The Lodran meteorite and its relationship to the ureilites

Abstract

SummaryLodran is a unique meteorite consisting of roughly equal amounts of metal, olivine, and pyroxene with minor amounts of sulphide, chromite, phosphide, chrome-diopside, and a new phase with a composition close to (K,Na)AlSi5O12. Zähringer reported planetary-type rare gases in both the metal and silicates, suggesting a primitive nature. The pyroxene composition is Fs13.8 with little variation. Olivine composition averages Fa12.6, but varies at least ±20 % both among grains and zoned within single grains; only the Fe-rich olivine is in equilibrium with the pyroxene. The metal probably cooled rapidly (700 K/Myr) at high temperatures and slower (30 K/Myr) at lower temperatures. Two compositional populations of chromite are found.A model for the formation of Lodran includes three steps: Formation of large olivine, pyroxene, and metal grains, with the trapping of small olivine inclusions in pyroxene and pyroxene in olivine. Equilibration and recrystallization of olivine, pyroxene, and metal, loss of alkalis and Ca; this probably occurred in a parent-body setting. And incorporation of reducing materials and mild reheating sufficient to produce the zoning in the olivine but not enough to re-equilibrate the pyroxene.Phase compositions and rare-gas concentrations in ureilites are similar to those in Lodran. In some respects Lodran appears to be a metal-rich ureilite, but the higher Fe/(Fe+Mg) ratios in the latter (Fa 21 olivine) suggest origin on separate parent bodies.The Harvard University meteorite is a mesosiderite and not closely related to Lodran.