Classification of Ordinary Chondrite NWA 6514 and Pb-Pb Chondrule Chronology

• Main Author: Koeoep, Levke
• Other Authors: Davis, Donald W.
• Language: en_ca
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: Meteorite classification; Chondrule chronology; 0372
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1807/31284

This study presents a petrographic description and a classification of ordinary chondrite NWA 6514 and aims to establish the first high-precision Pb-Pb age of a single ordinary chondrite chondrule. Furthermore, the distribution of different isotopic Pb signatures among chondritic components will be investigated by Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). This study shows that NWA 6514 can be classified as a highly unequilibrated (subtype 3.10) L or LL chondrite that has experienced moderate terrestrial weathering (W2) and a low degree of shock (S2). The LA-ICP-MS measurements suggest that radiogenic Pb signatures have been locally preserved in chondrules. However, the Pb isotopic compositions of leaches from a large chondrule obtained by thermal ionization mass spectrometry show an anomalous distribution that indicates the presence of an exotic Pb component. The best estimate for the chondrule formation age is a model age of the last leach (4566.8 ± 2.6 Myr).