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DISTRIBUTION OF RARE EARTH ELEMENTS AND URANIUM IN VARIOUS COMPONENTS OF ORDINARY CHONDRITES
Author(s) -
Ebihara Mitsuru,
Honda Masatake
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
meteoritics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1945-5100
pISSN - 0026-1114
DOI - 10.1111/j.1945-5100.1984.tb00027.x
Subject(s) - chondrite , fractionation , uranium , chemistry , radiochemistry , dissolution , meteorite , rare earth , neutron activation analysis , metamorphic rock , geology , mineralogy , geochemistry , astrobiology , materials science , chromatography , physics , metallurgy
Rare earth elements (REE) and uranium were studied for their distributions in various component phases of four ordinary chondrites, Kesen (H4), Richardton (H5), Bruderheim (L6), and Saint Séverin (LL6). A selective dissolution method was applied for the phase fractionation. The REE were analysed by neutron activation analysis, and U was determined by neutron‐induced fission tracks. The present study revealed that both REE and U are highly enriched in the Ca‐phosphate minerals with different enrichment factors, implying chemical fractionation between them. The phosphates seem to be responsible for more than 80% of the light REE in all chondrites. On the other hand, only 20–40% of the total U resides in the Ca‐phosphates. This difference in enrichments might have been caused through the levels of metamorphic activity on the meteoritic parent bodies.