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Identification of relict phases in a once‐molten Allende Inclusion
Author(s) -
Kuehner Scott M.,
Davis Andrew M.,
Grossman Lawrence
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/gl016i008p00775
Subject(s) - melilite , allende meteorite , refractory (planetary science) , geology , inclusion (mineral) , parent body , spinel , mineralogy , chondrite , geochemistry , materials science , meteorite , astrobiology , physics , metallurgy , paleontology
Fassaite rims around spinel grains that are enclosed entirely by normally zoned cores of melilite crystals are interpreted as relict grains which predate the melting of Allende Type B1 refractory inclusions. Nonrelict, subliquidus fassaite did not begin crystallizing from melts of these compositions until the onset of precipitation of the reversely zoned melilite mantles around the same melilite crystal cores. Relict fassaite is fractionated and highly enriched in REE and other refractory lithophiles compared to subliquidus fassaite in the same inclusion. Mass balance suggests that the relict fassaite represents only 3% of the original premelt amount of fassaite, and that melilite and at least one other phase were additional condensate precursors of these inclusions.