Effect of hot desert weathering on the bulk-rock iron isotope composition of L6 and H5 ordinary chondrites

Gaëlle Saunier, Franck Poitrasson*, Bertrand Moine, Michel Gregoire, Abdelmadjid Seddiki

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Although iron isotopes are increasingly used for meteorites studies, no attempt has been made to evaluate the effect of terrestrial weathering on this isotopic tracer. We have thus conducted a petrographic, chemical, and iron isotopic study of equilibrated ordinary chondrites (OC) recovered from hot Moroccan and Algerian Saharan deserts environment. As previously noticed, we observe that terrestrial desertic weathering is characterized by the oxidation of Fe-Ni metal (Fe0), sulfide and Fe2+ occurring in olivine and pyroxene. It produces Fe-oxides and oxyhydroxides that partially replace metal, sulfide grains and also fill fractures. The bulk chemical compositions of the ordinary chondrites studied show a strong Sr and Ba enrichment and a S depletion during weathering. Bulk meteoritic iron isotope compositions are well correlated with the degree of weathering and S, Sr, and Ba contents. Most weathered chondrites display the heaviest isotopic composition, by up to 0.1‰, which is of similar magnitude to the isotopic variations resulting from meteorite parent bodies' formation and evolution. This is probably due to the release of isotopically light Fe2+ to waters on the Earth's surface. Hence, when subtle Fe isotopic effects have to be studied in chondrites, meteorites with weathering grade above W2 should be avoided.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)195-209
Number of pages15
JournalMeteoritics and Planetary Science
Volume45
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2010
Externally publishedYes

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