Other
Scientific paper
Sep 1995
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1995metic..30r.594w&link_type=abstract
Meteoritics, vol. 30, no. 5, page 594
Other
2
Accretion, Agglomeration, Matrix, Parent Body Compaction
Scientific paper
Primitive chondritic meteorites mainly consist of chondrules, sulfide+/-metal, and fine-grained matrix. The most unequilibrated chondrites preserve in their phase compositions and, to a lesser degree, their textures, many details about processes that occurred in the solar nebula. On the other hand, much of the textural evidence records processes that occurred in or on the parent body. I suggest that the low-porosity of chondrule matrix and matrix-like rims reflects compaction processes that occurred in asteroid-size bodies, and that neither matrix lumps nor compact matrix-like rims on chondrules could have achieved their observed low porosities in the solar nebula. Recent theoretical studies by Donn and Meakin (1) and Chokshi et al. (2) have concluded that grain-grain sticking in the solar nebula mainly produces fluffy structures having very high porosities (probably >>50%). If these structures grow large enough, they can provide an aerogel-like matrix that can trap chondrules as well as metal and sulfide grains, and thus form suitable precursors of chondritic meteorites. However, the strength of any such structure formed in the solar nebula must be a trivial fraction of that required to survive passage through the Earth's atmosphere in order to fall as a meteorite. The best evidence of accretionary structures appears to be that reported by Metzler et al. (3). They made SEM images of entire thin sections of CM chondrites, and showed that, in the best preserved chondrites, rims are present on all entitities--on chondrules, chondrule fragments, refractory inclusions, etc. A study by Krot and Wasson (4) shows a more complex situation in ordinary chondrites. Although matrix is common, a sizable fraction of chondrules are not surrounded by matrix-like rims. As summarized by Rubin and Krot (1995), there are reports of small textural and compositional differences between matrix lumps and mean matrix-like chondrule rims, but there is so much overlap in properties between these two classes that I will assume that they can be treated as parts of a single statistical population. Published SEM images of matrix lumps and matrix-like rims show them to be relatively compact. Although some porosity is surely present as indicated by broad-beam electron-probe analysis totals <100%, it never reaches values comparable to those expected from low-velocity collisions in the solar nebula. Most chondrite researchers seem to hold that the low porosities reflect efficient packing of each grain as it accreted to the assemblage (i.e., as micrometer-size grains gradually covered the surface of a chondrule to form the matrix-like rim). I find this process very difficult to envision. If the velocities are low, the fluffy structures of Dodd and Meakin (1) should result; if the velocities are high, then rim erosion would seem to be more probable than growth. A possible scenario that avoids this dilemma is to form cm to m-size fluffy structures in low-turbulence regions of the nebular midplane. During accretion of these larger objects these experienced enough compaction to form tough, low-porosity (but unequilibrated) chondrites. If no chondrules were in a region, matrix lumps formed; if chondrules were widely separated, a matrix-like rim resulted. And, if chondrules were close to other chondrules or chondrule fragments, only small amounts of intervening fine-grained materials now separate them from their neighbors. During the compaction event, gas and dust migration occurred, and matrix filled all interstices, as now observed in the most primitive chondrites. According to this picture there could have been more diversity in the fine-grained nebular component before compaction occurred. These differences would be best preserved in matrix-like rims and matrix lumps. Much of the interchondrule matrix should consist of homogenized dust that was mixed during compaction-induced transport. References: [1] Donn B. and Meakin P. (1989) Proc. LPSC 19th, 577-580. [2] Chokshi A. et al. (1993) Astrophys. J., 407, 806-819. [3] Metzler K. et al. (1992) GCA, 56, 2873-2897. [4] Krot A. N. and Wasson J. T. (1995) GCA, in press.
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