Tellurium isotope cosmochemistry: Implications for volatile fractionation in chondrite parent bodies and origin of the late veneer

Tellurium stable isotope compositions and abundances (?128/126Te relative to SRM 3156) are reported for 43 ordinary, enstatite, Rumuruti chondrites, which together with results from a companion study on carbonaceous chondrites used assess the origin of volatile element fractionations in chondrites. Whereas Te variations among predominantly reflect mixing between isotopically light chondrules/chondrule precursors CI-like matrix, non-carbonaceous mainly result redistribution during parent body thermal metamorphism. The enstatite particular display increasingly heavy isotopic decreasing concentrations increasing degree metamorphism, indicating migration strongly metamorphosed inner parts towards cooler outer regions bodies. By contrast, ordinary less systematic variations, implying more localized We also report data 19 terrestrial mantle-derived rocks. Peridotites Al2O3 contents close those inferred bulk silicate Earth (BSE) exhibit uniform ?128/126Te values, we interpret represent composition BSE. This overlaps some volatile-rich (most notably CM chondrites), but that Comparison Se isotopes Se/Te ratios shows due uncertainties BSE chondrite bodies, neither alone nor combined Se-Te elemental systematics can distinguish chondrite-like late veneer, is presumed source Together, this illustrate mass-dependent elements like modified by physical chemical processes occurring after planetary accretion, severely complicates their use as genetic tracers. A corollary contrary prior proposals not contradicting an solar system it has been using nucleosynthetic anomalies other elements.