Image Analysis of 2D X-ray Intensity Maps: Element Abundances, Mineralogy, and Modal Analysis of Meteorites

X-ray mapping is increasingly used in the geological sciences for qualitative observations of textures, mineral zoning, and element distribution among rock components [1-4]. We combine mapping with an aggressive program of image analysis in deepening our understanding of the early solar system through the analysis of chondritic meteorites [5, 6]. Chondrites are “sediments” that accreted in the earliest solar system into planetesimals now represented by objects in the asteroid belt. They accumulated hightemperature inclusions (igneous rock droplets or aggregations) with a low-temperature fine-grained mineral matrix including pre-solar grains and macromolecular carbon [7]. We seek to measure the relative abundances, modal mineralogies, and chemical compositions of these components with such different thermal histories, to higher accuracy than has been done previously.