Ahrensite, γ-Fe2SiO4, a new shock-metamorphic mineral from the Tissint meteorite: Implications for the Tissint shock event on Mars. (1st July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ma, Chi; Tschauner, Oliver; Beckett, John R.; Liu, Yang; Rossman, George R.; Sinogeikin, Stanislav V.; Smith, Jesse S.; Taylor, Lawrence A.
• Is Part Of: Geochimica et cosmochimica acta. Volume 184(2016:Jul. 01)
• Page Start: 240
• Page End: 256
• Publication Date: 2016-07-01
• Subjects: Ahrensite -- γ-Fe2SiO4 -- New high-pressure mineral -- Shock metamorphism -- Nanomineral -- Ringwoodite group -- Tissint meteorite -- Martian shergottite -- Synchrotron diffraction; Geochemistry -- Periodicals; Meteorites -- Periodicals; Géochimie -- Périodiques; Météorites -- Périodiques; Geochemie; Astrochemie; Electronic journals; 551.905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.gca.2016.04.042
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0016-7037

Abstract

Abstract: Ahrensite (IMA 2013-028), γ-Fe2 SiO4, is the natural Fe-analog of the silicate-spinel ringwoodite (γ-Mg2 SiO4 ). It occurs in the Tissint Martian meteorite, where it forms through the transformation of the fayalite-rich rims of olivine megacrysts or Fe-rich microphenocrysts in contact with shock melt pockets. The typical sequence of phase assemblages traversing across a Tissint melt pocket into olivine is: quenched melt or fayalite-pigeonite intergrowth ⇒ bridgmanite + wüstite ⇒ ahrensite and/or ringwoodite ⇒ highly-deformed olivine + nanocrystalline ringwoodite ⇒ deformed olivine. We report the first comprehensive set of crystallographic, spectroscopic, and quantitative chemical analysis of type ahrensite, and show that concentrations of ferric iron and inversion in the type material of this newly approved mineral are negligible. We also report the occurrence of nanocrystalline ringwoodite in strained olivine and establish correlations between grain size and distance from melt pockets. The ahrensite and ringwoodite crystals show no preferred orientation, consistent with random nucleation and incoherent growth within a highly strained matrix of olivine. Grain sizes of ahrensite immediately adjacent to melt pockets are consistent with growth during a shock of moderate duration (1–10 ms).