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A preliminary study on mineralogical and chemical compositions of some chondrites falling in China

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Abstract

Samples are available from 37 stony meteorites falling in China. Twenty-two chondrites are examined in terms of chemical and mineral compositions, cosmogenic nuclides, formation and exposure ages, impact effect and chondrule textures. On the basis of chemical-petrologic features these chondrites are classified asE 4 (Qingzhen),H 5 (Jilin, Changde, Shuangyang, Anlong, Xinyi and Yangjang),L 6 (Renqiu, Junan, Heze, Rugao and Nei Monggol) andLL 6 (Dongtai).

E4 is characterized by high iron and sulfur, with the former occurring mainly as Feo and FeS. FromH5 throughH6 toLL6, iron and nickel decrease gradually while FeO and the ratio of Fe silicate to total iron increase gradually. indicating a general increase in the orderE-H-L-LL in the degree of oxidation at the time of formation.

E4 consists mainly of enstatite and, to much less extent, free SiO2 but olivine is hardly to be found. The olivine proportions amount to 29.07, 41.98 and 51.36 percent inH5,L6 andLL6 respectively, with Fa increasing from 17 to 27 percent.

Recrystallization has been noticed to different degrees inH 4,H 5,L 6 andLL 6 chondrites. The extent to which the original structure disappears and the boundaries of chondrules become indistinct decreases from type 6 through type 5 to type 4, reflecting different degrees of thermal metamorphism. Major minerals in the meteorites all exhibit signs of low to medium shock metamorphism.

Specific activity, depth effect and orbit effect are also measured on some chondrites that have fallen in recent years and some new information has been obtained with respect to the orbit and source region for meteorite parent bodies in space. This results show that the environment of formation ofE group may be nearer to Mars than that ofO group.

Each chemical group of chondrites has its own evolutionary history, and chondritets of different chemical groups may have originated from parent bodies of different compositions. Or owing to the differentiation caused by thermal melamorphism, various kinds of meteorites may be derived from a common parent body. From this argument it is suggested that five stages may be recognized during the formation process of chondrites.

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  1. Institute of Geochemistry, Academia Sinica, China

    Wang Daode, Ouyang Ziyuan & Hou Wei

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  1. Wang Daode
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  2. Ouyang Ziyuan
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  3. Hou Wei
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Wang, D., Ouyang, Z. & Hou, W. A preliminary study on mineralogical and chemical compositions of some chondrites falling in China. Geochemistry 1, 186–199 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03180329

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