GROSSULAR IN THE ALLENDE (TYPE III CARBONACEOUS) METEORITE*

Grossular garnet has been observed in several white inclusions in the Allende meteorite. Compositions range from Gro(95)Py(5) to Gro(88)Py(12) in five inclusions. Its mottled appearance indicates that it crystallized from a glass of near-grossular composition and not by a solid-state reaction between wollastonite, anorthite, and melilite. These grossular-bearing inclusions either condensed directly as metastable liquids from the solar nebula or, if initial solid condensates were liquefied, by some subsequent heating process. In either case, a prolonged residence time in a thermal blanket appears necessary to effect crystallization of the grossular.