@article{KaeterZiemannBoettgeretal.2017, author = {Kaeter, David and Ziemann, Martin Andreas and B{\"o}ttger, Ute and Weber, Iris and Hecht, Lutz and Voropaev, Sergey A. and Korochantsev, Alexander V. and Kocherov, Andrey V.}, title = {The Chelyabinsk meteorite}, series = {Meteoritics \& planetary science : journal of the Meteoritical Society}, volume = {53}, journal = {Meteoritics \& planetary science : journal of the Meteoritical Society}, number = {3}, publisher = {Wiley}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {1086-9379}, doi = {10.1111/maps.13027}, pages = {416 -- 432}, year = {2017}, abstract = {We present results of petrographic, mineralogical, and chemical investigations of three Chelyabinsk meteorite fragments. Three distinct lithologies were identified: light S3LL5, dark S4-S5LL5 material, and opaque fine-grained former impact melt. Olivine-spinel thermometry revealed an equilibration temperature of 703 +/- 23 degrees C for the light lithology. All plagioclase seems to be secondary, showing neither shock-induced fractures nor sulfide-metal veinlets. Feldspathic glass can be observed showing features of extensive melting and, in the dark lithology, as maskelynite, lacking melt features and retaining grain boundaries of former plagioclase. Olivine of the dark lithology shows planar deformation features. Impact melt is dominated by Mg-rich olivine and resembles whole-rock melt. Melt veins (<2mm) are connected to narrower veinlets. Melt vein textures are similar to pegmatite textures showing chilled margins, a zone of inward-grown elongated crystals and central vugs, suggesting crystallization from supercooled melt. Sulfide-metal droplets indicate liquid immiscibility of both silicate and sulfide as well as sulfide and metal melts. Impact melting may have been an important factor for differentiation of primitive planetary bodies. Graphite associated with micrometer-sized melt inclusions in primary olivine was detected by Raman mapping. Carbon isotopic studies of graphite could be applied to test a possible presolar origin.}, language = {en} } @article{McKibbinPittarelloMakaronaetal.2019, author = {McKibbin, Seann J. and Pittarello, Lidia and Makarona, Christina and Hamann, Christopher and Hecht, Lutz and Chernonozhkin, Stepan M. and Goderis, Steven and Claeys, Philippe}, title = {Petrogenesis of main group pallasite meteorites based on relationships among texture, mineralogy, and geochemistry}, series = {Meteoritics \& planetary science : journal of the Meteoritical Society}, volume = {54}, journal = {Meteoritics \& planetary science : journal of the Meteoritical Society}, number = {11}, publisher = {Wiley}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {1086-9379}, doi = {10.1111/maps.13392}, pages = {2814 -- 2844}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Main group pallasite meteorites are samples of a single early magmatic planetesimal, dominated by metal and olivine but containing accessory chromite, sulfide, phosphide, phosphates, and rare phosphoran olivine. They represent mixtures of core and mantle materials, but the environment of formation is poorly understood, with a quiescent core-mantle boundary, violent core-mantle mixture, or surface mixture all recently suggested. Here, we review main group pallasite data sets and petrologic characteristics, and present new observations on the low-MnO pallasite Brahin that contains abundant fragmental olivine, but also rounded and angular olivine and potential evidence of sulfide-phosphide liquid immiscibility. A reassessment of the literature shows that low-MnO and high-FeO subgroups preferentially host rounded olivine and low-temperature P2O5-rich phases such as the Mg-phosphate farringtonite and phosphoran olivine. These phases form after metal and silicate reservoirs back-react during decreasing temperature after initial separation, resulting in oxidation of phosphorus and chromium. Farringtonite and phosphoran olivine have not been found in the common subgroup PMG, which are mechanical mixtures of olivine, chromite with moderate Al2O3 contents, primitive solid metal, and evolved liquid metal. Lower concentrations of Mn in olivine of the low-MnO PMG subgroup, and high concentrations of Mn in low-Al2O3 chromites, trace the development and escape of sulfide-rich melt in pallasites and the partially chalcophile behavior for Mn in this environment. Pallasites with rounded olivine indicate that the core-mantle boundary of their planetesimal may not be a simple interface but rather a volume in which interactions between metal, silicate, and other components occur.}, language = {en} } @article{KaufmannHoffmannBachmannetal.2019, author = {Kaufmann, Felix E. D. and Hoffmann, Marie C. and Bachmann, Kai and Veksler, Ilya V. and Trumbull, Robert B. and Hecht, Lutz}, title = {Variations in Composition, Texture, and Platinum Group Element Mineralization in the Lower Group and Middle Group Chromitites of the Northwestern Bushveld Complex, South Africa}, series = {Economic geology}, volume = {114}, journal = {Economic geology}, number = {3}, publisher = {The Economic Geology Publ. Co}, address = {Littleton}, issn = {0361-0128}, doi = {10.5382/econgeo.4641}, pages = {569 -- 590}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Small-scale variations in mineral chemistry, textures, and platinum group element (PGE) mineralization were investigated in the Lower and Middle Group chromitite layers LG6, LG6a, MG1, MG2, and MG2 II from vertical drill core profiles at the Thaba mine in the northwestern limb of the Bushveld Complex. We present detailed geochemical profiles of chromite composition and chromite crystal size distribution curves to shed light on the processes of chromite accumulation and textural modification as well as mineralization. Multiple samples within each layer were assayed for PGE concentrations, and the respective platinum group mineral association was determined by mineral liberation analysis (MLA). There is strong evidence for postcumulus changes in the chromitites. The crystal size distribution curves suggest that the primary chromite texture was coarsened by a combination of adcumulus growth and textural equilibration, while compaction of the crystal mush played only a minor role. Mineral compositions were also modified by postcumulus processes, but because of the very high modal amount of chromite and its local preservation in orthopyroxene oikocrysts, that phase retained much primary information. Vertical variations of chromite composition within chromitite layers and from one layer to another do not support the idea of chromite accumulation from crystal-rich slurries or crystal settling from a large magma chamber. Instead, we favor a successive buildup of chromitite layers by repeated injections of relatively thin layers of chromite-saturated magmas, with in situ crystallization occurring at the crystal mush-magma interface. The adcumulus growth of chromite grains to form massive chromitite required addition of Cr to the layers, which we attribute to downward percolation from the overlying magma. The PGE concentrations are elevated in all chromitite layers compared to adjacent silicate rocks and show a systematic increase upward from LG6 (avg 807 ppb Ir + Ru + Rh + Pt + Pd + Au) to MG2 II (avg 2,062 ppb). There are also significant internal variations in all layers, with enrichments at hanging and/or footwalls. The enriched nature of chromitites in PGEs compared to host pyroxenites is a general feature, independent of the layer thickness. The MLA results distinguish two principal groups of PGE mineral associations: the LG6, LG6, and MG1 are dominated by the malanite series, laurite, and PGE sulfarsenides, while the MG2 and MG2 II layers are characterized by laurite and PGE sulfides as well as Pt-Fe-Sn and PGE-Sb-Bi-Pb alloys. Differences in the PGE associations are attributed to postcumulus alteration of the MG2 and MG2 II layer, while the chromitites below, particularly LG6 and LG6a, contain a more pristine association.}, language = {en} }