Osmium Isotope Evidence for an s -Process Carrier in Primitive Chondrites

Abstract

Osmium extracted from unequilibrated bulk chondrites has isotope anomalies consistent with an insoluble s -process carrier, termed Os(i) here. Osmium from metamorphosed bulk chondrites does not have isotope anomalies, implying that the Os(i) carrier was destroyed by metamorphism. The isotopic homogeneity of metamorphosed bulk chondrites is consistent with extremely effective mixing of presolar grains from varied sources in the nebula. Osmium in the Os(i) carrier is likely from nucleosynthetic sites with a neutron density about two to four times as high as that of the average solar s -process Os.