Magnetization of carbonaceous asteroids by nebular fields and the origin of CM chondrites

The solar nebula carried a strong magnetic field that had a stable intensity and direction for periods of a thousand years or more1. The solar nebular field may have produced post-accretional magnetization in at least two groups of meteorites, CM and CV chondrites [1–3], which originated from planetesimals that may have underwent aqueous alteration before gas in the solar nebula dissipated [1,3]. Magnetic minerals produced during aqueous alteration, such as magnetite and pyrrhotite [4], could acquire a chemical remanent magnetization from that nebular field [3]. However, many questions about the size, composition, formation time, and, ultimately, identity of the parent bodies that produced magnetized CM and CV chondrites await answers—including whether a parent body might exhibit a detectable magnetic field today. Here, we use thermal evolution models to show that planetesimals that formed between a few Myr after CAIs and ~1 Myr before the nebular gas dissipated could acquire from the nebular field, and retain until today, a chemical remanent magnetization throughout nearly their entire volume. Hence, in-situ magnetometer measurements of C-type asteroids could help link magnetized asteroids to magnetized meteorites. Specifically, a future mission could search for a magnetic field as part of testing the hypothesis that 2 Pallas is the parent body of the CM chondrites [5]. Overall, large carbonaceous asteroids might record ancient magnetic fields in magnetic remanence that produces strong modern magnetic fields, even without a metallic core that once hosted a dynamo.

Timing and Mechanisms of Silicate Differentiation and Basalt Magma Generation on the Howardite-Eucrite-Diogenite Asteroid Parent Body

<p>Meteorites provide the only direct record of the chronology and nature of the processes that occurred in the early solar system. In this study, meteorites were examined in order to gain insight into the timing and nature of magmatism and silicate differentiation on asteroidal bodies in the first few million years of the solar system. These bodies are considered the precursors to terrestrial planets, and as such they provide information about conditions in the solar system at the time of planet formation. This study focuses on eucrites, which are basaltic meteorites that are believed to represent the crust of the Howardite-Eucrite-Diogenite (HED) parent body. The processes of silicate differentiation and the relationship between eucrites and the diogenitic mafic cumulate of the HED parent body are poorly understood. The major and trace element chemistry of the minerals in the eucrite suite was measured. There is little variability in mineral major element concentrations in eucrites, however considerable variability was observed in mineral trace element concentrations, particularly with respect to incompatible elements in the mineral phases. Magnesium was separated from digested eucrite samples, and the Mg isotope composition of the eucrites was measured to high precision in order to date the samples using the short-lived ²⁶Al–²⁶Mg chronometer and examine magmatic evolution on the HED parent body. Correlations between incompatible elements in pyroxene and ²⁶Mg anomalies, produced by the decay of ²⁶Al, indicate that the eucrite suite was formed from a single, evolving magma body. Large trace element and Mg isotopic differences between eucrites and diogenites indicate that the two meteorite groups did not, as previously suggested, originate from the same magma body. Instead they may have formed from two large magma bodies, which were spatially or temporally separated on the HED parent body. The application of the short-lived ²⁶Al–²⁶Mg chronometer to this suite of eucrites constrains the onset of eucrite formation to ~3 Myr after the formation of the solar system’s first solids, as a result of rapid accretion and melting of planetesimals due to heating from the decay of ²⁶Al.</p>

Timing and Mechanisms of Silicate Differentiation and Basalt Magma Generation on the Howardite-Eucrite-Diogenite Asteroid Parent Body

<p>Meteorites provide the only direct record of the chronology and nature of the processes that occurred in the early solar system. In this study, meteorites were examined in order to gain insight into the timing and nature of magmatism and silicate differentiation on asteroidal bodies in the first few million years of the solar system. These bodies are considered the precursors to terrestrial planets, and as such they provide information about conditions in the solar system at the time of planet formation. This study focuses on eucrites, which are basaltic meteorites that are believed to represent the crust of the Howardite-Eucrite-Diogenite (HED) parent body. The processes of silicate differentiation and the relationship between eucrites and the diogenitic mafic cumulate of the HED parent body are poorly understood. The major and trace element chemistry of the minerals in the eucrite suite was measured. There is little variability in mineral major element concentrations in eucrites, however considerable variability was observed in mineral trace element concentrations, particularly with respect to incompatible elements in the mineral phases. Magnesium was separated from digested eucrite samples, and the Mg isotope composition of the eucrites was measured to high precision in order to date the samples using the short-lived ²⁶Al–²⁶Mg chronometer and examine magmatic evolution on the HED parent body. Correlations between incompatible elements in pyroxene and ²⁶Mg anomalies, produced by the decay of ²⁶Al, indicate that the eucrite suite was formed from a single, evolving magma body. Large trace element and Mg isotopic differences between eucrites and diogenites indicate that the two meteorite groups did not, as previously suggested, originate from the same magma body. Instead they may have formed from two large magma bodies, which were spatially or temporally separated on the HED parent body. The application of the short-lived ²⁶Al–²⁶Mg chronometer to this suite of eucrites constrains the onset of eucrite formation to ~3 Myr after the formation of the solar system’s first solids, as a result of rapid accretion and melting of planetesimals due to heating from the decay of ²⁶Al.</p>

New Evidence for Wet Accretion of Inner Solar System Planetesimals from Meteorites Chelyabinsk and Benenitra

We investigated the hydrogen isotopic compositions and water contents of pyroxenes in two recent ordinary chondrite falls, namely, Chelyabinsk (2013 fall) and Benenitra (2018 fall), and compared them to three ordinary chondrite Antarctic finds, namely, Graves Nunataks GRA 06179, Larkman Nunatak LAR 12241, and Dominion Range DOM 10035. The pyroxene minerals in Benenitra and Chelyabinsk are hydrated (∼0.018–0.087 wt.% H2O) and show D-poor isotopic signatures (δDSMOW from −444‰ to −49‰). On the contrary, the ordinary chondrite finds exhibit evidence of terrestrial contamination with elevated water contents (∼0.039–0.174 wt.%) and δDSMOW values (from −199‰ to −14‰). We evaluated several small parent-body processes that are likely to alter the measured compositions in Benenitra and Chelyabinsk and inferred that water loss in S-type planetesimals is minimal during thermal metamorphism. Benenitra and Chelyabinsk hydrogen compositions reflect a mixed component of D-poor nebular hydrogen and water from the D-rich mesostases. A total of 45%–95% of water in the minerals characterized by low δDSMOW values was contributed by nebular hydrogen. S-type asteroids dominantly composed of nominally anhydrous minerals can hold 254–518 ppm of water. Addition of a nebular water component to nominally dry inner solar system bodies during accretion suggests a reduced need of volatile delivery to the terrestrial planets during late accretion.

Reconnecting groups of space debris to their parent body through proper elements

Satellite collisions or fragmentations generate a huge number of space debris; over time, the fragments might get dispersed, making it difficult to associate them to the configuration at break-up. In this work, we present a procedure to back-trace the debris, reconnecting them to their original configuration. To this end, we compute the proper elements, namely dynamical quantities which stay nearly constant over time. While the osculating elements might spread and lose connection with the values at break-up, the proper elements, which have been already successfully used to identify asteroid families, retain the dynamical features of the original configuration. We show the efficacy of the procedure, based on a hierarchical implementation of perturbation theory, by analyzing the following four different case studies associated to satellites that underwent a catastrophic event: Ariane 44lp, Atlas V Centaur, CZ-3, Titan IIIc Transtage. The link between (initial and final) osculating and proper elements is evaluated through tools of statistical data analysis. The results show that proper elements allow one to reconnect the fragments to their parent body.

Correlated iron isotopes and silicon contents in aubrite metals reveal structure of their asteroidal parent body

Iron isotopes record the physical parameters, such as temperature and redox conditions, during differentiation processes on rocky bodies. Here we report the results of a correlated investigation of iron isotope compositions and silicon contents of silicon-bearing metal grains from several aubritic meteorites. Based on their Fe isotopic and elemental Si compositions and thermal modelling, we show that these aubrite metals equilibrated with silicates at temperatures ranging from ~ 1430 to ~ 1640 K and likely sampled different depths within their asteroidal parent body. The highest temperature in this range corresponds to their equilibration at a minimum depth of up to ~ 35 km from the surface of the aubrite parent body, followed by brecciation and excavation by impacts within the first ~ 4 Myr of Solar System history.

High-Precision 26A1-26Mg Systematics of Basaltic Achondrites, Chondrites and Ultramafic Achondrites

<p>A precise and accurate chronology of events that shaped the early Solar System is crucial in understanding its formation. One of the high-resolution chronometers that can be used to establish a relative chronology is the short-lived 26A1-to-26Mg clock (t1/2 = 0.73 Myr). This study developed new Mg chemical separation techniques for complex meteoritic matrices that produces Mg purities > 99% with > 99% yields. Mg was analysed by pseudo-high resolution multiple collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. These techniques make it possible to measure the mass-independent abundance of 26Mg (d26Mg*) that is related to 26A1 decay to very high-precision (+_ 0.0025 to 0.0050 per1000). These new techniques were then applied to three research objectives. The first part of this study presents Mg isotope data for thirteen bulk basaltic achondrites from at least 3 different parent bodies, as well as mineral isochrons for the angrites Sahara 99555 and D'Orbingy and the ungrouped NWA 2976. Model 26A1-26Mg ages based on bulk rock d26Mg* excesses for basaltic magmatism range from 2.6-4.1 Myr, respectively, after formation of calcium-aluminium-rich inclusions (CAIs) and the mineral isochrons for the angrites Sahara 99555 and D'Orbigny, and the ungrouped NWA 2976 yield apparent crystallisation ages of 5.06+0:06-0:05 Myr and 4.86+0:10-0:09 Myr after CAI formation. The elevated initial d26Mg* of the mineral isochron of NWA 2976 (+0.0175+ _0.0034h) likely reflects thermal resetting during an impact event and slow cooling on its parent body. However, in the case of the angrites, the marginally elevated initial d26Mg* (+0.0068 -0.0058h) could reflect d26Mg* in-growth in a magma ocean prior to eruption and crystallisation or in an older igneous protolith with super-chondritic A1/Mg prior to impact melting and crystallisation of these angrites, or partial internal re-equilibration of Mg isotopes after crystallisation. 26A1-26Mg model ages and an olivine+pyroxene+whole rock isochron for the angrites Sahara 99555 and D'Orbigny are in good agreement with age constraints from 53Mn-53Cr and 182Hf-182W shortlived chronometers. This suggests that the 26A1-26Mg feldspar-controlled isochron ages for these angrites may be compromised by the partial resetting of feldspar Mg isotope systematics. However, even the 26A1-26Mg angrite model ages cannot be reconciled with Pb-Pb ages for Sahara 99555/D'Orbigny and CAIs, which are ca. 1.0 Myr too old (angrites) or too young (CAIs) for reasons that are not clear. This discrepancy might indicate that 26A1 was markedly lower (ca. 40%) in the planetesimal- and planet-forming regions of the proto-planetary disk as compared to CAIs, or that CAI Pb-Pb ages may not accurately date CAI formation. The second part of this thesis focuses on investigating the homogeneity of (26A1/27A1)0 and Mg isotopes in the proto-planetary disk and to test the validity of the short-lived 26A1-to-26Mg chronometer applied to meteorites. Nineteen chondrites representing nearly all major chondrite classes were analysed, including a step-leaching experiment on the CM2 chondrite Murchison. d26Mg* variations in leachates of Murchison representing acid soluble material are <_30 times smaller than reported for neutron-rich isotopes of Ti and Cr and do not reveal resolvable deficits in d26Mg* (-0.002 to +0.118h). Very small variations in d26Mg* anomalies in bulk chondrites (-0.006 to +0.019h) correlate with increasing 27A1/24Mg ratios and d50Ti, reflecting the variable presence of CAIs in some types of carbonaceous chondrites. Overall, the observed variations in d26Mg* are small and potential differences beyond those resulting from the presence of CAI-like material could not be detected. The results do not allow radical heterogeneity of 26A1 (>_+_ 30%) or measurable Mg nucleosynthetic heterogeneity (>_+_ 0.005h) to have existed on a planetesimal scale in the proto-planetary disk. The data imply that planets (i.e. chondrite parent bodies) accreted from material with initial (26Al/27A1)0 in the range of 2.1 to 6.7 x 10-5. The average stable Mg isotope composition of all analysed bulk chondrites is d25MgDSM-3 = -0.152 +_ 0.079 per1000(2 sd) and is indistinguishable from that of Earth's mantle. The third part of this study comprises a high-precision Mg isotope and mineral major and trace element study of 24 diogenites. Diogenites are ultramafic pyroxene and olivine cumulate rocks that are presumed to have resulted from magmatic differentiation on the howardite-eucritediogenite (HED) parent body. There are, however, no precise and independent age constraints on the formation of diogenites and, in particular, their age relationships to the basaltic eucrites. Mg isotope analysis of diogenites showed significant variability in d26Mg* anomalies that range from -0.0108 +_ 0.0018 to +0.0128 +_ 0.0018 per1000. These anomalies generally correlate with the mineral major and trace element chemistry and demonstrate active 26A1 decay during magmatic differentiation. Furthermore, it also suggests that diogenites are products of fractional crystallisation from a large scale magmatic system. Heating and melting of the HED parent body was driven by 26A1 decay and led to diogenite formation 0.7 to 1.3 Myr after CAIs depending on whether a heterogeneous or homogeneous (26Al/27A1)0 distribution is assumed between the proto-planetary disk and CAIs. These data show that diogenite formation pre-dates eucrite formation and indicate HED parent body accretion and core formation occurred within the first Myr of the Solar System. The lifetime of the magmatic evolution is less well constrained. The data suggest that the complete range of diogenites may have formed as quickly as ~ 0.2 Myr.</p>