Differences in isotopic composition of carbonaceous components in enstatite chondrites

Carbon stable isotopic composition of the major carbonaceous component in enstatite chondrites varies with petrologic type. Investigation of a suite of HF/HCl-resistant residues has shown that this variation is due to an inherent difference in δ 13 C of the carbon, and is not a result of the presence of small amounts of isotopically anomalous carbon-bearing components. These latter do occur in type EH3 and EH4 chondrites, in concentrations similar to those found in C1 and C2 carbonaceous chondrites. Combustion of the major carbon component (apparently elemental carbon, not necessarily graphite) occurs at relatively higher temperatures in enstatite chondrites of increasing petrologic type. This is considered to reflect an increase in crystallinity or ordering of the carbonaceous component, and is a measure of the degree of thermal processing to which the meteorites have been subjected during accretion and/or metamorphism.