Chondrules in Antarctic micrometeorites
Previous studies of unmelted micrometeorites (> 50 μm) recovered from Antarctic ice have concluded that chondrules, which are a major component of chondritic meteorites, are extremely rare among micrometeorites. We report the discovery of eight micrometeorites containing chondritic igneous object...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | unknown |
| Published: |
2005
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://oro.open.ac.uk/5196/ http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/arizona/maps/2005/00000040/00000002/art00006 |
| Summary: | Previous studies of unmelted micrometeorites (> 50 μm) recovered from Antarctic ice have concluded that chondrules, which are a major component of chondritic meteorites, are extremely rare among micrometeorites. We report the discovery of eight micrometeorites containing chondritic igneous objects, which strongly suggests that at least a portion of coarse-grained crystalline micrometeorites represent chondrule fragments. Six of the particles are identified as composite micrometeorites that contain chondritic igneous objects and fine-grained matrix. These particles suggest that at least some coarse-grained micrometeorites (cgMMs) may be derived from the same parent bodies as fine-grained micrometeorites. The new evidence indicates that, contrary to previous suggestions, the parent bodies of micrometeorites broadly resemble the parent asteroids of chondrulebearing carbonaceous chondrites. |
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