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We describe a previously unreported meteorite found in Axtell, Texas, in 1943. Based on the mineralogical composition and texture of its matrix and the sizes and abundance of chondrules, we classify it as a CV3 carbonaceous chondrite. The dominant opaque phase in the chondrules is magnetite, and that in refractory inclusions is Ni-rich metal (awaruite). Axtell, therefore, belongs to the oxidized subgroup of CV3 chondrites, although unlike Allende it escaped strong sulfidation. The meteorite bears a strong textural resemblance to Allende, and its chondrule population and matrix appear to be quite similar to those of Allende, but its refractory inclusions, thermoluminescence properties, and cosmogenic Co-60 abundances are not. Our data are consistent with a terrestrial age for Axtell of approximately 100 years and a metamorphic grade slightly lower than that of Allende.

We report natural and induced thermoluminescence (TL) measurements for meteorites from the Elephant Moraine region (76 deg 17 min S, 157 deg 20 min E) of Antarctica. We use our data to identify fragmented meteorites (i.e., 'pairings'); our dataset of 107 samples represents at most 73 separate meteorite falls. Pairing groups are generally confined to single icefields, or to adjacent icefields, but a small proportion cross widely separated icefields in the region, suggesting that the fields can be considered as a single unit. Meteorites from this region have high natural TL levels, which indicates that they have small terrestrial surface exposure ages (less than 12,500 years). There do not appear to be significant differences in natural TL levels (and hence surface exposure ages) between individual blue icefields in the region. The proportion of reheated meteorites from the Elephant Moraine region is similar to that of other Antarctic sites and modern falls, consistent with the uniformity of the meteoritic flux in this regard. An unusual subset of H-chondrites, with high induced TL peak temperatures, is absent among the data for meteorites collected in the Elephant Moraine region, which stresses their similarity to modern falls. We suggest that the Elephant Moraine region, which stresses their similarity to modern falls. We suggest that the Elephant Moraine icefields formed through shallow ablation of the ice. Unlike the Allan Hills sites to the south, lateral transport is probably less important relative to the infall of meteorites in concentrating meteorites on these icefields.

Roosevelt County (RC) 075 was recovered in 1990 as a single 258-gram stone. Classification of this meteorite is complicated by its highly unequilibrated nature and its severe terrestrial weathering, but we favor H classification. This is supported by O isotopes and estimates of the original Fe, Ni metal content. The O isotopic composition is similar to that of a number of reduced ordinary chondrites (e.g., Cerro los Calvos, Willaroy), although RC 075 exhibits no evidence of reduced mineral compositions. Chondrule diameters are consistent with classification as an L chondrite, but large uncertainties in chondrule diameters of RC 075 and poorly constrained means of H, L and LL chondrites prevent use of this parameter for reliable classification. Other parameters are compromised by severe weathering (e.g., siderophile element abundances) or unsuitable for discrimination between unequilibrated H, L and LL chondrites (e.g., Co in kamacite delta C-13). Petrologic subtype 3.2 +/- 0.1 is suggested by the degree of olivine heterogeneity, the compositions of chondrule olivines, the thermoluminescence sensitivity, the abundances and types of chondrules mapped on cathodoluminescence mosaics, and the amount of presolar SiC. The meteorite is very weakly shocked (S2), with some chondrules essentially unshocked and, thus, is classified as an H3.2(S2) chondrite. Weathering is evident by a LREE enrichment due to clay contamination, reduced levels of many siderophile elements, the almost total loss of Fe, Ni metal and troilite, and the reduced concentrations of noble gases. Some components of the meteorite (e.g., type IA chondrules, SiC) appear to preserve their nebular states, with little modification from thermal metamorphism. We conclude that RC 075 is the most equilibrated H chondrite yet recovered and may provide additional insights into the origin of primitive materials in the solar nebula.

The Antarctic meteorite collection has proved to be a source of many important discoveries, including a number of previously unknown or very rare meteorite types. A thermoluminescence (TL) survey of meteorite samples recovered by the 1988/89 European expedition and pre-1988 American expeditions to the Allan Hills Main blue ice field resulted in the discovery of 15 meteorites with very high TL levels (greater than 100 krad at 250 C in the glow curve). It is likely that these samples are fragments of a single meteoroid body which: (1) fell very recently and (2) experienced a decrease in orbital perihelia from greater than or equal to 1.1 AU to 1 AU within the last 10(exp 5) yr. Carbon-14 data for two of the samples confirm their young terrestrial age compared to most Antarctic meteorites. Studies of the cosmogenic isotopes in at least one non-Antarctic meteorite which also has very high natural TL, Jilin, indicate that the meteorite experienced a multi-stage irradiation history, the most recent stage being 0.4 Ma in duration following a major break-up of the object. These meteorites, and the few equivalent modern falls, are the only documented samples from bodies which were recently in Earth-approaching (Amor) orbits (i.e., with perihelion greater than 1.0 AU), as opposed to the Earth-crossing (Apollo) orbits which are the source of most other meteorites. Their rarity indicates that such rapid orbit changes are unusual for meteoroid bodies and may be the result of isolated, large break-up events.

A relationship is noted between the natural thermoluminescence (TL) levels and the C-14-derived terrestrial ages for meteorite finds from the U.S. Prairie States and Roosevelt County, NM; those in the Sahara are also in accord with calculated TL decay curves, for 'storage' temperatures equal to the approximate average annual temperatures at individual sites. This discussion is limited to the empirical correspondence between the two methodologies, and to theoretical decay curves for a single 'average' ordinary chondrite.

Meteorites and lunar samples have been irradiated by high energy cosmic rays, typically for millions of years. In addition to producing isotopic changes, the irradiation creates ionization which may be recorded in the form of stored thermoluminescence (TL) in certain minerals, the most important of which is feldspar. One aspect of interpreting the TL of these samples is the effect of 'shielding' or depth control, which is particularly important for meteorites, since they have lost an unknown amount of mass during atmospheric entry. Here we report theoretical calculations which we compare with samples from lunar cores for which we have excellent stratigraphic control. We then discuss the implications for these results for the TL of meteorites, which have a different irradiation geometry. We find that, in general, calculated profiles are similar to those observed in lunar samples and meteorites. Additional effects, such as orbital (thermal) history and terrestrial age must also be considered in the case of meteorites.

Whether many of the 10,000 meteorites collected in the Antarctic are unlike those falling elsewhere is contentious. The Antarctic H chondrites, one of the major classes of stony meteorites, include a number of individuals with higher induced thermoluminescence peak temperatures than observed among non-Antarctic H chondrites. The proportion of such individuals decreases with the mean terrestrial age of the meteorites at the various ice fields. These H chondrites have cosmic-ray exposure ages of about 8 million years, experienced little cosmic-ray shielding, and suffered rapid postmetamorphic cooling. Breakup of the H chondrite parent body, 8 million years ago, may have produced two types of material with different size distributions and thermal histories. The smaller objects reached earth more rapidly through more rapid orbital evolution.

The present consideration of natural thermoluminescence (TL) data for 26 meteorites leads to calculation results for equilibrium natural TL level in ordinary chondrites that are indicative of TL's usefulness as an indicator of perihelion. Comparisons of data with cosmic ray exposure ages shows natural TL levels to be partly related to exposure age; meteorites with high exposure ages have generally lower ranges of natural TL than those with low ages, perhaps reflecting orbital evolution in light of the evolution of mature meteorite orbits to lower perihelia. It is confirmed that only a small proportion of meteorites have had low-perihelia orbits over the most recent 100,000 years.

Natural and induced thermoluminescence (TL) data are reported for 12 meteorites recovered from the Allan Hills region of Antarctica by the European field party during the 1988/1989 field season. The samples include one with extremely high natural TL, ALH88035, suggestive of exposure to unusually high radiation doses (i.e., low degrees of shielding), and one, ALH88034, whose low natural TL suggests reheating within the last 100,000 years. The remainder have natural TL values suggestive of terrestrial ages similar to those of other meteorites from Allan Hills. ALH88015 (L6) has induced TL data suggestive of intense shock. TL sensitivities of these meteorites are generally lower than observed falls of their petrologic types, as is also observed for Antarctic meteorites in general. Acid-washing experiments indicate that this is solely the result of terrestrial weathering rather than a nonterrestrial Antarctic-non-Antarctic difference. However, other TL parameters, such as natural TL and induced peak temperature-width, are unchanged by acid washing and are sensitive indicators of a meteorite's metamorphic and recent radiation history.

The present study reports recent measurements of the induced thermoluminescence (TL) properties of 69 type-3 ordinary chondrites, bringing to 125 the number of type-3 ordinary chondrites for which TL data are available. The samples include several of the particularly low petrographic type and many breccias, some of them gas-rich. The significance of the data with respect to the physical conditions affecting metamorphism is discussed. The TL data, olivine heterogeneity, carbon content, and inert-gas content were used to assign the samples to petrologic types. Twelve meteorites were identified as being type 3.0-3.2, and 10 of the breccias were found to contain material that may also be of this type. The temperature and width of the induced TL peak are also related to thermal history, with type 3.2-3.4 chondrites tending to have narrower peaks at lower glow curve temperatures than the type 3.6-3.9 chondrites. Type 3 H chondrites were found to be a higher petrographic type than the type 3 L and LL chondrites.

Hydrothermal annealing experiments have been performed on samples of the Sharps meteorite in order to investigate the mechanism responsible for the metamorphism-related, 10-to-the-5th-fold range in the thermoluminescence (TL) sensitivity in ordinary chondrites. Duplicate 50 mg samples of meteorite were annealed under the following conditions: (1) 168 h at 785 C and 1 kbar; (2) the same time, temperature and pressure, but with 2 wt pct water; (3) 174 h at 855 C and 0.77 kbar with 2 wt pct water and 2 molal sodium disilicate (NadiSi); (4) the same time, temperature and pressure as the preceding samples, but with 10 wt pct H2O and 2 molal NadiSi. Samples annealed under the first three sets of conditions showed little or no change in their TL sensitivities, however the samples annealed with 10 wt pct water and 2 molal NadiSi showed a three-fold to 10-fold increase in TL sensitivity, and the temperature of the TL peak was suggestive of feldspar in the high-temperature form. It is suggested that these data are consistent with the TL sensitivity-metamorphism relationship in ordinary chondrites being due to the formation of the TL phosphor, feldspar, by the crystallization of chondrule glass.

Thermoluminescence (TL) measurements on Shergotty, ALHA 77005, Zagami, and EETA 79001 (lithology A) have been used to obtain further information on the shock history of these meteorites. The level of TL sensitivity in the shergottites varied by a factor of 10, but was always low, probably reflecting the amount of crystalline material in the maskelynite. There are trends in the TL peak temperature, peak width, and TL sensitivity which are believed to be associated with different proportions of feldspar in high- and low-temperature forms. This interpretation is consistent with the observed changes induced in the TL properties by annealing shergottites at 400-900 C. It is suggested that the observed trends were produced during postshock crystallization at a variety of cooling rates, the increasing order of cooling rate being EETA 79001, Zagami, ALHA 77005, and Shergotty, and that there is high-temperature feldspar present in all the samples. This implies a postshock temperature above 600 C, and a small (less than 10 m) size of the ejecta. Current theories are well able to explain how objects of this size could have been ejected from Mars.

Samples of the Dhajala meteorite were annealed at 600-1000 C for 1, 2, 10, 20 and 100 h and their thermoluminescence (TL) properties were measured. After annealing at less than 900 deg, the TL sensitivity decreased by a factor of two; at higher temperatures, it fell by an order of magnitude. Data indicate that the annealing treatment caused the low-temperature feldspar in Dhajala to be converted to feldspar of a high-temperature (disordered) form. Low-temperature feldspar was found in the meteorite's TL-sensitive chondrules which comprised about 20 percent of those separated. It is suggested that these chondrules suffered greater crystallization of their mesostasis than the other chondrules, and equilibrated to lower temperatures. Based on TL data, there appears to be no relationship between post-metamorphic cooling rate and petrologic type for the 3.5-3.9 chondrites.

The Colony meteorite is one of the least equilibrated CO3 chondrites, yet differs from normal CO chondrites in that, while Al, Sc, V, Cr, Ir, Fe, Au, and Ga abundances are consistent with a CO chondrite classification, certain lithophile, siderophile, and chalcophile contents are depleted by factors of 10-40 percent. Colony is badly weathered, and its Fe, Ni abundance of about 19 wt pct is similar to that of the Kainsaz CO3 unweathered fall but higher than all other CO3 chondrites.

The results of annealing experiments on a little-metamorphosed (type 3.5) ordinary chondrite are reported. The thermoluminescence (TL) emission characteristics of the annealed samples show trends very similar to those observed in meteorites which have been naturally metamorphosed in various degrees. The trends are also similar to those observed in annealing experiments on terrestrial albite, where the changes are associated with the low-to-high temperature transformation. These results suggest that the TL phosphor in meteorites is feldspar and that TL can be used to estimate paleotemperatures for little-metamorphosed and highly unequilibrated meteorites.

Samples of the unshocked, equilibrated chondrite, Kernouve (H6), have been annealed for 1-100 hours at 500-1200 C, their thermoluminescence sensitivity measured and Na, K, Mn, Ca, and Sc determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis. The TL sensitivity decreased with temperature until by 1000 C it had fallen by 40 percent. The process responsible has an activation energy of 8 kcal/mole and probably involves diffusion. Samples annealed 1000-1200 C had TL sensitivities 0.01 times the unannealed values, most of the decrease occurring at 1100 C. This process has an activation energy of 100 kcal/mole and is probably related to the melting of the TL phosphor, feldspar, with some decomposition and loss of Cs, Na and K. Meteorites whose petrography indicates heating above 1100 C by natural shock heating events (shock facies d-f), have TL sensitivities similar to samples annealed above 1100 C.

Thermoluminescence (TL) properties have been measured in 58 chondrules separated from the Dhajala H3.8 chondrite. The pyrolytic chondrules are noted to have higher mass-normalized TL values than nonpyrolytic ones. Significant correlations are noted between log(TL) and the bulk CaO, Al2O3, and MnO content of the chondrules. These, together with correlations of log(TL) with the CaO, Al2O3, SiO2 and normative anorthite content of the chondrule glass, indicate an association of the TL and the abundance and position of mesostasis. It is suggested that the TL level in a given chondrule is governed by its bulk composition and metamorphism, and it is hypothesized that the devitrification resistance of unequilibrated chondrule mesostasis explains the unequilibration of certain chondrules in type 3 ordinary chondrites.

The compositionally distinct EH and EL groups together with four (3-6) petrologic types which constitute the enstatite chondrites represent increasing degrees of metamorphic alteration. Although bulk composition variations preclude a simple conversion of EH4 into EL6 material, complex models which involve simultaneous bulk composition and petrologic type variations may be implied by other classification schemes in common use. Attention is presently given to the discovery of the first EL5 chondrite, which breaks the EH3,4-EH5-EL6 sequence and indicates that the enstatite chondrites constitute the two discrete, isochemical metamorphic sequences EH3-5 and EL5-6.

SEM and TEM, together with thermoluminescence (TL), are used to study five samples of the naturally unshocked Kernouve (H6) meteorite that were shock-loaded to pressures of 70, 165, 270, and 390 kbar. Attention is given to olivine and orthopyroxene deformation mechanisms at these pressure levels. The microhardness of the kamacite in the samples increases with shock pressure, and it is noted that annealed kamacite displays incipient crystallinity, while alpha-martensite and taenite sometimes contain slip lines. At pressures over 200 kbar, there was a systematic decrease in both natural TL and TL sensitivity. Changes in the ratio of these two values for various regions of the TL glow curve suggest that two processes were effective during shock: thermal drainage of electron traps and a reduction in the effective trap density. Thermal effects with widespread annealing are noted in the case of a sample subjected to shock pulse.

The Colony meteorite, found in Oklahoma around 1975, has an unrecrystallized texture and contains heterogeneous olivine and low Ca pyroxene, kamacite with low Ni and Co and high Cr, amoeboid inclusions with low FeO and MnO, and numerous small chondrules with clear pink glass. These characteristics are shared by members of the least metamorphosed subgroup of CO3 chondrites. Colony contains a fine grained matrix that has higher FeO and K2O and lower MgO and Na2O than normal CO3 matrices. Allan Hills A77307 is another unmetamorphosed meteorite that has many petrologic similarities to normal CO chondrites, including matrix abundance, mineral compositions and chondrule size. However, it differs from them in its abundance of magnetite and presence of iron carbides. The olivine and low Ca pyroxene compositional distributions of Colony and A77307 are very similar. The shapes of the thermoluminescence glow curves of Colony and A77307 are very similar, but differ significantly from those of normal CO chondrites. It is suggested that Colony and A77307 represent a distinct chemical subgroup of CO3 chondrites, characterized by low Ni, Co, S, Ca, Mg, Mn and, possibly, high Cd.

Thermoluminescence (TL) sensitivity values for sixteen type 3 ordinary chondrites, fourteen of them from Antarctica, have been measured. The values obtained (normalized to the TL sensitivity of the Dhajala meteorite) range from 1.6 (Allan Hills A77216) to 0.010 (Allan Hills A77176), and include two (Reckling Peak A80207 and Allan Hills A77176) that are particularly low. They fill a hiatus in the TL distribution that previously existed between St. Mary's County and Bishunpur, the latter being a meteorite with one of the lowest TL sensitivities known. The histogram of TL sensitivity values now shows a single distribution with higher values preferred; it resembles the histogram for L chondrites occupying the petrologic types 3, 4, 5, and 6. There is a tendency for the TL sensitivity of meteorites to decrease as delta O-18 increases. Theoretically, it is possible that the range of delta O-18 values observed may reflect progressive loss of O in the form of CO at very low temperatures, but very restrictive physical conditions and a complex history seem to be required.

Thermoluminescence (TL) measurements on Allan Hills A77307 (AH), a carbonaceous chondrite found in Antarctica, are compared with those on other chondrite and applied to its classification. Two lithologically different 250-mg samples were ground, freed of magnetic material, and ground again to pass a 100-micron sieve. Aliquots of 4 mg were heated to 500 C, exposed to beta radiation from a Sr-90 source, and heated at a rate of 7.3 C/sec in N2. TL was measured with a photomultiplier tube fitted with thermal and blue filters. Glow curves for AH and for seven other, established CO-type chondrites area presented, all exhibiting two major peaks of TL sensitivity. The peaks for the seven CO-type chondrites are found at 91 + or - 7 C and at 203 + or - 11 C; those for AH at 170 + or - 17 C and at approximately 250 C. This difference is considered significant and not due to random fluctuation or a typical sampling. From this comparison and from consideration of the weathering, preterrestrial-alteration, petrological and compositional evidence on AH, it is concluded that AH is a unique chondrite, possessing both similarities to and differences from the CO class.

It is pointed out that the type 3 (unequilibrated) ordinary chondrites provide a major source of information on the early solar system. However, the interpretation of the data is difficult because all but a few display signs of metamorphic alteration. The present investigation is concerned with the thermoluminescence (TL) sensitivity measurements on 58 chondrules separated from the Dhajala meteorites. The data were discussed briefly by Sparks and Sears (1982). In the current investigation particular attention is given to the constraints placed by these data on the mechanism by which metamorphism is related to TL sensitivity. Dhajala-normalized TL sensitivity of the separated chondrules is plotted against chondrule mass, and a histogram of the CaO contents of 15 chondrules is presented. Histograms showing the TL sensitivity of chondrules separated from the Dhajala meteorite are also provided.

New thermoluminescence (TL) sensitivity measurements on 17 finds and one fall are presented, and petrologic assignments are made on the basis of TL sensitivity and silicate heterogeneity. The correlation that exists between TL sensitivity and glow curve shape is discussed, with the difference in the glow curve shapes of meteorite types 3.4 and less and type 3.5 and greater being tentatively attributed to an order-disorder transition in plagioclase, the TL phosphor. A correlation between TL sensitivity and heteogeneity of the silicate composition is found, but it tends to break down in the most heterogeneous meteorites. For Antarctic meteorites, the TL data show a much more restricted range in TL sensitivity than in silicate heterogeneity. The Quinyambie meteorite is the only one not consistent with the observed trend. Several explanations are offered, none of them totally satisfactory.

Consideration is given to the Si contents of Fe-Ni grains in highly unequilibrated chondrites, which have undergone little metamorphosis and thus best preserve the record of processes in the solar nebula. Electron microprobe determinations of silicon content in grains of the Bishunpur chondrite are presented for the six Si-bearing Fe-Ni grains for which data could be obtained, five of which were found to be embedded in olivine chondrules. In addition, all grains are found to be Cr-rich, with Cr increased in concentration towards the grain edge, and to be encased in FeS shells which evidently preserved the Si that entered the FeNi at higher temperatures. A mechanism for the production of Si-bearing metal during the condensation of the cooling solar nebula is proposed which considers the metal to have condensed heterogeneously while the mafic silicates condensed homogeneously with amounts of required undercooling in the low-pressure regions where ordinary and carbonaceous chondrites formed, resulting in Si mole fractions of 0.003 at nebular pressures less than 0.000001 atm.

Measurements performed by a thermoluminescence sensitivity technique of the degree of metamorphism experienced by unequilibrated ordinary chondrites are reported. Samples of type 3 chondrites were ground and heated to 500 C to remove their natural thermoluminescence, then irradiated with either 50 krad from a Co-60 gamma ray source or 25 krad from a Sr-90 beta source. The resulting thermoluminescence measured as a function of temperature is found to differ as much among some type 3 chondrites as between type 3 and other types, leading to the proposal of scheme for subdividing type 3 ordinary chondrites based on their thermoluminescence sensitivity.