Decoding the formation of barred olivine chondrules: Realization of numerical replicationOPEN ACCESS
Hitoshi Miura, Tomoyo Morita, Tomoki Nakamura, Kana Watanabe, Akira Tsuchiyama, Yuki Kimura, and Chihiro Koyama
Science Advances
23 May 2025
Vol 11, Issue 21
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“Millimeter-sized silicate spherules embedded in primitive meteorites, namely, “chondrules,” are the primary solid component of the early solar nebula. They exhibit distinctive solidification textures, formed through rapid cooling from a molten state. The formation conditions of these textures have primarily been inferred on the basis of dynamic crystallization experiments; however, the theoretical verification of the solidification process has been largely neglected. Here, we conducted numerical simulations of the solidification of chondrule melt and successfully reproduced a crystal growth pattern resembling a typical barred olivine chondrule texture. This pattern emerged under conditions of rapid cooling, exceeding 104 kelvins hour−1, which is substantially larger than those inferred experimentally. These results suggest that theories of chondrule formation in the nebula, which have been developed based on experimental results, should be reexamined.”
