The Itqiy meteorite is an enstatite-rich stony-iron meteorite. It is classified as an enstatite chondrite of the EH group that was nearly melted and is therefore very unusual for that group.[2][4] Other classifications have been proposed and are an ongoing scientific debate.
| Itqiy meteorite | |
|---|---|
| Type | Chondrite (ongoing scientific debate) |
| Class | Enstatite chondrite (ongoing scientific debate) |
| Group | EH7-an (ongoing scientific debate) |
| Parent body | NWA2526-Itqiy[1] |
| Composition | Enstatite (78 %), meteoric iron (22 %), sulfides.[2] |
| Country | Western Sahara[3] |
| Coordinates | 26°35′27″N 12°57′8″W / 26.59083°N 12.95222°W[3] |
| Observed fall | Yes[3] |
| Fall date | 1990[3] |
| Found date | 1990 + 2000-07[3] |
| TKW | 0.410 kilograms (0.90 lb)[3] + 4.310 kilograms (9.50 lb)[3] |
History edit
Itqiy was initially attributed to a 1990 fireball in Western Sahara. One stone was recovered by a nomad, and a second stone was recovered in July 2000 by Marc, Luc, and Jim Labenne who were searching for meteorites in the same location.[3] The meteorite was analyzed in 2001.[5] Later work showed that the meteorite had fallen nearly 6,000 years ago and was not associated with any recent fireball. [6]
Mineralogy and petrology edit
Itqiy is a stony meteorite consisting of 78% enstatite and 22% meteoric iron. The meteoric iron is kamacite with 5.77% nickel. Small amounts of other minerals include troilite, Mg-Mn-Fe sulfides and Fe-Cr sulfides.[2][7]
Classification edit
The meteorite was described as an "ungrouped stony meteorite" in 2000, and reclassified as an "ungrouped enstatite meteorite" in 2001.[2][7] In 2006, Itqiy was classified as a member of the EH enstatite chondrites, with a petrologic type of 7, emphasizing that it was a strongly metamorphosed EH chondrite.[2]
Itqiy represents a rock that formed through partial melting of an EH chondrite. This process removed the more volatile minerals like plagioclase.[8] In 2010-1 it was proposed that Itqiy, QUE 94204, QUE 97289, QUE 97348, NWA 2526 and possibly Yamato 793225 form a new group from the same parent body that should be called "primitive enstatite achondrites".[8] [9]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Keil, Klaus (31 December 2009). "Enstatite achondrite meteorites (aubrites) and the histories of their asteroidal parent bodies". Chemie der Erde - Geochemistry. 70 (4): 295–317. Bibcode:2010ChEG...70..295K. doi:10.1016/j.chemer.2010.02.002.
- ^ a b c d e "Itqiy". Meteoritical Society.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Itqiy". Meteoritical Society. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
- ^ "EH7-an". Meteoritical Society.
- ^ Grossman, Jeffrey N.; Jutta Zipfel (2001). "The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 85, 2001 September" (PDF). Meteoritics & Planetary Science. 36 (S9): A293–A322. Bibcode:2001M&PS...36..293G. doi:10.1111/j.1945-5100.2001.tb01542.x. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
- ^ Patzer, Andrea; Dolores Hill; William Boynton; Luitgard Franke; Ludolf Schultz; Timothy Jull; Lanny McHargue; Ian Franchi (2010). "Itqiy: A study of noble gases and oxygen isotopes including its terrestrial age and a comparison with Zakłodzie". Meteoritics & Planetary Science. 37 (6): 823–833. doi:10.1111/j.1945-5100.2002.tb00858.x.
- ^ a b Patzer, Andrea; Hill, Dolores H.; Boynton, William V. (1 November 2001). "Itqiy: A metal-rich enstatite meteorite with achondritic texture". Meteoritics & Planetary Science. 36 (11): 1495–1505. Bibcode:2001M&PS...36.1495P. doi:10.1111/j.1945-5100.2001.tb01841.x.
- ^ a b Keil, Klaus (2010). "Enstatite achondrite meteorites (aubrites) and the histories of their asteroidal parent bodies". Chemie der Erde - Geochemistry. 70 (4): 295–317. Bibcode:2010ChEG...70..295K. doi:10.1016/j.chemer.2010.02.002.
- ^ IZAWA, Matthew R. M.; FLEMMING, Roberta L.; BANERJEE, Neil R.; MATVEEV, Sergei (1 November 2011). "QUE 94204: A primitive enstatite achondrite produced by the partial melting of an E chondrite-like protolith". Meteoritics & Planetary Science. 46 (11): 1742–1753. Bibcode:2011M&PS...46.1742I. doi:10.1111/j.1945-5100.2011.01263.x.