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New constraints from ²⁶Al-²⁶Mg chronology of anorthite bearing chondrules in unequilibrated ordinary chondrites.

ABSTRACT: ²⁶Al-²⁶Mg ages were determined for 14 anorthite-bearing chondrules from five different unequilibrated ordinary chondrites (UOCs) with low petrologic subtypes (3.00-3.05). In addition, oxygen three isotopes of these chondrules were also measured. The selected chondrules are highly depleted in alkali elements, and anorthite is the only mesostasis phase, though they show a range of mafic mineral compositions (Mg# 76-97 mole%) that are representative of chondrules in UOCs. The mean ∆¹⁷O values in these chondrules range from -0.44 ± 0.23‰ to 0.49 ± 0.15‰, in good agreement with previous studies of plagioclase-bearing chondrules from UOCs. Anorthite in all chondrules exhibit resolvable excess ²⁶Mg (> 1.0 ± 0.4‰). Their inferred (²⁷Al/²⁶Al)₀ range from (6.3 ± 0.7)×10^-6 to (8.9 ± 0.3)×10^-6 corresponding to a timescale for chondrule formation of 1.8 ± 0.04 Ma to 2.16 ± ^0.12/_0.11 Ma after CAIs using a canonical (²⁷Al/²⁶Al)₀ value of 5.25×10^-5. The ages from six chondrules in LL chondrites are restricted to between 1.8 Ma and 1.9 Ma, whereas eight chondrules in L chondrites show ages from 1.8 Ma to 2.2 Ma, including three chondrules at ~2.0 Ma and two chondrules at ~2.15 Ma. The inferred chondrule formation ages from this study are at the peak of those previously determined for UOC chondrules, though with much shorter durations. This is potentially due to the time difference between formation of anorthite-bearing chondrules and typical UOC chondrules with alkali-rich compositions. Alternatively, younger chondrules ages in previous studies could have been the result of disturbance to the Al-Mg system in glassy mesostasis even at the low degree of thermal metamorphism in the parent bodies. Nevertheless, the high precision ages from this study (with uncertainties from 0.04 Ma to 0.15 Ma) indicate that there was potentially more than one chondrule forming event represented in the studied population. Considering data from LL chondrites only, the restricted duration (≤0.1 Ma) of chondrule formation ages suggests an origin in high density environments that subsequently lead to parent body formation. However, the unusually low alkali contents of the studied chondrules compared to common alkali-rich chondrules could also represent earlier chondrule formation events under relatively lower dust densities in the disk. Major chondrule forming events for UOCs might have postdated or concurrent with the younger anorthite-bearing chondrule formation at 2.15 Ma after CAIs, which are very close to the timing of accretion of ordinary chondrite parent bodies that are expected from thermal evolution of ordinary chondrite parent bodies.

SUBMITTER: Siron G

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8740609 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:Al-Mg isotope systematics of twelve FeO-poor (type I) chondrules from CR chondrites Queen Alexandra Range 99177 and Meteorite Hills 00426 were investigated by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). Five chondrules with Mg#'s of 99.0 to 99.2 and Δ17O of -4.2‰ to -5.3‰ have resolvable excess 26Mg. Their inferred (26Al/27Al)0 values range from (3.5 ± 1.3) × 10‒6 to (6.0 ± 3.9) × 10‒6. This corresponds to formation times of 2.2 (-0.5/+1.1) Myr to 2.8 (‒0.3/+0.5) Myr after CAIs, using a canonical (26Al/27Al)0 of 5.23 × 10-5, and assuming homogeneously distributed 26Al that yielded a uniform initial 26Al/27Al in the Solar System. Seven chondrules lack resolvable excess 26Mg. They have lower Mg#'s (94.2 to 98.7) and generally higher Δ17O (-0.9‰ to -4.9‰) than chondrules with resolvable excess 26Mg. Their inferred (26Al/27Al)0 upper limits range from 1.3 × 10‒6 to 3.2 × 10‒6, corresponding to formation >2.9 to >3.7 Myr after CAIs. Al-Mg isochrons depend critically on chondrule plagioclase, and several characteristics indicate the chondrule plagioclase is unaltered: (1) SIMS 27Al/24Mg depth profile patterns match those from anorthite standards, and SEM/EDS of chondrule SIMS pits show no foreign inclusions; (2) transmission electron microscopy (TEM) reveals no nanometer-scale micro-inclusions and no alteration due to thermal metamorphism; (3) oxygen isotopes of chondrule plagioclase match those of coexisting olivine and pyroxene, indicating a low extent of thermal metamorphism; and (4) electron microprobe data show chondrule plagioclase is anorthite-rich, with excess structural silica and high MgO, consistent with such plagioclase from other petrologic type 3.00-3.05 chondrites. We conclude that the resolvable (26Al/27Al)0 variabilities among chondrules studied are robust, corresponding to a formation interval of at least 1.1 Myr. Using relationships between chondrule (26Al/27Al)0, Mg#, and Δ17O, we interpret spatial and temporal features of dust, gas, and H2O ice in the FeO-poor chondrule-forming environment. Mg# ≥ 99, Δ17O ~-5‰ chondrules with resolvable excess 26Mg initially formed in an environment that was relatively anhydrous, with a dust-to-gas ratio of ~100×. After these chondrules formed, we interpret a later influx of 16O-poor H2O ice into the environment, and that dust-to-gas ratios expanded (100× to 300×). This led to the later formation of more oxidized Mg# 94-99 chondrules with higher Δ17O (-5‰ to -1‰), with low (26Al/27Al)0, and hence no resolvable excess 26Mg. We refine the mean CR chondrite chondrule formation age via mass balance, by considering that Mg# ≥ 99 chondrules generally have resolved positive (26Al/27Al)0 and that Mg# < 99 chondrules generally have no resolvable excess 26Mg, implying lower (26Al/27Al)0. We obtain a mean chondrule formation age of 3.8 ± 0.3 Myr after CAIs, which is consistent with Pb-Pb and Hf-W model ages of CR chondrite chondrule aggregates. Overall, this suggests most CR chondrite chondrules formed immediately before parent body accretion.

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New constraints from ²⁶Al-²⁶Mg chronology of anorthite bearing chondrules in unequilibrated ordinary chondrites.

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New constraints from ²⁶Al-²⁶Mg chronology of anorthite bearing chondrules in unequilibrated ordinary chondrites.