Barium sulphate in a Saharan CV chondrite

Other

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

4

Barium Compounds, Chemical Composition, Chondrites, Meteoritic Composition, Sulfates, Chemical Analysis, Inclusions, Meteoritic Microstructures, Mineralogy, Trace Elements, Weathering

Scientific paper

Acfer 086 (CV3) was recovered from the Sahara in 1989. A thin section was studied for weathering products. During routine microprobe analysis a phase was found containing Ba and S in approximate 1:1 atomic ratio. The only other element detected at more than trace level was Fe (less than 2%), possibly from surrounding Fe-rich phases. It is concluded that the only likely mineral with this chemistry is barytes, BaSO4. The barytes occurs as isolated, 1-10-micron, irregularly shaped grains. It is present exclusively in inclusions, both metal/C-rich and chondrules and chondrule fragments. None were observed in the matrix. At its highest the barytes density reached greater than 50 grains in an area measuring 300 x 200 microns. At present, whether the barytes is terrestrial or meteoritic remains unclear. Reasons for both cases are given and discussed. While it is an intriguing possibility that the barytes in Acfer 086 may be a primary meteoritic mineral, and considerable evidence would support this view, it must be treated with great caution. Although texturally it is unlike a secondary phase and there are difficulties with the introduction of barytes by groundwater, this cannot be dismissed. The high and variable Ba contents of the Acfer/El Djouf Saharan CR chondrites are strong evidence for the formation of secondary barytes during residence on the desert floor. If terrestrial, the presence and distribution pattern of barytes in Acfer 086 has potentially important consequences for chemical and isotopic analyses of many elements in both bulk and inclusions of meteorite finds from the deserts of the world.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Barium sulphate in a Saharan CV chondrite does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Barium sulphate in a Saharan CV chondrite, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Barium sulphate in a Saharan CV chondrite will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-822266

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.