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The Complex Exposure History of a Very Large L/LL5 Chondrite Shower: Queen Alexandra Range 90201Compared to iron meteorites, large stony meteorites (less than 100 kg) are relatively rare. Most large stony meteoroids fragment during atmospheric entry, producing large meteorite showers. Interestingly, many of these large chondrites, such as Bur Gheluai, Gold Basin, Jilin and Tsarev appear to have a complex exposure history with a first-stage exposure on the parent body. The question is whether complex exposure histories are simply more readily detected in large objects or large objects are more likely to experience a complex exposure. Investigation of these two hypotheses is the motivation for this work in which we report on the exposure history of QUE 90201, a large L/LL5 chondrite shower found near Queen Alexandra Range, Antarctica. Previous cosmogenic nuclide studies have led to the consensus that most of the approx. 2000 L5 and LL5 chondrites from the QUE area are derived from a single object with a pre-atmospheric radius of 1-2 m. The terrestrial age of the QUE 90201 shower was determined at 125 20 kyr. Here, we present a more complete set of cosmogenic radionuclide results in the metal and stone fractions of eleven L/LL5 chondrites from the QUE stranding area, as well as noble gases in seven of these samples. The main goal of this work is to unravel the cosmic-ray exposure history of the QUE 90201 meteoroid. In addition, we will discuss the pre-atmospheric size and exposure history of QUE 93013 (H5) and 93081 (H4) with similar shielding conditions as the QUE 90201 shower and a terrestrial age of 145 +/- 25 kyr.
Document ID
20040065966
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Welten, K. C.
(California Univ. Berkeley, CA, United States)
Nishiizumi, K.
(California Univ. Berkeley, CA, United States)
Caffee, M. W.
(Lawrence Livermore National Lab. Livermore, CA, United States)
Hillegonds, D. J.
(Lawrence Livermore National Lab. Livermore, CA, United States)
Leya, I.
(Eidgenoessische Technische Hochschule Zurich, Switzerland)
Wieler, R.
(Eidgenoessische Technische Hochschule Zurich, Switzerland)
Mararik, J.
(Komensky Univ. Bratislava, Czechoslovakia)
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2004
Publication Information
Publication: Lunar and Planetary Science XXXV: Concerning Chondrites
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG5-12846
CONTRACT_GRANT: W-7405-eng-48
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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