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Kaidun meteorite: Crystals of oxides in cavities

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Abstract

Cavities in two texturally and genetically distinct clasts of the Kaidun meteorite were found out to contain crystals of distinct morphology, but of a similar composition. Cavities in chondrite breccia #d3A contain thin (<4 μm) elongated (up to 25 μm long) crystals that grew perpendicular to the walls of the cavity. The walls of the cavities in partly fused clast #d(3–5)D are covered with clusters of acicular crystals. In both clasts, the crystals are covered by films of phyllosilicates and always have a composition approximated by the formula (Mg,Fe,Mn)5Al2O8·nH2O. No mineral phase of this composition has ever been found in nature. The genesis of the mineral phases in the cavities is thought to be related to the crystallization from a fluid of similar composition. The fluid was produced during the cooling of the melt that produced clast #d(3–5)D. The unusual composition of the crystals testifies that this fluid had an unusual composition. This can be explained by the unique nature of clast #d(3–5)D, for which there are good reasons to propose a Martian origin.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Vemadsky Institute of Geochemistry and Analytical Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Kosygina 19, Moscow, 119991, Russia

    A. V. Ivanov, N. N. Kononkova & I. A. Stroganov

  2. NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas, 77058, USA

    M. E. Zolensky

  3. Lockheed Engineering and Science Co., Houston, Texas, 77058, USA

    S. V. Yang

Authors
  1. A. V. Ivanov
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  2. M. E. Zolensky
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  3. N. N. Kononkova
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  4. S. V. Yang
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  5. I. A. Stroganov
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Correspondence to A. V. Ivanov.

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Original Russian Text © A.V. Ivanov, M.E. Zolensky, N.N. Kononkova, S.V. Yang, I.A. Stronganov, 2006, published in Geokhimiya, 2006, No. 3, pp. 284–292.

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Ivanov, A.V., Zolensky, M.E., Kononkova, N.N. et al. Kaidun meteorite: Crystals of oxides in cavities. Geochem. Int. 44, 249–257 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0016702906030037

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0016702906030037

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