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Mineralogy of interplanetary dust particles from the 'olivine' infrared classAnalytical electron microscopy observations establish that olivine is abundant and the predominant silicate phase in three interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) from the 'olivine' infrared spectra category. Two of the particles have microstructures resembling those of most nonhydrous chondritic IDPs, consisting of micron to submicron grains together with a matrix composed of amorphous carbonaceous material and sub-500 A grains. In addition to olivine these particles respectively contain enstatite and magnetite, and pentlandite plus Ca-rich clinopyroxene. The third IDP consists mostly of olivine and pyrrhotite with little or no matrix material. Olivine grains in this particle contain prominent solar-flare ion tracks with densities corresponding to a space-exposure age between 1000 to 100,000 years. Although the three particles have olivine-rich mineralogies in common, other aspects of their mineralogies and microstructures suggest that they experienced different formation histories. The differences between the particles indicate that the olivine infrared spectral category is a diverse collection of IDPs that probably incorporates several genetic groups.
Document ID
19860058985
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Christoffersen, R.
(Arizona State Univ. Tempe, AZ, United States)
Buseck, P. R.
(Arizona State University Tempe, United States)
Date Acquired
August 12, 2013
Publication Date
May 1, 1986
Publication Information
Publication: Earth and Planetary Science Letters
Volume: 78
Issue: 1 Ma
ISSN: 0012-821X
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
86A43723
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-143
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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