Potassium isotopic compositions of enstatite meteorites

Nickel Isotopic Compositions in Pallasites and Iron Meteorites

We report Ni isotope ratio results for Ni from metal in iron meteorites and from metal and olivine in pallasites. The investigation of pallasites was undertaken because (1) previous work on pallasites showed evidence for in situ decay of Mn (t1⁄2 = 3.7 Ma) in olivines [1,2] and of Pd (t1⁄2 =6.5 Ma) in metal [3]; (2) evidence for the in situ decay of Fe (t1⁄2 = 1.5 Ma) in eucrites [4,5]; (3) pos...

Enstatite Meteorites – Samples of the Inner Protoplanetary Disk?

Introduction: The two groups of enstatite chondrites (EH and EL) and aubrites, their differentiated counterparts, are a unique suite of specimens that formed under highly reducing conditions within the solar nebula, possibly on three separate parent bodies [1]. The reduced nature of the meteorites is shown by their unusual mineralogy, characterised by the presence of abundant sulphides. They al...

Iron Isotope Compositions of Achondritic Meteorites

Calcium isotopic compositions of chondrites

We report mass-dependent and mass-independent Ca isotopic variations in nine chondrites from three groups: carbonaceous, ordinary and enstatite chondrites. There is about 0.25‰ per amu, i.e., 1‰ in Ca/Ca, variation in chondrites: carbonaceous chondrites have the lightest Ca isotopes, enstatite chondrites have modeled bulk Earth like Ca isotopes, and ordinary chondrites are in between. The corre...

Fe Isotopic Composition of Martian Meteorites

Introduction The scientific community has actively debated for quite some time the possibility that conditions were once favorable for life to originate and evolve on Mars. However, as we know it, for life to survive, the presence of liquid water is essential. The present day climate on Mars is inhospitable for sustaining any life form. However, recent data from twin rovers, Spirit and Opportun...