Metamorphism of Eucrite Meteorites Studied Quantitatively Using Induced Thermoluminescence
by Batchelor, J. D.; Sears, D. W. G.
EUCRITE meteorites 1 are especially important in studies of the early Solar Systems because they are the simplest and most ancient products of a process that was widespread in the inner Solar System 2,3: basaltic volcanism. They are also the meteorites for which there is least doubt of an asteroidal origin 4,5. After volcanism the eucrites experienced a period of metamorphism 6, either inside the asteroid as it cooled from igneous temperatures 7 or on the surface of the asteroid as a result of impact heating 8. Induced thermoluminescence studies provide a new and quantitative means of determining relative metamorphic intensities for these meteorites. Using this technique, we show that the eucrites constitute a continuous metamorphic series and not, as commonly assumed, two groups of metamorphosed and non-metamorphosed meteorites 9. These studies are the first application of the induced thermoluminescence technique to igneous rocks and we suggest that the method may well have application to other basalts.
- Journal
- Nature
- Volume
- 349
- Issue
- 6309
- Year
- 1991
- Start Page
- 516-518
- URL
- https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/349516a0
- ISBN/ISSN
- 1476-4687; 0028-0836
- DOI
- 10.1038/349516a0