49th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 2018 (LPI Contrib. No. 2083) 2621.pdf

PYRRHOTITE AND PENTLANDITE IN LL3 TO LL6 CHONDRITES: DETERMINING COMPOSITIONAL AND MICROSTRUCTURAL INDICATORS OF FORMATION CONDITIONS. D. L. Schrader1 and T. J. Zega2, 1Center for Meteorite Studies, School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State Uni- versity, Tempe, AZ 85287-1404, USA ([email protected]), 2Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA ([email protected]).

Introduction: The compositions, textures, and electron microscope (FIB-SEM) at UAz and the JEOL crystal structures of sulfides can be used to constrain JXA-8530F Hyperprobe EPMA at Arizona State Uni- oxygen fugacity, aqueous, thermal, and cooling history versity (ASU). The FIB-SEM was also used to extract [e.g., 1–5]. The most abundant sulfides in extraterres- ~10 × 5 µm sections transecting the pyrrhotite- trial samples are the pyrrhotite group [(Fe,Ni,Co,Cr)1– pentlandite interfaces within sulfide grains from each xS], which can occur with pentlandite [(Fe,Ni,Co,Cr)9– meteorite, which were thinned to electron transparency xS8]. The pyrrhotite group sulfides are largely non- (<100 nm) using methods of [14]. FIB sections were stoichiometric and have a range of compositions then analyzed using the 200 keV aberration-corrected (0troilite; FeS, scope (TEM) at UAz. hexagonal) and 4C (Fe7S8, monoclinic) pyrrhotite. There are also non-integral NC-pyrrhotites with inter- mediate compositions with 0meteorites shows that most formed via pri- mary cooling from high temperature or thermal meta- morphism [e.g., 9–11]. Sulfides in the LL4 to LL6 chondrites equilibrated between 600 and 500°C, con- sistent with formation during cooling after thermal metamorphism [11]. Moreover, because sulfides are present in both asteroids and meteorites, their compari- Figure 1. FeSNi (RGB composite) X-ray map of son could yield valuable insights. Analyses of Haya- Semarkona (LL3.00) FIB section showing pyrrhotite busa particles have identified asteroid 25143 Itokawa (po) pentlandite (pn) intergrowth. as LL5–6 chondrite material [e.g., 12,13], thermally Results: EPMA analyses: The compositions of pyr- metamorphosed between ~780 and 840°C [12]. Sul- rhotite and pentlandite vary with petrographic type. In fides were observed in Hayabusa particles [12], and pentlandite, the Ni (17.5±0.6 to 20.4±1.4 wt.%; LL3 to may record additional information on the formation LL6; mean±1σ) and Co (0.39±0.17 to 0.77±0.63 wt.%) conditions of asteroid Itokawa. contents increase and the Cr content decreases Our goal is to determine the origins and formation (0.04±0.05 wt.% to below detection limit [<0.02 wt.% conditions of sulfides in LL3 to LL6 chondrites, so that wt.%]), between LL3 and LL6 chondrites. In pyrrho- we can compare them with Hayabusa sulfides and un- tite, no Co was detected (detection limit <0.09 wt.%) derstand their origins in future studies. and while Cr is present in pyrrhotites in LL3 to LL5 Samples and Analytical Procedures: Sulfides chondrites (mean ~0.03 wt.%), it is below the detection consisting of pyrrhotite and pentlandite in Semarkona limit (detection limit <0.02 wt.%) in the LL6 chon- USNM1805-17 (LL3.00), Soko-Banja USNM3078-1 drite. (LL4), Siena USNM3070-3 (LL5), and Saint-Séverin EPMA analyses of pyrrhotite in Semarkona USNM2608-3 (LL6) were selected for analysis. Their (LL3.00; 0

49th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 2018 (LPI Contrib. No. 2083) 2621.pdf

The morphology of pentlandite-pyrrhotite inter- analyses of sulfides could potentially be used to deter- growths in the meteorites varies: lamellae of pentland- mine the metamorphic type of the host LL chondrite. ite occur within pyrrhotite in Semarkona (LL3.00); In rare cases troilite (2C pyrrhotite; x = 0) was blebs of pentlandite with islands of pyrrhotite occur in identified via EPMA. However, nearly all pyrrhotites Soko-Banja (LL4) and Siena (LL5); and blocky pent- in LL chondrites are non-stoichiometric, with some landite in pyrrhotite occurs in Saint-Séverin (LL6). pyrrhotite compositions indicating 6C pyrrhotite; no TEM results: The FIB section of sulfide from 4C pyrrhotite was identified via EPMA. Semarkona (LL3.00) was selected to preferentially TEM analyses of pyrrhotite in Semarkona (LL3.00) sample pentlandite, and consists of pentlandite inter- and Saint-Séverin (LL6) are consistent with those of grown with pyrrhotite (Fig. 1). Selected-area electron- their EPMA analyses. In contrast, TEM analyses of diffraction (SAED) patterns index to 2C and 6C pyr- pyrrhotite in Soko-Banja (LL4) and Siena (LL5) are rhotite and pentlandite. more complex than inferred from EPMA analyses. The FIB section of sulfide from Soko-Banja (LL4) Soko-Banja (LL4) contains polycrystalline pyrrhotite contains a grain of pentlandite with laths of pyrrhotite, potentially consisting of 2C, 4C, 5C, and 6C pyrrho- all within pyrrhotite. The host pyrrhotite is polycrystal- tite. The pyrrhotite in Siena (LL5) may be non- line, although SAED patterns show that the distinct stoichiometric non-integral pyrrhotite. Additional ana- grains are all closely oriented. SAED patterns of dis- lyses are planned to confirm this result. tinct pyrrhotite grains index to 2C and 4C pyrrhotite on TEM reveals complexities in pyrrhotite not obser- one side of the pentlandite grain, and 6C pyrrhotite on vable via EPMA (e.g., polycrystalline pyrrhotite and the other. Constraining the polytype of the pyrrhotite sub-µm pentlandite lamellae; Fig. 2). Since the interac- laths within the pentlandite grain is tentative (SAED tion volume of the electron beam during EPMA anal- patterns indicate 2C, 4C, 5C, or 6C; 2C is the best fit), yses is significantly larger than SAED patterns in indicating it may be a non-integer NC-pyrrhotite. TEM, EPMA analyses provide average compositional The sulfide in Siena (LL5) contains a grain of analyses of structurally complex and compositionally pentlandite (with sub-µm pentlandite lamellae around heterogeneous pyrrhotites. the margin of the grain; Fig. 2) within pyrrhotite. Pyr- Additional FIB sections and TEM analyses of sul- rhotite consists of multiple domains with similar orien- fides are underway to investigate microstructural tation, but additional SAED patterns are required to trends with metamorphic grade and shock metamor- determine polytype(s). SAED patterns index to pent- phism on the compositions and microstructure of the landite with multiple, closely oriented domains, indi- sulfides. Analyses of sulfide bearing Hayabusa sam- cating it is likely a single crystal. ples, courtesy of JAXA, are planned for comparison. The sulfide in Saint-Séverin (LL6) contains References: [1] Arnold R. G. (1967) Can. Min. 9, blocky pentlandite in pyrrhotite [15]. SAED patterns 31–50. [2] Kissin S. A. and Scott S. D. (1982) Econ. index to 2C pyrrhotite and pentlandite [15]. Geol. 77, 1739–1754. [3] Raghavan V. (2004) J. Phase Equilib. 25, 373–381. [4] Wang H. et al. (2006) J. Sul- fur Chem. 27, 1–12. [5] Harries D. and Langenhorst F. (2013) Meteorit. Planet. Sci. 48, 879–903. [6] Mori- moto N. et al. (1975) Econ. Geo. 70, 824-833. [7] Wang H. et al. (2006) J. Sulfur Chem. 27, 1-12. [8] Harries D. et al. (2011) Am. Min. 96, 716-731. [9] Jamsja N. and Ruzicka A. (2010) Meteorit. Planet. Sci. 45, 828–849. [10] Schrader D. L. et al. (2015) Meteo- rit. Planet. Sci. 50, 15–50. [11] Schrader D. L. et al. (2016) Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 189, 359–376. [12] Nakamura T. et al. (2011) Science 333, 1113–1116. [13] Noguchi T. et al. (2014) Earth Planets Space 66, 124. [14] Zega T. J. et al. (2007) Meteorit. Planet. Sci. 42, 1373–1386. [15] Schrader D. L. and Zega T. J. (2017) 80th MetSoc. #6347. Figure 2. Ni X-ray map of Siena (LL5) FIB section. Acknowledgements: We thank the Smithsonian Discussion: The major and minor element compo- Institution for the samples used in this study, and sitions of pyrrhotite and pentlandite trend with the de- NASA grant NNX17AE53G (DLS PI, TJZ Co-I) for gree of thermal metamorphism. Therefore, chemical funding this research.