Dynamic Crystallization Experiments on LEW97008: Experimental Reproduction of Chondroid Textures

Dynamic crystallization experiments were conducted using LEW97008 (L3.4) as starting material. Experiments were melted at temperatures well below its liquidus (1250-1450 C) in order to document the textural and compositional changes that occur in UOC material with modest amounts of partial melting and subsequent crystallization. The textures of the experimental products compare very well to natural chondroids (partially melted nebular particles that would become chondrules if more completely melted). Thus it is possible to use the textures in these experiments as a guide to unraveling the melting and cooling histories of natural chondroids. The Antarctic meteorite LEW97008 was chosen as the starting material for our experiments. As an L3.4 it is slightly more metamorphosed than would ordinarily be preferred, but this meteorite is unusually fresh for an Antarctic meteorite, which made it attractive.