Jenkins, L. E., Lee, M. R. , Daly, L. , King, A. J., Floyd, C. J. , Martin, P.-E. , Almeida, N. V. and Genge, M. J. (2023) Winchcombe: an example of rapid terrestrial alteration of a CM chondrite. Meteoritics and Planetary Science, (doi: 10.1111/maps.13949) (Early Online Publication)
![[img]](https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/style/images/fileicons/text.png) |
Text
289139.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. 4MB |
Abstract
Winchcombe is a CM chondrite that fell in England on February 28, 2021. Its rapid retrieval was well characterized. Within two polished sections of Winchcombe, terrestrial phases were observed. Calcite and calcium sulfates were found in a sample recovered from a field on March 6, 2021, and halite was observed on a sample months after its recovery from a driveway on March 2, 2021. These terrestrial phases were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Calcite veins crosscut the fusion crust and therefore postdate it. The calcite likely precipitated in the damp environment (sheep field) where the meteorite lay for six days prior to its retrieval. The sulfates occur on the edges of the sample and were identified as three minerals: gypsum, bassanite, and anhydrite. Given that the sulfates occur only on the sample's edges, including on top of the fusion crust, they formed after Winchcombe fell. Sulfate precipitation is attributed to the damp fall environment, likely resulted from sulfide-derived H2S reacting with calcite within the meteorite. Halite occurs as euhedral crystals only on the surface of a polished section and exclusively in areas relatively enriched in sodium. It was likely produced by the interaction of the polished rock slice with the humid laboratory air over a period of months. The sulfates, fusion crust calcite, and halite all post-date Winchcombe's entry into the Earth's atmosphere and showcase how rapidly meteorite falls can be terrestrially altered.
| Item Type: | Articles |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) are acknowledged for supporting the “Curation and Preliminary Examination of the Winchcombe Carbonaceous Chondrite Fall” project (ST/V000799/1), and Natural History Museum staff for curatorial support. We thank the Scottish Alliance for Geoscience, Environment and Society (SAGES) Small Grants Scheme award for support regarding FIB extractions and TEM work. Luke Daly thanks the University of Glasgow COVID-19 Research Support Scheme grant. Luke Daly and Martin R. Lee thank the STFC (ST/T002328/1 and ST/W001128/1) for support. Ashley J. King is funded by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) grant number MR/T020261/1. |
| Status: | Early Online Publication |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Martin, Pierre-Etienne and Daly, Dr Luke and Jenkins, Miss Laura and Floyd, Cameron and Lee, Professor Martin |
| Authors: | Jenkins, L. E., Lee, M. R., Daly, L., King, A. J., Floyd, C. J., Martin, P.-E., Almeida, N. V., and Genge, M. J. |
| College/School: | College of Science and Engineering > School of Geographical and Earth Sciences |
| Journal Name: | Meteoritics and Planetary Science |
| Publisher: | Wiley |
| ISSN: | 1086-9379 |
| ISSN (Online): | 1945-5100 |
| Published Online: | 09 February 2023 |
| Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2023 The Authors |
| First Published: | First published in Meteoritics and Planetary Science 2023 |
| Publisher Policy: | Reproduced under a Creative Commons License |
| Related URLs: |
University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record
Funder and Project Information
Funder and Project Information