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A unique CO-like micrometeorite hosting an exotic Al-Cu-Fe-bearing assemblage – close affinities with the Khatyrka meteorite
- Source :
- Scientific Reports, Scientific Reports, Vol 9, Iss 1, Pp 1-9 (2019)
- Publication Year :
- 2019
-
Abstract
- We report the discovery of a unique micrometeorite, containing an exotic Al-Cu-Fe alloy composed of two intermixed phases: khatyrkite (CuAl2) and stolperite (CuAl) and both containing minor Fe (2O3: 0.01–0.56 wt%, MnO: 0.03–0.32 wt% and CaO: 0.09–0.22 wt%) and a cumulate layered texture. These properties suggest the micrometeorite is derived from a carbonaceous chondrite (best matched to a CO chondrite) and entered the atmosphere a high speed (~16 kms−1), implying an origin from a highly eccentric orbit. This particle represents the second independent discovery of naturally occurring intermetallic Al-Cu-Fe alloys and is thus similar to the previously reported Khatyrka meteorite - a CV chondrite containing near-identical alloys and the only known natural quasicrystals. We did not observe quasicrystalline phases in this micrometeorite, likely due to the low amounts of Fe in the alloy, insufficient to stabilize quasicrystals. Our discovery confirms the existence of Al-Cu-Fe intermetallic alloys on chondritic parent bodies. These unusual phases require a currently unexplained formation process, we tentatively suggest this could represent the delivery of exotic interstellar material to the inner solar system via impact.
- Subjects :
- 0301 basic medicine
Materials science
micrometeorites, quasicrystals
Alloy
Intermetallic
lcsh:Medicine
engineering.material
Article
03 medical and health sciences
Khatyrkite
0302 clinical medicine
Chondrite
Early solar system
lcsh:Science
Petrology
Multidisciplinary
Olivine
lcsh:R
Mineralogy
Crystallography
Geochemistry
030104 developmental biology
Meteorite
Micrometeorite
Carbonaceous chondrite
engineering
lcsh:Q
030217 neurology & neurosurgery
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Scientific Reports, Scientific Reports, Vol 9, Iss 1, Pp 1-9 (2019)
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....ca6cd5df75efc997719e01be7297d83f