The Antarctic environment and its effect upon the total carbon and sulfur abundances in recovered meteoritesTotal carbon and sulfur abundances have been measured for 25 meteorites recovered from the Allan Hills area of Antarctica. The majority (greater than 67%) of the meteorites analyzed do not contain enriched carbon abundances resulting from weathering processes. The presence of secondary carbonates in samples which give no apparent evidence of weathering was noted during pyrolysis experiments, despite the 'normal' total carbon abundances. In selected cases, the surfaces of weathered samples may contain up to a factor of two greater carbon content than the interior. Variations in carbon abundances may reflect the degree of weathering and the amount of secondary minerals present. One of the surprises of this study is that the majority of the Antarctic meteorites studied do not exhibit total carbon and sulfur abundances outside the ranges previously observed for falls.
Document ID
19820038785
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Gibson, E. K., Jr. (NASA Johnson Space Center Geochemistry Branch, Houston, TX, United States)
Andrawes, F. F. (Lockheed Engineering and Management Services Co., Inc. Houston, TX, United States)