Discovery of Presolar Corundum (and SiC?) in an Interplanetary Dust Particle

This work is part of an ongoing investigation [1-3] of isotopically anomalous phases in interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) on a scale of 100 nm. Previously, such NanoSIMS studies have found sub-micrometer sized, isotopically distinct presolar grains in IDPs at higher abundances than in primitive meteorites [1-5], which demonstrates the unique and primitive nature of IDPs. Although not all presolar grains found so far in IDPs have been chemically or petrographically characterized, the majority appear to be silicate stardust. Conspicuously absent from the presolar grain inventory in IDPs have been other grain types, which are commonly found in primitive meteorites, such as SiC and corundum (Al2O3).