Rapid Growth of Magnesium-Carbonate Weathering Products in a Stony Meteorite from Antarctica
Nesquehonite, a hydrous magnesium carbonate, occurs as a weathering product on the surface of the Antarctic meteorite LEW 85320 (H5 chondrite). Antarctic meteorites have resided on the earth for periods of 10 4 to 10 6 years, but the time needed for weathering products to form has been uncertain. Is...
| Published in: | Science |
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
1988
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.242.4877.417 https://www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1126/science.242.4877.417 |
| Summary: | Nesquehonite, a hydrous magnesium carbonate, occurs as a weathering product on the surface of the Antarctic meteorite LEW 85320 (H5 chondrite). Antarctic meteorites have resided on the earth for periods of 10 4 to 10 6 years, but the time needed for weathering products to form has been uncertain. Isotopic measurements of δ 13 C and δ 18 O indicate that the nesquehonite formed at near freezing temperatures by reaction of meteoritic minerals with terrestrial water and carbon dioxide. Results from carbon-14 dating suggest that, although the meteorite has been in Antarctica for at least 3.2 × 10 4 to 3.3 × 10 4 years, the nesquehonite formed after A.D. 1950. |
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