Abstract

CERVANTES-DE LA CRUZ, Karina Elizabeth et al. Two-pyroxene thermometry in chondrules from Nuevo Mercurio H5 ordinary chondrite, México. Rev. mex. cienc. geol [online]. 2010, vol.27, n.1, pp.134-147. ISSN 2007-2902.

In this work we reconstructed the thermal history of some chondrules of Nuevo Mercurio H5 ordinary chondrite. We selected pyroxene-rich chondrules of different textural groups (RP, C and PP) showing diopsidic rims and exsolution textures and obtained 149 WDS microprobe chemical analyses. In order to calculate the temperature, we used the QUILF program for two-pyroxene thermometry, which yielded minimal values of crystallization because Ca-poor pyroxene formed prior to Ca-rich pyroxene. Presence of contraction cracks, clinoenstatite Raman spectra and enclosed olivine in enstatite phenocrysts suggest formation temperatures much greater than 1200 °C. The highest pyroxene temperatures were obtained for augite blebs and grains (1065-1232 °C), pigeonite lamellae (1037-1103 °C) and enstatite cores (1277-1284 °C). On the other hand, calculated temperatures for augite lamellae and diopsidic rims are 933-817 °C, whilst enstatite reached temperatures from 915-988 °C. We found in the five chondrules of Nuevo Mercurio that diopside rims and Ca-rich augite lamellae reached a minimum temperature range between 817 °C and 933 °C, and interpreted this temperature range as the peak of thermal metamorphism. We conclude that pyroxene temperatures from Nuevo Mercurio chondrules had two origins: the highest, albeit minimum temperatures (1283-915 °C) preserved from chondrule formation, and the lowest temperatures (933-817 °C) reflecting prograde thermal metamorphism well inside the chondritic parental body, as suggested by the low cooling rate reported by other authors of 15 °C/Ma. We performed mineragraphic analysis of troilite + Fe-Ni alloys in order to verify that the metamorphic peak did not reach the eutectic temperature of this opaque minerals association at 988 °C. X-ray diffraction data detected sodic plagioclase, a secondary recrystallization product confirming the thermal metamorphism grade 5.

Keywords : thermometry; chondrules; ordinary chondrites; two pyroxenes; Nuevo Mercurio.

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