Interstellar components in the primitive CR3 chondrites QUE 99177 and MET 00426.

Floss C. and Stadermann F. J. (2009)
Lunar & Planet. Sci. 40, Abstract #1083.


ABSTRACT

Presolar material incorporated into primitive solar system bodies consists of both circumstellar stardust formed in the outflows of RG or AGB stars and the ejecta of supernovae, and interstellar material thought to form via low temperature ion-molecule reactions in cold molecular clouds. Deuterium and N isotopic anomalies associated with the latter are common in interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) and in various primitive meteorites, notably the CR chondrites. Carbon isotopic anomalies are less common, but have also been observed. QUE 99177 and MET 00426 are CR3 chondrites that have experienced little aqueous alteration compared to other members of this meteorite group. The carbonaceous matter in these meteorites exhibits a low degree of crystallinity and contains detectable amounts of N, indicating that this material has not experienced significant thermal processing. Both also contain high abundances of O-anomalous and C-anomalous grains, consistent with their primitive natures. Here we report on the N isotopic distributions of these two meteorites.


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