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A PETROGRAPHIC AND MINERAL CHEMISTRY STUDY OF THE WESTON, CONNECTICUT, CHONDRITE
Author(s) -
Noonan Albert F.,
Nelen Joseph A.
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
meteoritics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1945-5100
pISSN - 0026-1114
DOI - 10.1111/j.1945-5100.1976.tb00158.x
Subject(s) - chondrule , chondrite , meteorite , geology , mineral , geochemistry , petrography , xenolith , breccia , forsterite , mineralogy , augite , melt inclusions , olivine , astrobiology , plagioclase , chemistry , mantle (geology) , paleontology , physics , quartz , organic chemistry
The Weston meteorite is a breccia containing mostly light‐colored equilibrated chondritic xenoliths and less abundant highly un‐equilibrated chondritic inclusions fixed in a dark grey host of chondrules, mineral and rock fragments. Many of the inclusions show evidence of shock. Unlike most xenolithic chondrites, the Weston host contains a large fraction of considerably more equilibrated silicates than is found in the unequilibrated inclusions, suggesting either that most host silicates retain the mineral chemistry of an equilibrated source indigenous to Weston, or represent a unique fraction which equilibrated separately, prior to final agglomeration. The host silicates are similar in composition to minerals in the common xenoliths, supporting the former possibility that host chondrules and mineral fragments are derived from the xenolithic material, probably by impact fragmentation and melting. Also mixed with Weston is a small but distinct carbonaceous component including the minerals fassaite, Fespinel, forsterite, magnetite and Ca‐Al‐rich inclusion which are normally associated with carbonaceous chondrites.