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Petrology of unique achondrite Queen Alexandra Range 93148: A piece of the pallasite (howardite‐eucrite‐diogenite?) parent body?
Author(s) -
GOODRICH Cyrena Anne,
RIGHTER Kevin
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
meteoritics and planetary science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.09
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1945-5100
pISSN - 1086-9379
DOI - 10.1111/j.1945-5100.2000.tb01433.x
Subject(s) - chromite , olivine , geology , pyroxene , achondrite , kamacite , troilite , parent body , geochemistry , mineralogy , meteorite , chondrite , physics , astronomy
— Queen Alexandra Range (QUE) 93148 is a small (1.1 g) olivine‐rich achondrite ( mg 86) that contains variable amounts of orthopyroxene ( mg 87) and kamacite (6.7 wt% Ni), with minor augite. Olivine in QUE 93148 contains an unusual suite of inclusions: (1) 5 × 100 μm sized lamellae with a CaO‐ and Cr 2 O 3 ‐rich (∼10 and 22 wt%, respectively) composition that may represent a submicrometer‐scale intergrowth of chromite and pyroxene(s); (2) 75 × 500 μm sized lamellar symplectites composed of chromite and two pyroxenes, with minor metal; (3) 15–20 μm sized, irregularly‐shaped symplectites composed of chromite and pyroxene(s); (4) 100–150 μm sized, elliptical inclusions composed of chromite, two pyroxenes, metal, troilite, and rare whitlockite. Type 1, 2, and 3 inclusions probably formed by exsolution from the host olivine during slow cooling, whereas type 4 more likely resulted from early entrapment of silicate and metallic melts followed by closed‐system oxidation. Queen Alexandra Range 93148 can be distinguished from most other olivine‐rich achondrites (ureilites, winonaites, lodranites, acapulcoites, brachinites, Eagle‐Station‐type pallasites, and pyroxene pallasites), as well as from mesosiderites, by some or all of the following properties: O‐isotopic composition, Fe‐Mn‐Mg relations of olivine, CaO and Cr 2 O 3 contents of olivine, orthopyroxene compositions, molar Cr/(Cr + Al) ratios of chromite, metal composition, texture, and the presence of the inclusions. In terms of many of these properties, it shows an affinity to main‐group pallasites. Nevertheless, it cannot be identified as belonging to this group. Meteorite QUE 93148 appears to be a unique achondrite. Possibly it should be considered to be a pyroxene pallasite that is genetically related to main‐group pallasites. Alternatively, it may be derived from the mantle of the pallasite (howardite‐eucrite‐diogenite?) parent body.