-Mg system in the CAIs and no significant Mg isotope exchange with ambient materials, although two of the CAIs are severely altered. The AOAs contain excess 26Mg and plot close to the CAI regression line, which is suggestive of their contemporary formation. The CAIs from Ningqiang define a different line with a lower inferred (26Al/27Al)0 ratio of (3.56 ± 0.08) 10^(-5). None of the CAIs and AOAs studied in this work shows significant mass fractionation with enrichment of the heavier Mg isotopes, arguing against an evaporation origin.

Twenty-four refractory inclusions (40-230 μm, with average of 86 ± 40 μm) were found by X-ray mapping of 18 ordinary chondrites. All inclusions are heavily altered, consisting of finegrained feldspathoids, spinel, and Ca-pyroxene with minor ilmenite. The presence of feldspathoids and lack of melilite are due to alteration that took place under oxidizing conditions as indicated by FeO-ZnO-rich spinel and ilmenite. The pre-altered mineral assemblages are dominated by two types: one rich in melilite, referred to as type A-like, and the other rich in spinel, referred to as spinel-pyroxene inclusions. This study and previous data show similar type and size distributions of refractory inclusions in ordinary and enstatite chondrites. A survey of refractory inclusions was also conducted on Allende and Murchison in order to make unbiased comparison with their counterparts in other chondrites. The predominant inclusions are type A and spinel-pyroxene, with average sizes of 170 ± 130 μm (except for two mm-sized inclusions) in Allende and 150 ± 100 μm in Murchison. The relatively larger sizes are partially due to common conglomerating of smaller nodules in both chondrites. The survey reveals closely similar type and size distributions of refractory inclusions in various chondrites, consistent with our previous data of other carbonaceous chondrites. The petrographic observations suggest that refractory inclusions in various groups of chondrites had primarily formed under similar processes and conditions, and were transported to different chondrite-accreting regions. Heterogeneous abundance and distinct alteration assemblages of refractory inclusions from various chondrites could be contributed to transporting processes and secondary reactions under different conditions.

We report petrography, mineral chemistry, and microdistribution of rare earth elements (REE) in a new lherzolitic shergottite, Grove Mountains (GRV) 99027. The textural relationship and REE patterns of minerals suggest precipitation of cumulus olivine and chromite, followed by equilibrium crystallization of a closed system with a bulk composition of the inferred intercumulus melt. Subsolidus equilibrium temperatures of pyroxenes and olivine range from 1100 to 1210 °C, based on a two-pyroxene thermometry and Ca partitioning between augite and olivine. Oxygen fugacity of the parent magma is 1.5–2.5 (av. 2.0 ± 0.4) log units below the quartz-fayalite-magnetite (QFM) buffer at 960–1360 °C, according to the olivine-orthopyroxene-chromite barometer. The ilmenite-chromite barometer and thermometer show much wider ranges of oxygen fugacity (1.0–7.0 log unit below QFM) and temperature (1130–480 °C), suggesting subsolidus equilibration of the oxides at low temperatures, probably due to deep burial of GRV 99027 on Mars. The low oxygen fugacity and LREE depletion of the parent magma of GRV 99027 suggest low contamination by martian crust. Characteristics of GRV 99027 demonstrate similarity of lherzolitic shergottites, suggesting a high possibility of launch pairing or a homogeneous upper mantle of Mars if they were ejected by individual impact events. However, GRV 99027 probably experienced severe post-shock thermal metamorphism in comparison with other lherzolitic shergottites, based on the re-crystallization of maskelynite, the homogeneity of minerals, and the low subsolidus equilibrium temperatures between chromite and ilmenite.

Here we report the results of our petrologic and mineralogical study of enstatite (E) chondrites in order to explore their thermal histories. We studied silica phases in 20 E chondrites by laser micro Raman spectroscopy to determine the silica polymorphs they contain. Silica phases are commonly present in E chondrites and their polymorphs reflect the physical conditions of formation. The samples studied here include EH3-5, EL3-6, E chondrite melt rocks, and an anomalous E chondrite. We identified quartz, tridymite, cristobalite, and silica glass in the samples studied. EH4 5 and EH melt rocks are divided into high and low temperature classes based on niningeritealabandite solid solutions. EH3, EL3, and some EH melt rocks of the high temperature class contain tridymite and cristobalite. We suggest that tridymite and cristobalite crystallized in chondrules and E chondrite melts, followed by rapid cooling, leading to the survival of these silica polymorphs. EH4 and EL4 chondrites also contain tridymite and cristobalite in their chondrules, indicating that these silica polymorphs survived low temperature metamorphism (as estimated from opaque mineral geothermometers) because of the sluggishness of the transition to a more stable polymorph. Tridymite and cristobalite in EL6 chondrites reflect the high temperature processes experienced by these meteorites. On the other hand, some EH5 chondrites and EH melt rocks of the low temperature class contain quartz, which may be a product of the transition from tridymite or cristobalite during a long period of low temperature metamorphism. Although the thermal history of E chondrites have been previously estimated from opaque minerals, such compositions mainly reflect low temperature processes. However, we can reconstruct the primordial thermal processes and subsequent cooling histories of E chondrites from their silica polymorphs. The E chondrites have complicated thermal histories, which produced the observed variations among them.

We determined the mineralogical and chemical characteristics and the He, Ne, and Ar isotopic abundances of 2 meteorites that fell in China and of 2 meteorites that were recovered by the 15th Chinese Antarctic Research Expedition. Guangmingshan (H5), Zhuanghe (H5), and Grove Mountain (GRV) 98002 (L5) yield cosmic ray exposure (CRE) ages of 68.7 ± 10.0 Ma, 3.8 ± 0.6 Ma, and 17.0 ± 2.5 Ma, respectively. These ages are within the range typically observed for the respective meteorite types. GRV 98004 (H5) had an extremely short parent body-Earth transfer time of 0.052 ± 0.008 Ma. Its petrography and mineral chemistry are indistinguishable from other typical H5 chondrites. Only 3 other meteorites exist with similarly low CRE ages: Farmington (L5), Galim (LL6), and ALH 82100 (CM2). We show that several asteroids in Earth-crossing orbits, or in the main asteroid belt with orbits close to an ejection resonance, are spectrally matching candidates and may represent immediate precursor bodies of meteorites with CRE ages ≤0.1 Ma.

Fassaite is a major component of Ca-Al-rich inclusions (CAIs) of Types B and C that crystallized from liquids. In contrast, this mineral is rarely reported in Type A inclusions and has been much less studied. In this paper, we report highly Ti-, Al-enriched fassaite that occurs as rims on perovskite in two compact Type A inclusions from the Ningqiang meteorite. In addition, one of the inclusions contains an euhedral grain of Sc-fassaite (16.4 wt% Sc2O3) isolated in melilite. The occurrence and mineral chemistry of the fassaite rims can be explained by a reaction of pre-existing perovskite with CAI melts. Hence, such rims may serve as an indicator for partial melting of Type A inclusions. The Sc-fassaite is probably a relict grain. A third spherical CAI contains several euhedral grains of V-fassaite (4.8-5.4 wt% V2O3) enclosed in a melilite fragment. The high V content of fassaite cannot be related to any Fremdlinge, magnetite, or metallic Fe-Ni, because these phases are absent in the inclusion. In the same CAI, other fassaites intergrow with spinel and minor perovskite, filling voids inside of the melilite and space adjacent to the Wark-Lovering rim. The fassaite intergrown with spinel is almost V-free. The coexistence of two types of fassaite suggests that this CAI has not been completely melted.

— Many Ca-Al-rich inclusions (CAIs) were molten once, and the question of what their precursors consisted of is controversial. In this paper, we report a new type of anorthite-spinel-rich inclusion (ASI) in the Ningqiang carbonaceous chondrite. The modal and bulk compositions of the ASIs are similar to those of Type C inclusions but with nonmolten textures. The ASIs are proposed to be the precursors of Type C inclusions. The ASIs show alteration textures, with melilite being replaced by anorthite and Ca-pyroxene. Furthermore, compositions of the melilites and the calculated modal and bulk compositions of the possible precursors of the ASIs are close to those of the spinel-rich Type A inclusions in the Ningqiang meteorite, which suggests that ASIs formed by alteration of the latter in the solar nebula. Petrography and mineral chemistry of one Type C inclusion in Ningqiang are also reported.

— Enstatite chondrites are classified into EH and EL groups, and some of them were melted once. In this paper, we report petrography and mineral chemistry of five new Antarctic enstatite chondrites. Yamato 793225 is characterized by intermediate properties between the EH and EL groups and probably represents a new grouplet of enstatite chondrites. The three paired meteorites (Y-8404, Y-8414 and Y-86004) may have cooled rapidly near the surface of the parent body as impact EH melt rocks. Yamato 82189 is also classified as EH melt rock, but it experienced slow cooling as did Y-793225. Yamato 82189 contains the first occurrence of phlogopite in enstatite meteorites.

Grove Mountains (GRV) 020090 is an enriched lherzolitic shergottite, distinct from other lherzolitic shergottites, except RBT 04262/1. Its characteristics include high abundance of plagioclase (24.2 vol% in the nonpoikilitic area), presence of K-feldspar, common occurrence of baddeleyite, high FeO contents of olivine (bimodal peaks at Fa 33 mol% and Fa 41 mol%) and low-Ca pyroxenes (bimodal peaks at Fs 23.8–31.7 mol% and Fs 25.7–33.9 mol%), and significant LREE enrichment of phosphates (500–610 × CI). The bulk composition of GRV 020090 suggests derivation from partial melting of an enriched reservoir. However, the REE patterns of the cores of pigeonite oikocrysts and the olivine chadacrysts are indistinguishable from those of GRV 99027 and other moderately depleted lherzolitic shergottites, and reveal a LREE-depleted pattern of the primordial parent magma. We propose that the primordial parent magma of GRV 020090 was derived from a moderately depleted Martian upper mantle reservoir, and later the residual melt was contaminated by oxidized and enriched Martian crustal materials as it ascended up to the subsurface. GRV 020090 and RBT 04262/1 may have sampled an igneous unit different from other lherzolitic shergottites.