Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

An unusual layered mineral in chondrules and aggregates of the Allende carbonaceous chondrite

Nature volume 299, pages 327–329 (1982)Cite this article

Abstract

Olivine-rich chondrules and aggregates in the Allende C3(V) carbonaceous chondrite are characterized by abundant opaque spherules of metal, sulphide and magnetite grains. This assemblage has been explained as resulting from the crystallization of immiscible metal–sulphide–oxide liquids, suspended as droplets within the chondrules1. Petrographic evidence indicates a significant metasomatic effect in a highly oxidizing condition in a later cooled stage2,3. We have found that an unusual Fe-, Ni-and O-rich layered mineral, related to serpentine, occurs within the opaque assemblage; it is formed by alteration of olivine. The textural and compositional features are clearly distinct from terrestrial phyllosilicates. This is the first report of a serpentine-related mineral in the Allende meteorite. Our observations suggest that aqueous conditions occurred in Allende before the final stage of meteorite formation.

Access through your institution
Buy or subscribe

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Access through your institution

Buy this article

  • Purchase on SpringerLink
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. McMahon, B. M. & Haggerty, S. E. Proc. 11th Lunar planet. Sci. Conf. 1003–1025 (1980).

  2. Haggerty, S. E. & McMahon, B. M. Proc. 10th Lunar planet. Sci. Conf. 851–870 (1979).

  3. McSween, H. Y. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 41, 1777–1790 (1977).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Veblen, D. R. & Buseck, P. R. Am. Miner. 66, 1107–1134 (1981).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Ban, L. L., Crawford, D. & Marsh, H. J. appl. Crystallogr. 8, 415–420 (1975).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Hendricks, S. B. Am. Miner. 24, 529–539 (1939).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Müller, W. F., Kurat, G. & Kracher, A. Tschermaks miner. petrogr. Mitt. 26, 293–304 (1979).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Fuchs, L. H., Olsen, E. & Jensen, K. J. Smithson. Contr. Earth Sci. 10, 1–39 (1973).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Ramdohr, P. The Opaque Minerals in Stony Meteorites (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1973).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Bunch, T. E. & Chang, S. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 44, 1543–1577 (1980).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Armstrong, J. T., Meeker, G. P., Huneke, J. C. & Wasserburg, G. J. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 46, 575–595 (1982).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Geology and Chemistry, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, 85287, USA

    Kazushige Tomeoka & Peter R. Buseck

Authors
  1. Kazushige Tomeoka
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Peter R. Buseck
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Tomeoka, K., Buseck, P. An unusual layered mineral in chondrules and aggregates of the Allende carbonaceous chondrite. Nature 299, 327–329 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1038/299327a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/299327a0

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing