Abstract
An unusual material that has been called the ‘poorly characterized phase’ (PCP)1 is abundant in CM2 carbonaceous chondrites. Its identity has been one of the more difficult problems of carbonaceous chondrite mineralogy. Its puzzling compositions, petrographic textures and X-ray diffraction patterns do not fit any known mineral1,2. The high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) described here reveals an Fe–Ni–S–O layered mineral occurring as a major component of PCP in the Mighei CM2 carbonaceous chondrite. The new mineral exhibits extremely unusual structures, with curved, rolled and wavy layers resembling those of serpentine minerals. It also occurs in a coherent intergrowth with phyllosilicates in various ordered and disordered sequences. The intergrowth is the most common form of the Fe–Ni–S–O mineral and is prevalent throughout the matrix; therefore, this new mineral should be considered an important phase that is genetically related to phyllosilicates in the CM2 carbonaceous chondrites.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Fuchs, L. H., Olsen, E. & Jensen, K. J. Smithson. Contr. Earth Sci. 10, 1–39 (1973).
Ramdohr, P. J. geophys. Res. 68, 2011–2036 (1963).
Bunch, T. E. & Chang, S. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 44, 1543–1577 (1980).
McSween, H. Y. & Richardson, S. M. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 41, 1145–1161 (1977).
Lewis, R. S., Srinivasan, B. & Anders, E. Science 190, 1251–1262 (1975).
Gros, J. & Anders, E. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 33, 401–406 (1977).
Srinivasan, B., Gros, J. & Anders, E. J. geophys. Res. 82, 762–778 (1977).
Frick, U. & Chang, S. Meteoritics 13, 465–470 (1978).
Ott, U., Mack, R. & Chang, S. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 45, 1751–1788 (1981).
Tomeoka, K. & Buseck, P. R. Meteoritics 17, 289–290 (1982).
Tomeoka, K. & Buseck, P. R. Lunar planet. Sci. 14, 789–790 (1983).
Tomeoka, K. & Buseck, P. R. 41st a. Proc. EMSA (ed. Bailey, G. W.) 188–189 (San Francisco Press, 1983).
Mackinnon, I. D. R. & Buseck, P. R. Nature 280, 219–220 (1979).
Mackinnon, I. D. R. Proc. 11th, Lunar planet. Sci. Conf. 839–852 (1980).
Barber, D. J. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 45, 945–970 (1981).
Yada, K. Acta crystallogr. 23, 704–707 (1967).
Yada, K. Can. Miner. 17, 679–691 (1979).
Veblen, D. R. & Buseck, P. R. Science 206, 1398–1400 (1979).
Eckstrand, O. R. Econ. Geol. 70, 183–201 (1975).
Ashley, P. M. J. geol. Soc. Aust. 22, 91–102 (1975).
Ramdohr, P. Neues Jb. Miner. Abh. 107, 241–265 (1967).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tomeoka, K., Buseck, P. A new layered mineral from the Mighei carbonaceous chondrite. Nature 306, 354–356 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1038/306354a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/306354a0
This article is cited by
-
Evaluation of dehydration mechanism during heating of hydrous asteroids based on mineralogical and chemical analysis of naturally and experimentally heated CM chondrites
Earth, Planets and Space (2008)
-
Mössbauer spectroscopy of57Fe and the evolution of the solar system
Hyperfine Interactions (1989)
-
Hydrated interplanetary dust particle linked with carbonaceous chondrites?
Nature (1985)
-
Proposed structures for poorly characterized phases in C2M carbonaceous chondrite meteorites
Nature (1984)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.