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Nebular condensation of Ga, Ge and Sb and the chemical classification of iron meteorites

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Abstract

Key parameters for classifying iron meteorites into genetic groups are concentrations of Ga and Ge. Their taxonomic value results from the combination of very wide concentration ranges in iron meteorites as a whole, with very narrow concentration ranges in most individual groups. The very wide intergroup ranges result from solar nebular condensation in widely varying conditions. Recent calculations show that the nebular condensation temperature of Ge is lower than that of any other siderophile, and that Sb and Ga are the next most volatile siderophiles. The narrow intragroup ranges of Ga and Ge reflect minimal fractionation during the crystallisation of cores, larger intragroup ranges for Sb result from a solid/liquid distribution ratio near 0.4.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, 83843

    Chien M. Wai

  2. Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, University of California, Los Angeles, California, 90024

    John T. Wasson

  3. Also at the Departments of Chemistry and Earth and Space Sciences,

    John T. Wasson

Authors
  1. Chien M. Wai
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  2. John T. Wasson
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Wai, C., Wasson, J. Nebular condensation of Ga, Ge and Sb and the chemical classification of iron meteorites. Nature 282, 790–793 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1038/282790a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/282790a0

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