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1.
Silicon carbide (SiC) is a particularly interesting species of presolar grain because it is known to form on the order of a hundred different polytypes in the laboratory, and the formation of a particular polytype is sensitive to growth conditions. Astronomical evidence for the formation of SiC in expanding circumstellar atmospheres of asymptotic giant branch (AGB) carbon stars is provided by infrared (IR) studies. However, identification of the crystallographic structure of SiC from IR spectra is controversial. Since >95% of the presolar SiC isolated from meteorites formed around carbon stars, a determination of the structure of presolar SiC is, to first order, a direct determination of the structure of circumstellar SiC. We therefore determined the polytype distribution of presolar SiC from the Murchison CM2 carbonaceous meteorite using analytical and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM). High-resolution lattice images and electron diffraction of 508 individual SiC grains demonstrate that only two polytypes are present, the cubic 3C (β-SiC) polytype (79.4% of population by number) and the hexagonal 2H (α-SiC) polytype (2.7%). Intergrowths of these two polytypes are relatively abundant (17.1%). No other polytypes were found. A small population of one-dimensionally disordered SiC grains (0.9%), whose high density of stacking faults precluded classification as any polytype, was also observed. The presolar origin of 2H α-SiC is unambiguously established by tens-of-nanometers-resolution secondary ion mass spectroscopy (NanoSIMS). Isotopic maps of a TEM-characterized 2H α-SiC grain exhibit non-solar isotopic compositions of 12C/13C = 64 ± 4 and 14N/15N = 575 ± 24. These measurements are consistent with mainstream presolar SiC thought to originate in the expanding atmospheres of AGB carbon stars. Equilibrium condensation calculations together with inferred mineral condensation sequences predict relatively low SiC condensation temperatures in carbon stars. The laboratory observed condensation temperatures of 2H and 3C SiC are generally the lowest of all SiC polytypes and fall within the predictions of the equilibrium calculations. These points account for the occurrence of only 2H and 3C polytypes of SiC in circumstellar outflows. The 2H and 3C SiC polytypes presumably condense at different radii (i.e., temperatures) in the expanding stellar atmospheres of AGB carbon stars.  相似文献   

2.
We report isotopic ratio measurements of small SiC and Si3N4 grains, with special emphasis on presolar SiC grains of type Z, and new nucleosynthesis models for 26Al/27Al and the Ti isotopic ratios in asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars. With the NanoSIMS we analyzed 310 SiC grains from Murchison (carbonaceous CM2 chondrite) separate KJB (diameters 0.25-0.45 μm) and 153 SiC grains from KJG (diameters 1.8-3.7 μm), 154 SiC and 23 Si3N4 grains from Indarch (enstatite EH4 chondrite) separate IH6 (diameters 0.25-0.65 μm) for their C and N isotopic compositions, 549 SiC and 142 Si3N4 grains from IH6 for their C and Si isotopic compositions, 13 SiC grains from Murchison and 66 from Indarch for their Al-Mg compositions, and eight SiC grains from Murchison and 10 from Indarch for their Ti isotopic compositions. One of the original objectives of this effort was to compare isotopic analyses with the NanoSIMS with analyses previously obtained with the Cameca IMS 3f ion microprobe. Many of the Si3N4 grains from Indarch have isotopic anomalies but most of these apparently originate from adjacent SiC grains. Only one Si3N4 grain, with 13C and 14N excesses, has a likely AGB origin. The C, N, and Si isotopic data show that the percentage of SiC grains of type Y and Z increase with decreasing grain size (from ∼1% for grains >2 μm to ∼5-7% for grains of 0.5 μm), providing an opportunity for isotopic analyses in these rare grains. Our measurements expand the number of Al-Mg analyses on SiC Z grains from 4 to 23 and the number of Ti analyses on Z grains from 2 to 11. Inferred26Al/27Al ratios of Z grains are in the range found in mainstream and Y grains and do not exceed those predicted by models of AGB nucleosynthesis. Cool bottom processing (CBP) has been invoked to explain the low 12C/13C ratios of Z grains, but this process apparently does not lead to increased 26Al production in the parent stars of these grains. This finding is in contrast to presolar oxide grains where CBP is needed to explain their high 26Al/27Al ratios. The low 46,47,49Ti/48Ti ratios found in Z grains and their correlation with low 29Si/28Si ratios extend the trend seen in mainstream grains and confirm an origin in low-metallicity AGB stars. The relatively large excesses in 30Si and 50Ti in Z grains are predicted by our models to be the result of increased production of these isotopes by neutron-capture nucleosynthesis in low-metallicity AGB stars. However, the predicted excesses in 50Ti (and 49Ti) are much larger than those found. Even lowering the strength of the 13C pocket cannot solve this discrepancy in a consistent way.  相似文献   

3.
Barium isotopic compositions of single 2.3-5.3 μm presolar SiC grains from the Murchison meteorite were measured by resonant ionization mass spectrometry. Mainstream SiC grains are enriched in s-process barium and show a spread in isotopic composition from solar to dominantly s-process. In the relatively coarse grain size fraction analyzed, there are large grain-to-grain variations of barium isotopic composition. Comparison of single grain data with models of nucleosynthesis in asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars indicates that the grains most likely come from low mass carbon-rich AGB stars (1.5 to 3 solar masses) of about solar metallicity and with approximately solar initial proportions of r- and s-process isotopes. Measurements of single grains imply a wide variety of neutron-to-seed ratios, in agreement with previous measurements of strontium, zirconium and molybdenum isotopic compositions of single presolar SiC grains.  相似文献   

4.
到目前为止从陨石中分离出的太阳系外物质有金刚石、碳化硅、石墨、Si3N4、刚玉及尖晶石等。除金刚石为纳米级大小外,其他为微米和次微米级颗粒。这些太阳系外物质主要存在于原始的球粒陨石的基质中,并通过化学分离的方法获得。金刚石携带分别由p-过程和r-过程产生的Xe同位素组分(Xe-HL),其源区可能提超新星。绝大部分碳化硅相对于太阳系物质富^29.30Si和^13C,贫^15N,并携带s-过程产生的各  相似文献   

5.
Study on presolar grains including diamond,silicon carbide,graphite,silicon nitrite(Si3N4),coundum and spinel isolated from meteorites is summarized in this paper.Except for nanometer-sized diamond,the other grains are micrometers to submicrometers in size.The presolar grains survived mainly in the fine-grained matrix of primitive chondrites and were isolated by chemical treatments.Diamond contains Xe isotopes(Xe-HL),typically produced in p-and r-processes,probably formed in supernovae.Mainstream silicon carbides are enriched in ^29,30Si and ^13C,but depleted in ^15N.They also contain various s-process products,consistent with calculations of AGB stars.Other silicon carbides exhibit much larger isotopic anomalies and are classified as groups X,Y,Z and AB.Among them,group X of SiC is characterized by enrichment of ^28Si and daughter isotopes of various short-lived nuclides,suggesting an origin from supernovae.Graphite can be divided into four density fractions with distince isotopic compositions.They may form in AGB stars,novae and supernovae,respctively,Si3N4 is similar to X-SiC in isotopic composition.Corundum is classified as four groups based on theid oxygen isotopic compositions.AGB and red giang stare are possible sources for the oxide.More comprehensive study of presolar grains,especially discovery of the other types of oxides and silicates,isotopic analyses of individual submicrometer-sized grains and distribution of presolar grains among various chemical groups and petropaphic types of chondrites will provide new information on nucleosynthesis,stellar evolution and formation of the solar nebula.  相似文献   

6.
We report the development of a new analytical system allowing the fully automated measurement of isotopic ratios in micrometer-sized particles by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) in a Cameca ims-6f ion microprobe. Scanning ion images and image processing algorithms are used to locate individual particles dispersed on sample substrates. The primary ion beam is electrostatically deflected to and focused onto each particle in turn, followed by a peak-jumping isotopic measurement. Automatic measurements of terrestrial standards indicate similar analytical uncertainties to traditional manual particle analyses (e.g., ∼3‰/amu for Si isotopic ratios). We also present an initial application of the measurement system to obtain Si and C isotopic ratios for ∼3300 presolar SiC grains from the Murchison CM2 carbonaceous chondrite. Three rare presolar Si3N4 grains were also identified and analyzed. Most of the analyzed grains were extracted from the host meteorite using a new chemical dissolution procedure. The isotopic data are broadly consistent with previous observations of presolar SiC in the same size range (∼0.5-4 μm). Members of the previously identified SiC AB, X, Y, and Z subgroups were identified, as was a highly unusual grain with an extreme 30Si enrichment, a modest 29Si enrichment, and isotopically light C. The stellar source responsible for this grain is likely to have been a supernova. Minor differences in isotopic distributions between the present work and prior data can be partially explained by terrestrial contamination and grain aggregation on sample mounts, though some of the differences are probably intrinsic to the samples. We use the large new SiC database to explore the relationships between three previously identified isotopic subgroups—mainstream, Y, and Z grains—all believed to originate in asymptotic giant branch stars. The isotopic data for Z grains suggest that their parent stars experienced strong CNO-cycle nucleosynthesis during the early asymptotic giant branch phase, consistent with either cool bottom processing in low-mass (M < 2.3M) parent stars or hot-bottom burning in intermediate-mass stars (M > 4M). The data provide evidence for a sharp threshold in metallicity, above which SiC grains form with much higher 12C/13C ratios than below. Above this threshold, the fraction of grains with relatively high 12C/13C decreases exponentially with increasing 29Si/28Si ratio. This result indicates a sharp increase in the maximum mass of SiC parent stars with decreasing metallicity, in contrast to expectations from Galactic chemical evolution theory.  相似文献   

7.
8.
With a new type of ion microprobe, the NanoSIMS, we determined the oxygen isotopic compositions of small (<1μm) oxide grains in chemical separates from two CM2 carbonaceous meteorites, Murray and Murchison. Among 628 grains from Murray separate CF (mean diameter 0.15 μm) we discovered 15 presolar spinel and 3 presolar corundum grains, among 753 grains from Murray separate CG (mean diameter 0.45 μm) 9 presolar spinel grains, and among 473 grains from Murchison separate KIE (mean diameter 0.5 μm) 2 presolar spinel and 4 presolar corundum grains. The abundance of presolar spinel is highest (2.4%) in the smallest size fraction. The total abundance in the whole meteorite is at least 1 ppm, which makes spinel the third-most abundant presolar grain species after nanodiamonds (if indeed a significant fraction of them are presolar) and silicon carbide. The O-isotopic distribution of the spinel grains is very similar to that of presolar corundum, the only statistically significant difference being that there is a larger fraction of corundum grains with large 17O excesses (17O/16O > 1.5 × 10−3), which indicates parent stars with masses between 1.8 and 4.5 M.  相似文献   

9.
Presolar graphite spherules from the Murchison low-density separate KE3 contain a large number of internal TiC crystals that range in size from 15 to 500 nm. We have studied one such graphite grain in great detail by successive analyses with SEM, ims3f SIMS, TEM and NanoSIMS. Isotopic measurements of the ‘bulk’ particle in the ims3f indicate a supernova origin for this graphite spherule. The NanoSIMS measurements of C, N, O and Ti isotopes were performed directly on TEM ultramicrotome sections of the spherule, allowing correlated studies of the isotopic and mineralogical properties of the graphite grain and its internal crystals. We found isotopic gradients in 12C/13C and 16O/18O from the core of the graphite spherule to its perimeter, with the most anomalous compositions being present in the center. These gradients may be the result of isotopic exchange with isotopically normal material, either in the laboratory or during the particle’s history. No similar isotopic gradients were found in the 16O/17O and 14N/15N ratios, which are normal within analytical uncertainty throughout the graphite spherule. Due to an unusually high O signal, internal TiC crystals were easily located during NanoSIMS imaging measurements. It was thus possible to determine isotopic compositions of several internal TiC grains independent of the surrounding graphite matrix. These TiC crystals are significantly more anomalous in their O isotopes than the graphite, with 16O/18O ratios ranging from 14 to 250 (compared to a terrestrial value of 499). Even the most centrally located TiC grains show significant variations in their O isotopic compositions from crystal to crystal. Measurement of the Ti isotopes in three TiC grains found no variations among them and no large differences between the compositions of the different crystals and the ‘bulk’ graphite spherule. However, the same three TiC crystals vary by a factor of 3 in their 16O/18O ratios. It is not clear in what form the O is associated with the TiC grains and whether it is cogenetic or the result of surface reactions on the TiC grains before they accreted onto the growing graphite spherule. The presence of 44Ca from short-lived 44Ti (t1/2 = 60y) in one of the TiC subgrains confirms the identification of this graphite spherule as a supernova condensate.  相似文献   

10.
Isotopic heterogeneity within the solar nebula has been a long-standing issue. Studies on primitive chondrites and chondrite components for Ba, Sm, Nd, Mo, Ru, Hf, Ti, and Os yielded conflicting results, with some studies suggesting large-scale heterogeneity. Low-grade enstatite and Rumuruti chondrites represent the most extreme ends of the chondrite meteorites in terms of oxidation state, and might thus also present extremes if there is significant isotopic heterogeneity across the region of chondrite formation. Osmium is an ideal tracer because of its multiple isotopes generated by a combination of p-, r-, and s-process and, as a refractory element; it records the earliest stages of condensation.Some grade 3-4 enstatite and Rumuruti chondrites show similar deficits of s-process components as revealed by high-precision Os isotope studies in some low-grade carbonaceous and ordinary chondrites. Enstatite chondrites of grades 5-6 have Os isotopic composition identical within error to terrestrial and solar composition. This supports the view of digestion-resistant presolar grains, most likely SiC, as the major carrier of these anomalies. Destruction of presolar grains during parent body processing, which all high-grade enstatite chondrites, but also some low-grade chondrites seemingly underwent, makes the isotopically anomalous Os accessible for analysis. The magnitude of the anomalies is consistent with the presence of a few ppm of presolar SiC with a highly unusual isotopic composition, produced in a different stellar environment like asymptotic giant branch stars (AGB) and injected into the solar nebula. The presence of similar Os isotopic anomalies throughout all major chondrite groups implies that carriers of Os isotopic anomalies were homogeneously distributed in the solar nebula, at least across the formation region of chondrites.  相似文献   

11.
We report results from NanoSIMS isotopic measurements on 37 presolar silicon carbide grains of type X which are believed to have formed in the ejecta of supernova explosions. Isotopic data were obtained for Si and Ca-Ti (all grains), C and N (two grains), and Ti (one grain). All X grains exhibit large enrichments in 28Si (up to 5× solar), in agreement with previously studied X grains. On a scale of 200 nm, the Si-isotopic ratios do not vary by more than the analytical uncertainties of several percent in all but one X grain. This implies that most X grains formed from well-mixed regions in supernova ejecta. X grain M9-68-3 is characterized by two regions with distinct Si- and Ti-isotopic signatures which may either represent two distinct grains or overgrowth of matter from two different mixtures in the supernova ejecta. Most of the Ca in the X grains is most likely contamination as indicated by close to normal 42Ca/40Ca ratios. Seven X grains show enhanced 44Ca/40Ca ratios of up to 6× the solar ratio. Spatial distributions of 44Ca excesses and Ti are positively correlated, giving strong support to the view that excesses in 44Ca are due to the decay of radioactive 44Ti. Inferred initial 44Ti/48Ti ratios are between 0.01 and 0.28 and are correlated with Si-isotopic ratios. Radiogenic 44Ca is widely distributed in six X grains. X grain M9-132-4 exhibits a pronounced heterogeneity in the distribution of radiogenic 44Ca and 48Ti as well as in 44Ti/48Ti, pointing to presence of a small Ti-rich subgrain or heterogeneous loss of Ca and Ti after grain formation. This grain has a unique Si-isotopic composition with 30Si/29Si = 2.2× the solar ratio and C- and N-isotopic compositions as typically observed in X grains.  相似文献   

12.
We have investigated the presolar grain inventories of two CR chondrites, QUE 99177 and MET 00426, which are less altered than most members of this meteorite group. Both meteorites contain high abundances of O-anomalous presolar grains, with concentrations of 220 ± 40 and 160 ± 30 ppm for QUE 99177 and MET 00426, respectively. The presolar grain inventories are dominated by ferromagnesian silicates with group 1 oxygen isotopic compositions, indicative of origins in low mass red giant or asymptotic giant branch stars. Grains with pyroxene-like compositions are somewhat more common than those with olivine-like compositions, but most grains are non-stoichiometric with compositions intermediate between these two phases, consistent with recent work suggesting that amorphous interstellar silicates have stoichiometries between olivine and pyroxene type silicates. Although structural data are not available, one grain contains only Si and O, and has a stoichiometry consistent with SiO2.Our presolar grains are much more Fe-rich than predicted by astronomical observations. Although secondary alteration may play a role in enhancing the Fe contents of presolar grains, it seems unlikely that the large and ubiquitous Fe enrichments observed in the grains from this study can be due only to secondary processing, particularly given the highly primitive nature of these two meteorites. Grain condensation in the stellar outflows where these grains formed likely proceeded under rapidly changing kinetic conditions that may have enhanced the incorporation of Fe into the grains over that expected based on equilibrium condensation theory.Both QUE 99177 and MET 00426 appear to contain unusually low abundances of oxide grains and have higher silicate/oxide ratios than other primitive meteorites analyzed to date. We explore various possibilities for this discrepancy, but note that most scenarios are not likely to result in the preferential destruction of oxides relative to silicates. Thus, the highest silicate/oxide ratios, such as those observed in the CR chondrites, should reflect the true initial proportions of presolar silicate and oxide grains in the parent molecular cloud from which the solar nebula evolved.  相似文献   

13.
From their birth as condensates in the outflows of oxygen-rich evolved stars, processing in interstellar space, and incorporation into disks around new stars, amorphous silicates predominate in most astrophysical environments. Amorphous silicates were a major building block of our Solar System and are prominent in infrared spectra of comets. Anhydrous interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) thought to derive from comets contain abundant amorphous silicates known as GEMS (glass with embedded metal and sulfides) grains. GEMS grains have been proposed to be isotopically and chemically homogenized interstellar amorphous silicate dust. We evaluated this hypothesis through coordinated chemical and isotopic analyses of GEMS grains in a suite of IDPs to constrain their origins. GEMS grains show order of magnitude variations in Mg, Fe, Ca, and S abundances. GEMS grains do not match the average element abundances inferred for ISM dust containing on average, too little Mg, Fe, and Ca, and too much S. GEMS grains have complementary compositions to the crystalline components in IDPs suggesting that they formed from the same reservoir. We did not observe any unequivocal microstructural or chemical evidence that GEMS grains experienced prolonged exposure to radiation.We identified four GEMS grains having O isotopic compositions that point to origins in red giant branch or asymptotic giant branch stars and supernovae. Based on their O isotopic compositions, we estimate that 1-6% of GEMS grains are surviving circumstellar grains. The remaining 94-99% of GEMS grains have O isotopic compositions that are indistinguishable from terrestrial materials and carbonaceous chondrites. These isotopically solar GEMS grains either formed in the Solar System or were completely homogenized in the interstellar medium (ISM). However, the chemical compositions of GEMS grains are extremely heterogeneous and seem to rule out this possibility. Based on their solar isotopic compositions and their non-solar elemental compositions we propose that most GEMS grains formed in the nebula as late-stage non-equilibrium condensates.  相似文献   

14.
We report the isotopic composition of molybdenum in twenty-three presolar SiC grains from the Murchison meteorite which have been measured by resonant ionization mass spectrometry (RIMS). Relative to terrestrial abundance (and normalized to s-process-only 96Mo), the majority of the analyzed grains show strong depletions in the p-process isotopes 92Mo and 94Mo and the r-process isotope 100Mo. Sixteen of these grains have δ-values <−600% for these three isotopes. The observed isotopic patterns of Mo from mainstream SiC grains clearly reveal the signature of s-process nucleosynthesis. Three-isotope plots of all grain data (δiMo vs. δ92Mo) show strong linear correlations with characteristic slopes. This finding suggests mixing of solar-like material and pure s-process material in the parent stars. Comparison with evolutionary calculations of nucleosynthesis and mixing in red giants suggests that low-mass thermally-pulsed symptotic giant branch (TP-AGB) stars are the most likely site for the observed s-process nucleosynthesis.  相似文献   

15.
Using high-resolution spectra, we have determined the abundances of carbon (logε(C)), nitrogen (logε(N)), oxygen (logε(O)), silicon (logε(Si)), sulphur (logε(S)), and some other elements for three δ Scuti stars. Logε(C) for all three stars and logε(N) for δ Sct and HD 127986 are close to the solar values, while there appears to be a slight (0.15 dex) nitrogen deficiency for 14 Aur. The logε(O) values correspond to a 0.30-dex deficiency for 14 Aur and δ Sct and a 0.20-dex deficiency for HD 127986. The values of logε(Si) for the three stars are close to solar, and the logε(S) values indicate a slight deficiency (0.10 dex) for 14 Aur and HD 127986 and a 0.20-dex excess for δ Sct. Comparison of the elemental abundances for seven δ Scuti stars with those for Am stars shows that the mean deficiencies of C, N, and O are smaller for pulsating δ Scuti stars than for Am stars with similar effective temperatures. The sulphur abundances are virtually the same for both types of stars.  相似文献   

16.
We have carried out a comprehensive survey of the isotopic compositions (H, B, C, N, O, and S) of a suite of interplanetary dust particles (IDPs), including both cluster and individual particles. Isotopic imaging with the NanoSIMS shows the presence of numerous discrete hotspots that are strongly enriched in 15N, up to ∼1300‰. A number of the IDPs also contain larger regions with more modest enrichments in 15N, leading to average bulk N isotopic compositions that are 15N-enriched in these IDPs. Although C isotopic compositions are normal in most of the IDPs, two 15N-rich hotspots have correlated 13C anomalies. CN/C ratios suggest that most of the 15N-rich hotspots are associated with relatively N-poor carbonaceous matter, although specific carriers have not been determined. H isotopic distributions are similar to those of N: D anomalies are present both as distinct D-rich hotspots and as larger regions with more modest enrichments. Nevertheless, H and N isotopic anomalies are not directly correlated, consistent with results from previous studies. Oxygen isotopic imaging shows the presence of abundant presolar silicate grains in some of the IDPs. The O isotopic compositions of the grains are similar to those of presolar oxide and silicate grains from primitive meteorites. Most of the silicate grains in the IDPs have isotopic ratios consistent with meteoritic Group 1 oxide grains, indicating origins in oxygen-rich red giant and asymptotic giant branch stars, but several presolar silicates exhibit the 17O and 18O enrichments of Group 4 oxide grains, whose origin is less well understood. Based on their N isotopic compositions, the IDPs studied here can be divided into two groups. One group is characterized as being “isotopically primitive” and consists of those IDPs that have anomalous bulk N isotopic compositions. These particles typically also contain numerous 15N-rich hotspots, occasional C isotopic anomalies, and abundant presolar silicate grains. In contrast, the other “isotopically normal” IDPs have normal bulk N isotopic compositions and, although some contain 15N-rich hotspots, none exhibit C isotopic anomalies and none contain presolar silicate or oxide grains. Thus, isotopically interesting IDPs can be identified and selected on the basis of their bulk N isotopic compositions for further study. However, this distinction does not appear to extend to H isotopic compositions. Although both H and N anomalies are frequently attributed to the survival of molecular cloud material in IDPs and, thus, should be more common in IDPs with anomalous bulk N compositions, D anomalies are as common in normal IDPs as they are in those characterized as isotopically primitive, based on their N isotopes.  相似文献   

17.
We report the results of a study of 81 micrometer-sized presolar SiC grains in the size range 0.5-2.6 μm from the Murchison (CM2) carbonaceous chondrite. We describe a simple, nondestructive physical disaggregation technique used to isolate the grains while preserving them in their pristine state, as well as the scanning electron microscopy energy-dispersive X-ray mapping procedure used to locate them.Nine-tenths of the pristine SiCs are bounded by one or more planar surfaces consistent with cubic (3C polytype) crystal faces based on manifest symmetry elements. In addition, multiple polygonal depressions (generally <100 nm deep) are observed in more than half of these crystal faces, and these possess symmetries consistent with the structure of the 3C polytype of SiC. By comparison of these features with the surface features present on heavily etched presolar SiC grains from Murchison separate KJG, we show that the polygonal depressions on pristine grains are likely primary growth features. The etched SiCs have high densities of surface pits, in addition to polygonal depressions. If these pits are etched linear defects in the SiC, then defect densities are quite high (as much as 108 -109/cm2), about 103-104 times higher than in typical synthetic SiCs. The polygonal depressions on crystal faces of pristine grains, as well as the high defect densities, indicate rapid formation of presolar SiC.No other primary minerals are observed to be intergrown with or overgrown on the pristine SiCs, so the presence of overgrowths of other minerals cannot be invoked to account for the survival of presolar SiC in the solar nebula. We take the absence of other primary condensates to indicate that further growth or back-reaction with the gas became kinetically inhibited as the gas-phase densities in the expanding asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stellar atmospheres (in which most of the grains condensed) became too low. However, we did observe an oxygen peak in the X-ray spectra of most pristine grains, implying silica coatings of as much as several tens of nm thickness, perhaps due to oxidation of the SiC in the solar nebula.We see little or no evidence on the pristine grains of the surface sputtering or cratering that are predicted theoretically to occur in the interstellar medium (ISM) due to supernova shocks. A possible implication is that the grains may have been protected during their residence in the ISM by surface coatings, including simple ices. Residues of such coatings may indeed be present on some pristine SiCs, because many (60%) are coated with an apparently amorphous, possibly organic phase. However, at present we do not have sufficient data on the coatings to draw secure inferences as to their nature or origin.A few irregular pristine SiCs, either fragments produced by regolith gardening on the Murchison parent body or by grain-grain collisions in the ISM, were also observed.  相似文献   

18.
We have developed a procedure that allows extraction of clean nanodiamond samples from primitive meteorites for isotopic analyses of trace elements on a timescale of just a week. This procedure includes microwave digestion and optimization of existing isolation techniques for further purification. Abundances of trace elements that are difficult to dissolve using standard procedures (e.g., Ir) are lower in the diamond residues prepared using the new technique. Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) was explored as a means for isotopic measurements. Results obtained on diamond fractions from Allende and Murchison show the need for suitable matrix-adjusted standards to correct for fractionation effects; nevertheless they allow putting an upper limit on the abundance of 198Pt-H in nanodiamonds of ∼1 × 1014 atoms/g. This limit is on the order of what can be expected from predictions of competing nucleosynthesis models and extrapolation of the apparently mass dependent abundance trend of the associated noble gases.Unfortunately, and unexpectedly, presolar silicon carbide is almost quantitatively dissolved during microwave digestion with HCl/HF/HNO3. Re-evaluation of the standard extraction technique, however, shows that it also may lead to severe loss of fine-grained SiC, a fact not commonly appreciated. A lower limit to SiC abundance in Murchison is 20 ppm, and previous conclusions that Murchison SiC is unusually coarse-grained compared to SiC in other primitive meteorites seem not to be warranted. Graphite and silicon nitride may survive and possibly can be separated after this step as suggested by a simulation experiment using terrestrial analog material, but the detailed behavior of meteoritic graphite requires further study.  相似文献   

19.
The carbon and nitrogen isotopic compositions of seven of the most abundant alkylporphyrins from the Serpiano oil shale (marine, Triassic) were determined. For the C31 and C32 butanoporphyrins, values of delta 13CPDB and delta 15NAIR averaged -24.0% and -3.1%. In contrast, the C31 and C32 methylpropanoporphyrins, DPEP, and a C30 13-nor etioporphyrin had delta 13C and delta 15N values averaging -27.5 and -3.3%, respectively. Carbon and nitrogen isotopic values for kerogen averaged -30.8 and -0.9, whereas those for total extract averaged -31.6, and -4.0%. The butanoporphyrins apparently derive from a biological source different from that giving rise to the other porphyrins, their 13C enrichment not being related to carbon isotopic fractionation accompanying diagenetic reactions. The delta 15N values for all the porphyrins indicate that the depletion of 15N observed in the kerogen is of primary origin. Consistent with the very high abundance of hopanoids and methyl hopanoids in the aliphatic hydrocarbon fraction, it is suggested that cyanobacterial fixation of N2 may have been the main cause of 15N depletion.  相似文献   

20.
A model for the composition of meteoritic nanodiamonds is suggested based on analysis of the concentrations and isotopic compositions of C, N, and Xe in the nanodiamond-rich grain-size fractions, which were separated for the first time from the Orgueil CI chondrite. According to the model, meteoritic nanodiamond consists of two populations of grains (denoted CHL and CN). The size distributions of grains in populations in the CHL and CN populations are different: the CHL population is finer grained than CN. The grains of the CHL population are characterized by a radial gradient in the carbon isotopic composition, and they contain implanted anomalous noble gases (HL component) and the heavy nitrogen isotope 15N. Following (Clayton et al., 1995), the probable astrophysical source of this population of nanodiamond grains is thought to be the mixing helium and hydrogen shells of a Type-II supernova, and the mechanism that produced these grains was the slow CVD process. The CN population grains have homogeneous isotopic compositions of carbon (δ13C ≡–100‰) and nitrogen (δ15N ≡–400‰) and contain almost all nitrogen of the nanodiamond-rich fractions. This population of nanodiamond grains was likely formed by a fast unequilibrated process, when shock waves affected organic compounds or gas rich in C- and N-bearing compounds during the early evolution of the protosolar nebula. Calculations within the framework of the model show that the nanodiamond-rich fractions separated from the Orgueil meteorite have the CN/CHL ratios varying from 1 in the finest grained fraction to 10 in the coarse-grained one. At these proportions of the populations, weighted mean δ13C values of CHL grains in the fractions lie within the range of 42 to 394‰, and the concentrations of 132Xe-HL and 15N are (49–563) × 10–8 cm3/gC and (1.1–6.2) × 10–5 cm3/gC, respectively.  相似文献   

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