Mineralogy of Silicate-Natrophosphate Immiscible † Inclusion in Elga IIE Iron Meteorite
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minerals Article Mineralogy of Silicate-Natrophosphate Immiscible y Inclusion in Elga IIE Iron Meteorite Victor V. Sharygin 1,2 1 V.S. Sobolev Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, Siberian Branch of the RAS, 3 Acad. Koptyuga pr., 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; [email protected] 2 ExtraTerra Consortium, Institute of Physics and Technology, Ural Federal University, 19 Mira str., 620002 Ekaterinburg, Russia The paper was presented at the 81st Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society in Moscow, Russia, y 22–27 July 2018. Received: 7 April 2020; Accepted: 11 May 2020; Published: 13 May 2020 Abstract: Rare type of silicate inclusions found in the Elga iron meteorite (group IIE) has a very specific mineral composition and shows silicate ( 90%)–natrophosphate ( 10%) liquid ≈ ≈ immiscibility due to meniscus-like isolation of Na-Ca-Mg-Fe phosphates. The 3 mm wide immiscible inclusion has been first studied in detail using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, electron microprobe analysis and Raman spectroscopy. The silicate part of the inclusion contains fine-grained quartz-feldspar aggregate and mafic minerals. The relationships of feldspars indicate solid decay of initially homogenous K-Na-feldspar into albite and K-feldspar with decreasing of temperature. Some mafic minerals in the silicate part are exotic in composition: the dominant phase is an obertiite-subgroup oxyamphibole (amphibole supergroup), varying from ferri-obertiite 3+ 2+ NaNa2Mg3Fe Ti[Si8O22]O2 to hypothetical NaNa2Mg3Fe 0.5Ti1.5[Si8O22]O2; minor phases are the aenigmatite-subgroup mineral (sapphirine supergroup) with composition close to median value 2+ of the Na2Fe 5TiSi6O18O2-Na2Mg5TiSi6O18O2 join, orthopyroxene (enstatite), clinopyroxene of the diopside Ca(Mg,Fe)Si2O6–kosmochlor NaCrSi2O6-Na(Mg,Fe)0.5Ti0.5Si2O6 series and chromite. The alteration phases are represented by Fe-dominant chlorite, goethite and hydrated Na2O-rich (2.3–3.3 wt.%) Fe-phosphate close to vivianite. Natrophosphate part consists of aggregate of three orthophosphates (brianite, czochralskiite, mari´cite)and minor Na-Cr-Ti-clinopyroxene, pentlandite, rarely taenite. Czochralskiite Na4Ca3Mg(PO4)4 is rich in FeO (2.3–5.1 wt.%) and MnO (0.4–1.5 wt.%). Brianite Na2CaMg(PO4)2 contains FeO (3.0–4.3 wt.%) and MnO (0.3–0.7 wt.%) and mari´citeNaFe(PO4) bears MnO (5.5–6.2 wt.%), MgO (5.3–6.2 wt.%) and CaO (0.5–1.5 wt.%). The contact between immiscible parts is decorated by enstatite zone in the silicate part and diopside–kosmochlor clinopyroxene zone in the natrophosphate ones. The mineralogy of the studied immiscible inclusion outlines three potentially new mineral species, which were first identified in meteorites: obertiite–related 2+ oxyamphibole NaNa2Mg3Fe 0.5Ti1.5[Si8O22]O2, Mg-analog of aenigmatite Na2Mg5TiSi6O18O2 and Na-Ti-rich clinopyroxene Na(Mg,Fe)0.5Ti0.5Si2O6. Keywords: silicate-natrophosphate immiscibility; obertiite; aenigmatite; kosmochlor; brianite; czochralskiite; mari´cite;Elga meteorite; IIE iron; Yakutia 1. Introduction The Elga iron meteorite (group IIE) is a fine-grained octahedrite with up to 15 vol.% silicate inclusions and with local zones of shock metamorphism [1–20]. Silicate-bearing iron meteorites represent about 4% of all iron meteorites. In general, they are important for understanding metal-silicate partitioning in processes related to the formation and evolution of asteroids and terrestrial planets Minerals 2020, 10, 437; doi:10.3390/min10050437 www.mdpi.com/journal/minerals Minerals 2020, 10, 437 2 of 29 Minerals 2020, 10, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 29 indescribed the early within solar system. the following At present chemical day, groups: silicate-bearing IAB (12% iron of meteoritestotal), IIE (50%) were and described IVA (5%) within; silicate the followinginclusions chemical were also groups: reported IAB for (12% 8 ofungrouped total), IIE (50%)iron meteorites and IVA (5%); [15]. silicate The mineralogy inclusions wereof silicate also reportedinclusions for indicates 8 ungrouped the peculiarities iron meteorites of metal [15].-silicate The mineralogy relations ofin silicatemeteorite inclusions parental indicates bodies. theThe peculiaritiesexotic mineral of metal-silicatecomposition of relations some silicate in meteorite inclusions parental may bodies. reflect Thelocal exotic specific mineral conditions composition within ofparental some silicate bodies. inclusions This paper may is devoted reflect local to the specific mineralogy conditions of a silicate within inclusion parental with bodies. specific This paperminerals is devotedand silicate to the-natrophosphate mineralogy of immiscibility a silicate inclusion found within the specific Elga meteorite. minerals and silicate-natrophosphate immiscibility found in the Elga meteorite. 2. History of Finding and Brief Review on Studies for the Elga Meteorite 2. History of Finding and Brief Review on Studies for the Elga Meteorite The Elga meteorite was found on August 28, 1959, at the Razvedchik gold field in the basin of The Elga meteorite was found on August 28, 1959, at the Razvedchik gold field in the basin of the the Elga River, a large left-hand tributary of the Indigirka River in its upper reaches, in the territory Elga River, a large left-hand tributary of the Indigirka River in its upper reaches, in the territory of of Yakutia (64°42' N, 141°12' E). The meteorite was found when gold-bearing sand was washed, with Yakutia (64 42 N, 141 12 E). The meteorite was found when gold-bearing sand was washed, with the the sand ◦recovered0 ◦from0 a production mine in the valley of the Promezhutochnyi Stream, a sand recovered from a production mine in the valley of the Promezhutochnyi Stream, a right-hand right-hand tributary of the Elga River. The meteorite was found in pebble material lifted from a tributary of the Elga River. The meteorite was found in pebble material lifted from a depth of 20 m. depth of 20 m. The detailed description of the finding is given in [2,14]. The detailed description of the finding is given in [2,14]. The meteorite is of irregular, slightly angular morphology, and its natural surface is rounded The meteorite is of irregular, slightly angular morphology, and its natural surface is rounded and and locally displays a thin platy fabrics and regmaglypt surface topography. The upstanding locally displays a thin platy fabrics and regmaglypt surface topography. The upstanding fine-flow fine-flow surface areas are of steel-gray color, whereas “depressions” are covered with a black film surface areas are of steel-gray color, whereas “depressions” are covered with a black film and, locally, and, locally, rust-brown material (up to 3 mm, Figure 1). The general mass of the sample was 28.8 kg. rust-brown material (up to 3 mm, Figure1). The general mass of the sample was 28.8 kg. The main The main mass of the Elga meteorite (type specimen–10.5 kg plus some smaller cut-offs of the mass of the Elga meteorite (type specimen–10.5 kg plus some smaller cut-offs of the working collection, working collection, 449 g and 79.8 g) is now on display in the meteorite collection of the Central 449 g and 79.8 g) is now on display in the meteorite collection of the Central Siberian Geological Siberian Geological Museum (CSGM) in the V.S. Sobolev Institute of Geology and Mineralogy (IGM, Museum (CSGM) in the V.S. Sobolev Institute of Geology and Mineralogy (IGM, SB RAS), Novosibirsk, SB RAS), Novosibirsk, Russia (registration number I-1155/204-24, Figure 1). Fragments from the Russia (registration number I-1155/204-24, Figure1). Fragments from the working collection were working collection were used for detailed mineralogical investigations [5,9,12,13,17,20]. A large used for detailed mineralogical investigations [5,9,12,13,17,20]. A large cut-off fragment (887.5 g) of cut-off fragment (887.5 g) of the meteorite was transferred to the Meteorite Committee of the USSR the meteorite was transferred to the Meteorite Committee of the USSR Academy of Sciences (now in Academy of Sciences (now in the Vernadsky Institute of Geochemistry and Analytical Chemistry, the Vernadsky Institute of Geochemistry and Analytical Chemistry, GEOKHI RAS, Moscow, Russia) GEOKHI RAS, Moscow, Russia) and its cut-offs were also used for studies [8,10,11,14–16,18–20]. and its cut-offs were also used for studies [8,10,11,14–16,18–20]. Smaller cut-offs of the Elga meteorite Smaller cut-offs of the Elga meteorite are also deposited in the meteorite collection of the Museum in are also deposited in the meteorite collection of the Museum in the Institute of Diamond and Precious the Institute of Diamond and Precious Metal Geology, SB RAS, Yakutsk (126.7 g) and, possibly, in Metal Geology, SB RAS, Yakutsk (126.7 g) and, possibly, in other geological museums in Russia. other geological museums in Russia. FigureFigure 1.1. GeneralGeneral view view of of the the Elga Elga iron iron meteorite meteorite (IIE) (IIE) and anda cu at-off cut-o withff with silicate silicate inclusions. inclusions. Type Typespecimen specimen from from CSGM CSGM IGM, IGM, SB RAS, SB RAS, Novosibirsk. Novosibirsk. TheThe ElgaElga meteorite meteorite is ais fine-graineda fine-grained octahedrite octahedrite with with numerous numerous (up to (up 15 vol.%)to 15 roundedvol.%) rounded silicate inclusionssilicate inclusions (up to a(up few to millimetersa few millimet iner size)s in size) [1]. [1]. The The texture texture and and composition composition of of the the metal metal and and silicatesilicate inclusionsinclusions indicateindicate thatthat thethe meteoritemeteorite showsshows tracestraces ofof secondarysecondary meltingmelting causedcaused byby shockshock metamorphismmetamorphism [ 1[1,5,8,5,8–20–20].]. The The chemical chemical composition composition of theof the metallic metallic constituent constituent is as follows:is as follows: 90.51 wt.%90.51 Fe,wt.% 8.38 Fe, wt.% 8.38 Ni,wt.% 0.64 Ni, wt.% 0.64 Co,wt.% 0.46 Co, wt.% 0.46 wt.% P and P 100and ppm 100 ppm Cu [3 Cu,7].