Abstract
Zinc isotope compositions (δ^66Zn) and concentrations were determined for metal samples of 15 iron meteorites across groups IAB, IIAB, and IIIAB. Also analyzed were troilite and other inclusions from the IAB iron Toluca. Furthermore, the first Zn isotope data are presented for metal-silicate partitioning experiments that were conducted at 1.5 GPa and 1650 K. Three partitioning experiments with run durations of between 10 and 60 min provide consistent Zn metal-silicate partition coefficients of ~0.7 and indicate that Zn isotope fractionation between molten metal and silicate is either small (at less than about ±0.2‰) or absent. Metals from the different iron meteorite groups display distinct ranges in Zn contents, with concentrations of 0.08-0.24 μg/g for IIABs, 0.8-2.5 μg/g for IIIABs, and 12-40 μg/g for IABs. In contrast, all three groups show a similar range of δ^66Zn values (reported relative to 'JMC Lyon Zn') from +0.5‰ to +3.0‰, with no clear systematic differences between groups. However, distinct linear trends are defined by samples from each group in plots of δ^66Zn vs. 1/Zn, and these correlations are supported by literature data. Based on the high Zn concentration and δ^66Zn ≈ 0 determined for a chromite-rich inclusion of Toluca, modeling is employed to demonstrate that the Zn trends are best explained by segregation of chromite from the metal phase. This process can account for the observed Zn-δ^66Zn-Cr systematics of iron meteorite metals, if Zn is highly compatible in chromite and Zn partitioning is accompanied by isotope fractionation with δ^66Znchr-met ≈ - 1.5‰. Based on these findings, it is likely that the parent bodies of the IAB complex, IIAB and IIIAB iron meteorites featured δ^66Zn values of about -1.0 to +0.5‰, similar to the Zn isotope composition inferred for the bulk silicate Earth and results obtained for chondritic meteorites. Together, this implies that most solar system bodies formed with similar bulk Zn isotope compositions despite large differences in Zn contents. Mehr anzeigen
Persistenter Link
https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000084920Publikationsstatus
publishedExterne Links
Zeitschrift / Serie
Earth and Planetary Science LettersBand
Seiten / Artikelnummer
Verlag
ElsevierThema
Iron meteorites; Stable isotopes; Zn isotopes; Volatile elements; Core formationOrganisationseinheit
03946 - Schönbächler, Maria / Schönbächler, Maria