Allan Hills A77219 - The first Antarctic mesosideriteThe abundance of orthopyroxene, inverted pigeonite, plagioclase, tridymite, kamacite, and tetrataenite, plus the whole rock analysis, indicates that ALHA 77219 is a mesosiderite. The presence of inverted pigeonite rims on orthopyroxene clasts plus the range of Fe/Mg and Fe/Mn ratios for pyroxene and olivine are characteristic of mesosiderites. All the petrographic and chemical data are consistent with classification of ALHA 77219 as a mesosiderite and, because the matrix is fine-grained and little recrystallized, as a subgroup I mesosiderite. The Fe/Mn trends in pyroxenes of mesosiderites such as ALHA 77219 can be explained by igneous fractionation of pyroxene along with metal and subsequent subsolidus reduction in the breccia.
Document ID
19820038773
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Agosto, W. N. (Rutgers Univ. New Brunswick, NJ, United States)
Hewins, R. H. (Rutgers University New Brunswick, NJ, United States)
Clarke, R. S., Jr. (National Museum of Natural History Washington, DC, United States)