Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

Publication Date

11-13-1990

Abstract

In this work, I have carried out a petrographic and geochemical study of the metallic particles present in aubrites with the aim of constraining ideas about their origin and evolution. The extremely low oxygen fugacities under which enstatite meteorites formed (e.g. Larimer and Buseck, 1974; Fogel et al., 1989) and their consequent unique composition make interpretations difficult due to the lack of experimental data on highly reducing systems. I have tried to overcome the paucity of experimental data by using a theoretical thermodynamic approach to study the significance of such unique compositions based on three main themes: (1) the conditions of formation of the high-Si Fe,Ni alloys found in aubrites, (2) the study of the partitioning behavior of siderophile elements and their abundances relative to chondritic metal, and (3) the significance of perryite formation, which is unique to enstatite meteorites.

Degree Name

Earth and Planetary Sciences

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences

First Committee Member (Chair)

K. Keil

Second Committee Member

H.E. Newsom

Third Committee Member

J.J. Papike

Fourth Committee Member

C.J. Yapp

Fifth Committee Member

D.G. Brookins

Project Sponsors

National Aeronautic and Space Administration, National Science Foundation Grant, and the Institute of Meteoritics

Language

English

Document Type

Dissertation

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