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Published on: March 29, 2016
Noble-gas-rich chondrules in an enstatite meteorite
R Okazaki1, N Takaoka, K Nagao
1Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Kyushu University 33, Hakozaki, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan. okazaki@eqchem.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Primitive meteorites called chondrites contain chondrules, which trapped significant noble gases. These findings suggest solar gases were implanted into chondrule precursors, with some gas loss over time.
Area of Science:
- Cosmic Science
- Planetary Science
- Meteoritics
Background:
- Chondrules are silicate spherules found in primitive meteorites (chondrites).
- They are believed to form from rapid cooling of silicate melt in the early Solar System.
- Conventional understanding is that chondrules lose all noble gases during melting.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate noble gas content in chondrules from the enstatite chondrite Yamato-791790.
- To determine the origin and characteristics of trapped noble gases in these primitive materials.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of noble gases within chondrules from the Yamato-791790 meteorite.
- Determination of elemental ratios, specifically 36Ar/132Xe and 84Kr/132Xe.
Main Results:
- Discovery of significant trapped noble gases in chondrules from Yamato-791790.
- Observed elemental ratios (36Ar/132Xe, 84Kr/132Xe) resemble 'subsolar' gas compositions.
- These ratios are the highest recorded after solar-type noble gases.
Conclusions:
- The findings challenge the notion that chondrules completely lose noble gases upon melting.
- The data support a model of solar gas implantation into chondrule precursors.
- Incomplete gas diffusion over time explains the observed high noble gas concentrations and elemental ratios.
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