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Rapid effects of terrestrial alteration on highly siderophile elements in the Sutter's Mill meteorite
Author(s) -
Walker Richard J.,
Yin QingZhu,
Heck Philipp R.
Publication year - 2018
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/maps.13102
Subject(s) - chondrite , isochron , meteorite , geology , geochemistry , astrobiology , mineralogy , physics
The 187 Re‐ 187 Os isotopic systematics of many bulk chondrites plot well beyond analytical uncertainties of a primordial isochron. Limited variations in 187 Os/ 188 Os, coupled with large variations in Re/Os ratios among chondrites, suggest that this apparently open‐system behavior is a result of the comparatively recent gain or loss of Re and/or Os. In order to assess whether or not rapid alteration in the terrestrial environment could be responsible for open‐system behavior in chondrites, four pieces of the Sutter's Mill meteorite were examined for Os isotopic systematics and abundances of highly siderophile elements. Pieces SM 1 and SM 2 were collected prior to a rain event, within 2 days of the fall. Pieces SM 51 and SM 53 were collected after a rain event. There are significant but minor relative and absolute variations in the abundances of the highly siderophile elements, as well as 187 Os/ 188 Os among the four pieces. Rhenium‐Os isotopic data for SM 1 and SM 2 plot within analytical uncertainties of a primordial isochron, while powders made from SM 51 and SM 53 do not. These results suggest that interactions with rain caused some redistribution of Re, and to a lesser extent Os, within small pieces of the meteorite. Thus, Re‐Os isotopic systematics of