Enstatite Chondrites
|
Our group is interested in the study of the enstatite chondrites, a rare class of meteorites which
formed under very reducing conditions and which are primarily composed of a
magnesium silicate known as enstatite. These
meteorites can be divided into two classes, the EH and EL chondrites, where E stands for enstatite and H
and L stand for high and low iron content, respectively. They also display a
range of metamorphism, and differences in the highly metamorphosed members of
the two classes indicate that they underwent different thermal histories
following peak metamorphism.
|
|
We
have studied the composition of the enstatite
chondrites using techniques such as instrumental neutron activation analysis
and electron microprobe analysis. We also use techniques such as
thermoluminescence and cathodoluminescence in the
study of their thermal histories. The cathodoluminescence
properties of the metamorphosed enstatite
chondrites are very different for the two classes (see mosaics, below), and
we have proposed that this is due to the structural state of the enstatite within these meteorites, which in turn reflects
major differences in thermal history. |
|
|
Back to the Cosmochemistry Group's Homepage
|