Several recent studies have shown that materials such as magnetite that formed in asteroids tend to have higher Delta-17O (=delta-16O - 0.52 x delta-18O) values than those recorded in unaltered chondrules. Other recent studies have shown that, in sets of chondrules from carbonaceous chondrites, ∆17O tends to increase as the FeO contents of the silicates increase. We report a comparison of the O isotopic composition of olivine phenocrysts in low-FeO (less than or equal to Fa1) type I and high-FeO (greater than or equal to Fa15) type II porphyritic chondrules in the highly primitive CO3.0 chondrite Yamato-81020. In agreement with a similar study of chondrules in CO3.0 ALH A77307 by Jones et al. (2000), Delta-17O tends to increase with increasing FeO. We find that ∆17O values are resolved (but only marginally) between the two sets of olivine phenocrysts. In two of the high-FeO chondrules, the difference between Delta-17O of the late-formed, high-FeO phenocryst olivine and those in the low-FeO cores of relict grains is well-resolved (although one of the relicts is interpreted to be a partly melted amoeboid olivine inclusion by Yurimoto and Wasson [2002]). It appears that, during much of the chondrule-forming period, there was a small upward drift in the Delta-17O of nebular solids and that relict cores preserve the record of a different (and earlier) nebular environment.

The hypothesis that the soluble fraction of the organic compounds present in carbonaceous chondrite meteorites was formed during aqueous alteration of the parent body was tested with masstransfer, reaction-path calculations. In these calculations, we start with likely compositions of the original parent body and asteroidal fluids that are far from thermodynamic equilibrium, and metastable and stable equilibrium constraints are imposed as the total Gibbs free energy of the parent body environment is minimized. The results of these calculations suggest that the classes of soluble organic compounds present in carbonaceous chondrite meteorites could have formed during relatively low temperature aqueous alteration of the meteorite parent body or bodies. The main controls on the potential for synthesis and transformation of organic compounds were the oxidation state of the rock/fluid system, the bulk composition of that system, and the temperatures that were achieved during the alteration event or events. It also appears that the alteration mineral assemblages were influenced by the presence of soluble organic compounds and reaction among them.

Fine-grained, spinel-rich inclusions in the reduced CV chondrites Efremovka and Leoville consist of spinel, melilite, anorthite, Al-diopside, and minor hibonite and perovskite; forsterite is very rare. Several CAIs are surrounded by forsterite-rich accretionary rims. In contrast to heavily altered fine-grained CAIs in the oxidized CV chondrite Allende, those in the reduced CVs experienced very little alteration (secondary nepheline and sodalite are rare). The Efremovka and Leoville fine-grained CAIs are 16O-enriched and, like their Allende counterparts, generally have volatility fractionated group II rare earth element patterns. Three out of 13 fine-grained CAIs we studied are structurally uniform and consist of small concentrically zoned nodules having spinel +/- hibonite +/- perovskite cores surrounded by layers of melilite and Al-diopside. Other fine-grained CAIs show an overall structural zonation defined by modal mineralogy differences between the inclusion cores and mantles. The cores are melilite-free and consist of tiny spinel +/- hibonite +/- perovskite grains surrounded by layers of anorthite and Al-diopside. The mantles are calcium-enriched, magnesium-depleted and coarser-grained relative to the cores; they generally contain abundant melilite but have less spinel and anorthite than the cores. The bulk compositions of fine-grained CAIs generally show significant fractionation of Al from Ca and Ti, with Ca and Ti being depleted relative to Al; they are similar to those of coarsegrained, type degrees C igneous CAIs, and thus are reasonable candidate precursors for the latter. The finegrained CAIs originally formed as aggregates of spinel-perovskite-melilite +/- hibonite gas-solid condensates from a reservoir that was 16O-enriched but depleted in the most refractory REEs. These aggregates later experienced low-temperature gas-solid nebular reactions with gaseous SiO and Mg to form Al-diopside and anorthite. The zoned structures of many of the fine-grained inclusions may be the result of subsequent reheating that resulted in the evaporative loss of SiO and Mg and the formation of melilite. The inferred multi-stage formation history of fine-grained inclusions in Efremovka and Leoville is consistent with a complex formation history of coarse-grained CAIs in CV chondrites.

We have analyzed the potassium isotopic composition of four tektites from the Australasian strewn field, spanning a wide diversity of thermal histories, inferred from textures and volatile element contents. Our results indicate no isotopic differences between tektites and terrestrial crustal rocks, placing stringent limits of less than or equal to 2% loss of potassium during the brief duration of high temperature heating experienced by these samples. This confirms that the chemical composition of tektites is entirely a reflection of source rock composition and has not been modified by the tektiteforming process for elements less volatile than potassium. Losses of more volatile components, e.g., the halogens and water, are not precluded by the present data. Coupling a radiative cooling temperature-time path with potassium vapor pressure data indicates that tektite melt drops are not likely to develop bulk elemental fractionation during the brief heating episodes of tektites for peak temperatures <2273 K. The extent of K isotopic fractionation is independent of droplet size but dependent on peak heating temperature. The exact peak temperature depends on the choice of vapor pressure data used for K, which need to be better constrained.

Studies of lunar meteorite Dhofar 026, and comparison to Apollo sample 15418, indicate that Dhofar 026 is a strongly shocked granulitic breccia (or a fragmental breccia consisting almost entirely of granulitic breccia clasts) that experienced considerable post-shock heating, probably as a result of diffusion of heat into the rock from an external, hotter source. The shock converted plagioclase to maskelynite, indicating that the shock pressure was between 30 and 45 GPa. The post-shock heating raised the rocks temperature to about 1200 C; as a result, the maskelynite devitrified, and extensive partial melting took place. The melting was concentrated in pyroxene-rich areas; all pyroxene melted. As the rock cooled, the partial melts crystallized with fine-grained, subophitic-poikilitic textures. Sample 15418 is a strongly shocked granulitic breccia that had a similar history, but evidence for this history is better preserved than in Dhofar 026. The fact that Dhofar 026 was previously interpreted as an impact melt breccia underscores the importance of detailed petrographic study in interpretation of lunar rocks that have complex textures. The name impact melt has, in past studies, been applied only to rocks in which the melt fraction formed by shock-induced total fusion. Recently, however, this name has also been applied to rocks containing melt formed by heating of the rocks by conductive heat transfer, assuming that impact is the ultimate source of the heat. We urge that the name impact melt be restricted to rocks in which the bulk of the melt formed by shock-induced fusion to avoid confusion engendered by applying the same name to rocks melted by different processes.

In 2006, the Stardust spacecraft will return to Earth with cometary and perhaps interstellar dust particles embedded in silica aerogel collectors for analysis in terrestrial laboratories. These particles will be the first sample return from a solid planetary body since the Apollo missions. In preparation for the return, analogue particles were implanted into a keystone of silica aerogel that had been extracted from bulk silica aerogel using the optical technique described in Westphal et al. (2004). These particles were subsequently analyzed using analytical techniques associated with the use of a nuclear microprobe. The particles have been analyzed using: a) scanning transmission ion microscopy (STIM) that enables quantitative density imaging; b) proton elastic scattering analysis (PESA) and proton backscattering (PBS) for the detection of light elements including hydrogen; and degrees C) proton-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) for elements with Z >11. These analytical techniques have enabled us to quantify the composition of the encapsulated particles. A significant observation from the study is the variable column density of the silica aerogel. We also observed organic contamination within the silica aerogel. The implanted particles were then subjected to focused ion beam (FIB) milling using a 30 keV gallium ion beam to ablate silica aerogel in site-specific areas to expose embedded particles. An ion polished flat surface of one of the particles was also prepared using the FIB. Here, we show that ion beam techniques have great potential in assisting with the analysis and exposure of Stardust particles.