A new source of basaltic meteorites inferred from Northwest Africa 011

Science. 2002 Apr 12;296(5566):334-6. doi: 10.1126/science.1069408.

Abstract

Eucrites are a class of basaltic meteorites that share common mineralogical, isotopic, and chemical properties and are thought to have been derived from the same parent body, possibly asteroid 4 Vesta. The texture, mineralogy, and noble gas data of the recently recovered meteorite, Northwest Africa (NWA) 011, are similar to those of basaltic eucrites. However, the oxygen isotopic composition of NWA011 is different from that of other eucrites, indicating that NWA011 may be derived from a different parent body. The presence of basaltic meteorites with variable oxygen isotopic composition suggests the occurrence of multiple basaltic meteorite parent bodies, perhaps similar to 4 Vesta, in the early solar system.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Africa
  • Cosmic Radiation
  • Meteoroids*
  • Minerals / analysis*
  • Minor Planets*
  • Oxygen Isotopes / analysis*
  • Silicates / analysis*
  • Trace Elements / analysis

Substances

  • Minerals
  • Oxygen Isotopes
  • Silicates
  • Trace Elements
  • basalt