Terrestrial weathering of Antarctic stone meteorites - Formation of Mg-carbonates on ordinary chondrites

• Main Authors: Velbel, Michael A., Long, David T., Gooding, James L.
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: unknown
• Published: 1991
• Subjects: 91; Antarctic; Lewis Cliff; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19910040095

Results are presented on the mineralogy, chemistry, and origin of white efflorescences on the surface of Lewis Cliff (Antarctica) 85320 (H5) chondrite (LEW 85320). Particular attention is given to determining the sources of the cations and anions of the evaporite, in order to establish the relative importance of the meteoritic element distribution and terrestrial contamination in the evaporite formation during the weathering process. The data on Na, K, Ca, and Rb abundances in efflorescence from LEW 85320 suggest that cations in evaporite minerals on Antarctic meteorites are not the products of contamination by terrestrial (marine) salts. It is suggested that the Mg in efflorescence on LEW 85320 originated from weathering of meteoritic olivine.