The thermometry of enstatite chondrites: A brief review and update

• Published in: Meteoritics & Planetary Science
• Main Authors: ZHANG, Yanhong, SEARS, Derek W. G.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1996
• Subjects: Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1945-5100.1996.tb02038.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1945-5100.1996.tb02038.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1945-5100.1996.tb02038.x

Abstract— Due to the discoveries in Antarctica, the number of known enstatite chondrites has doubled in the last few years, and many rare or previously unknown types have been collected, most notably many EL3 and EH3 chondrites. We have applied the five major enstatite chondrite thermometers to the new and previously known enstatite chondrites, the thermometers being: (1) kamacite‐quartz‐enstatite‐oldhamite‐troilite (KQEOT), (2) oldhamite, (3) alabandite‐niningerite, (4) sphalerite, and (5) phosphide‐metal. Measured temperatures based on the KQEOT and oldhamite systems are 800 °C‐1000 °C with the type 3 enstatite chondrites having values similar to those of type 4–6. It seems likely that these temperatures relate to events prior to parent body metamorphism, such as nebula condensation or chondrule formation, and were not significantly reset by later events. Measured temperatures for alabandite‐niningerite, metal‐phosphide and sphalerite in EH chondrites increase from 300 °C‐400 °C to 600 °C‐800 °C with petrographic indications of increasing metamorphism. In contrast, measured temperatures for all EL chondrites, including the most heavily metamorphosed, are generally <400 °C. Apparently EL chondrites cooled more slowly than the EH chondrites regardless of metamorphism experienced. Measured temperatures for the alabandite‐niningerite, metal‐phosphide and sphalerite are actually closure temperatures for the last thermal event suffered by the meteorite, and the fast cooling rates indicated are most consistent with processes occurring in thick regoliths.