A study of relation between undifferentiated and differentiated meteorites based on noble gas elemental and isotopic compositions

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Differentiated bodies (differentiated meteorites and planets) are thought to have been formed from materials like primitive meteorites (=chondrites). However, details about relation between them and differentiation processes are still questions. In this research project, we tried to have better understanding them based on noble gas isotope studies. For this, noble gas elemental and isotopic compositions in several classes of differentiated meteorites (aubrites, angrite, brachinite and lunar meteorites) and chondrites have been determined with a mass spectrometer. Remarkable results we obtained are as follows.(1)Origin of aubrites : Aubrites are only achondrites that have a chondrite-pair for oxygen isotopic compositions. Therefore, it is interesting to study relation of aubrites with the chondrites (enstatite chondrites) and to clear the process of aubrite evolution. We have measured nine aubrites for noble gases and five aubrites for oxygen isotopes, from which we concluded that (i)so … More me of the measured aubrites contain chondritic primordial noble gases, but it is likely originated from chondritic clasts and not a indigenous signature. (ii)^<244>Pu-derived fission Xe has been observed in some aubrites. The Pu/U ratios range in those observed in chondrites and other achondrites, which indicates that aubrites were formed within several hundreds m.y.after the solar system formation. (iii)The distribution of comic-ray exposure ages for aubrites is different from that for enstatite chondrites, implying that orbits of these parent asteroids are probably different.(2)Primordial noble gases in chondrites : Although the majority of primordial noble gases in chondrites are often believed to be "Q" type noble gases, we found another component that is the major component in some (or most) unequilibrated ordinary chondrites. It shows some characteristic features ; enrichments in lighter elements (Ar/Xe and Kr/Xe ratios are higher than those of Q), low release temperatures (〜1100℃ compared with〜1300℃ for Q) and trap in a HCl soluble phase.A mini-oven system for extracting noble gases from mg or sub-mg samples has been designed and constructed. It enables to melt a sample on a Pt-wire with small power (e.g., 〜30W with φ0.6mm Pt-wire). Less