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Mechanical aggregation of enstatite chondrites from an inhomogeneous debris cloudEnstatite chondrites have oxygen isotope ratios closer to those of the earth and moon than other meteorites. Their minerals are chemically reduced; metal contains Si, and some Ca, Ti, Mg and Mn are incorporated in sulphides rather than silicates. Clinoenstatite and olivine are virtually Fe-free. Two types of clinoenstatite in the Indarch enstatite chondrite have been reported, one luminescing blue and one red. Similar clinoenstatites in the Kota-Kota enstatite chondrite are associated with two distinct types of forsteritic olivine, one luminescing orange and the other blue. The textural relations and differences in chemical composition cannot be explained by progressive condensation from the solar nebula and require the mechanical mixing of material from at least two sources. It is suggested here that enstatite chondrites result from mechanical and chemical processes during aerodynamic sorting and gravitational settling of debris from a hot cloud of dust, liquid and gas produced during collision of planetesimals.
Document ID
19810043066
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Leitch, C. A.
(Chicago Univ. Chicago, IL, United States)
Smith, J. V.
(Chicago, University Chicago, Ill., United States)
Date Acquired
August 11, 2013
Publication Date
March 19, 1981
Publication Information
Publication: Nature
Volume: 290
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
81A27470
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSG-7550
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGL-14-001-171
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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