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Carbon abundance and silicate mineralogy of anhydrous interplanetary dust particlesWe have studied nineteen anhydrous chondritic interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) using analytical electron microscopy. We have determined a method for quantitative light element EDX analysis of small particles and have applied these techniques to a group of IDPs. Our results show that some IDPs have significantly higher bulk carbon abundances than do carbonaceous chondrites. We have also identified a relationship between carbon abundance and silicate mineralogy in our set of anhydrous IDPs. In general, these particles are dominated by pyroxene, olivine, or a subequal mixture of olivine and pyroxene. The pyroxene-dominated IDPs have a higher carbon abundance than those dominated by olivines. Members of the mixed mineralogy IDPs can be grouped with either the pyroxene- or olivine-dominated particles based on their carbon abundance. The high carbon, pyroxene-dominated particles have primitive mineralogies and bulk compositions which show strong similarities to cometary dust particles. We believe that the lower carbon, olivine-dominated IDPs are probably derived from asteroids. Based on carbon abundances, the mixed-mineralogy group represents particles derived from either comets or asteroids. We believe that the high carbon, pyroxene-rich anhydrous IDPs are the best candidates for cometary dust.
Document ID
19930052988
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Thomas, Kathie L.
(Lockheed Engineering & Sciences Co. Houston, TX, United States)
Blanford, George E.
(Houston Univ. TX, United States)
Keller, Lindsay P.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Kloeck, Wolfgang
(Muenster Univ. Germany)
Mckay, David S.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
April 1, 1993
Publication Information
Publication: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
Volume: 57
Issue: 7
ISSN: 0016-7037
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
93A36985
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: RTOP 152-17-40-23
PROJECT: RTOP 199-52-11-02
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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