Refractory Inclusions in the Unique Meteorite from Amundsen Glacier (AMU 17290) in Antarctica: Implications for Early Solar System Processes
I. Baziotis, A. Papoutsa, S. Xydous, D. Michailidis, P. Karkanas, J. Karner, S. J. V. VanBommel, M. Anand, P. D. Asimow
51st Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (2020), Abstract #1842
“Meteorites, especially carbonaceous chondrites, represent the most primitive objects in our solar system. Hence, they preserve records of early solar system processes, especially in their refractory inclusions. Such inclusions are thought to preserve nebular gas condensation of nebular gas of nearly solar composition [1], whereby refractory elements such as calcium, aluminum, and titanium combined with other lithophile elements form a sequence of solid minerals. Here, we report preliminary textural and compositional data for a polished thin section of the newly recovered carbonaceous chondrite from Amundsen Glacier (AMU 17290). Despite extensive aqueous alteration, indicated by abundant phyllosilicates throughout the meteorite, we have identified refractory minerals such as hibonite and perovskite that constitute the first report of Ca-Al-rich inclusions (CAIs) in this meteorite. “
