Evidence of cross-cutting and redox reaction in Khatyrka meteorite reveals metallic-Al minerals formed in outer space

We report on a fragment of the quasicrystal-bearing CV3 carbonaceous chondrite Khatyrka recovered from fine-grained, clay-rich sediments in the Koryak Mountains, Chukotka (Russia). We show higher melting-point silicate glass cross-cutting lower melting-point Al-Cu-Fe alloys, as well as unambiguous e...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Scientific reports 2017-05, Vol.7 (1), p.1637-14, Article 1637
Main Authors: Lin, Chaney, Hollister, Lincoln S., MacPherson, Glenn J., Bindi, Luca, Ma, Chi, Andronicos, Christopher L., Steinhardt, Paul J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
704/445/3928
704/445/849
Alloys
Aluminum oxide
Copper
Humanities and Social Sciences
Melting
Meteors & meteorites
Minerals
Mountains
multidisciplinary
Oxidation
Redox reactions
Science
Science (multidisciplinary)
Sediments
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Summary:We report on a fragment of the quasicrystal-bearing CV3 carbonaceous chondrite Khatyrka recovered from fine-grained, clay-rich sediments in the Koryak Mountains, Chukotka (Russia). We show higher melting-point silicate glass cross-cutting lower melting-point Al-Cu-Fe alloys, as well as unambiguous evidence of a reduction-oxidation reaction history between Al-Cu-Fe alloys and silicate melt. The redox reactions involve reduction of FeO and SiO 2 to Fe and Fe-Si metal, and oxidation of metallic Al to Al 2 O 3 , occurring where silicate melt was in contact with Al-Cu-Fe alloys. In the reaction zone, there are metallic Fe and Fe-Si beads, aluminous spinel rinds on the Al-Cu-Fe alloys, and Al 2 O 3 enrichment in the silicate melt surrounding the alloys. From this and other evidence, we demonstrate that Khatyrka must have experienced at least two distinct events: first, an event as early as 4.564 Ga in which the first Al-Cu-Fe alloys formed; and, second, a more recent impact-induced shock in space that led to transformations of and reactions between the alloys and the meteorite matrix. The new evidence firmly establishes that the Al-Cu-Fe alloys (including quasicrystals) formed in outer space in a complex, multi-stage process.
ISSN:2045-2322
2045-2322
DOI:10.1038/s41598-017-01445-5