Extreme Cadmium and Thallium Isotope Fractionations in Enstatite Chondrites

Emeliana Palk, Mark Rehkämper, Rasmus Andreasen, Alison Stunt

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference Contribution (Conference Proceeding)

Abstract

Introduction: The extinct 205Pb-205Tl decay system (t1/2 = 15Myr) features two volatile elements and may hence be useful for studying volatile loss in the early solar system. Analyses of thePb-Tl system are best combined with measurements of Cdisotope compositions to monitor stable isotope fractionations from evaporation and condensation [1,2]. In this study, we measure Pb, Tl and Cd abundances and isotopic compositions inbulk samples of enstatite chondrites. To date, results have been obtained for Indarch (EH4), Abee (EH4), St. Mark’s (EH5),MAC 02839 (EL3), PCA 91020 (EL3) and Khairpur (EL6). Data for additional samples will be available at the meeting.Results: The Pb, Tl and Cd abundances of the samples display considerable and systematic variability. In particular, theEL3 and EH4 enstatite chondrites have much higher volatile element contents (of about 40-100 ppb Tl, 300-900 ppb Cd) thanthe EH5 and EL6 samples, which record more intense thermal metamorphism and feature ~5 ppb Tl and ~10-20 ppb Cd. The Pb abundances also show a similar offset between samples ofpetrologic types 3 & 4 vs. 5 & 6, but two of the meteorites (Indarch, St. Mark’s) have Pb isotope compositions, which areindicative of pervasive contamination by terrestrial Pb. The most extreme stable isotope fractionations were found intwo EL chondrites (PCA 91020, Khairpur), which are depleted in light Cd isotopes and display ε114/110Cd values of about +70(relative to a bulk silicate Earth with ε114/110Cd ≈ 0). Moderate Cd stable isotope effects with ε114/110Cd values of about +8 were furthermore identified for MAC 02839 and St. Mark’s. Only Indarch and Abee feature essentially unfractionated Cd, relative to carbonaceous chondrites, with ε114/110Cd ≈ +3. In contrast, only a single sample (PCA 91020) displays a clearly fractionated Tl isotope composition characterized by ε205Tl ≈ +22, whereas all other meteorites have ε205Tl of between -2.9 and +0.8, similar or identical to the bulk silicate Earth value of -2.0 ± 0.5.Discussion: The data obtained so far indicate that stable isotope fractionations are commonplace for Cd in enstatite chondrites. This is in accord with the results of earlier work [3],which found that Cd isotopes are an excellent monitor of parent body processes that effect the abundances of volatile elements.The only meteorite to display both large Cd and Tl stable isotope effects is the highly shocked (S5) sample PCA 91020 [4], possibly suggesting that Tl may be readily mobilized during shock metamorphism. Due to the presence of stable isotope fractionation for Cd and, at least in some samples, Tl, together with the terrestrial Pb contamination of two meteorites, it will be challenging to construct a 205Pb-205Tl parent body isochron forenstatite chondrites.References: [1] Baker, R. G. A. et al. 2010. Earth andPlanetary Science Letters 291:39-47. [2] Andreasen, R. et al.2009. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 73:13 Abstract #A43.[3] Wombacher, F. et al. 2008. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 72:646–667. [4] Rubin, A. E. et al. 1997. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 61:847-858.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication74th Annual Meteoritical Society Meeting
Publication statusPublished - 2011

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