The formation of Ca-, Fe-rich silicates in reduced and oxidized CV chondrites: The roles of impact-modified porosity and permeability, and heterogeneous distribution of water ices

Abstract

CV (Vigarano type) carbonaceous chondrites, comprising Allende-like (CVoxA) and Bali-like (CVoxB) oxidized and reduced (CVred) subgroups, experienced differing degrees of fluid-assisted thermal and shock metamorphism. The abundance and speciation of secondary minerals produced during asteroidal alteration differ among the subgroups: (1) ferroan olivine and diopside-hedenbergite solid solution pyroxenes are common in all CVs; (2) nepheline and sodalite are abundant in CVoxA, rare in CVred, and absent in CVoxB; (3) phyllosilicates and nearly pure fayalite are common in CVoxB, rare in CVred, and virtually absent in CVoxA; (4) andradite, magnetite, and Fe-Ni-sulfides are common in oxidized CVs, but rare in reduced CVs; the latter contain kirschsteinite instead. Thus, a previously unrecognized correlation exists between meteorite bulk permeabilities and porosities with the speciation of the Ca-, Fe-rich silicates (pyroxenes, andradite, kirschsteinite) among the CVox and CVred meteorites. The extent of secondary mineralization was controlled by the distribution of water ices, permeability, and porosity, which in turn were controlled by impacts on the asteroidal parent body. More intense shock metamorphism in the region where the reduced CVs originated decreased their porosity and permeability while simultaneously expelling intergranular ices and fluids. The mineralogy, petrography, and bulk chemical compositions of both the reduced and oxidized CV chondrites indicate that mobile elements were redistributed between Ca,Al-rich inclusions, dark inclusions, chondrules, and matrices only locally; there is no evidence for large-scale (>several cm) fluid transport. Published 53Mn-53Cr ages of secondary fayalite in CV, CO, and unequilibrated ordinary chondrites, and carbonates in CI, CM, and CR chondrites are consistent with aqueous alteration initiated by heating of water ice-bearing asteroids by decay of 26Al, not shock metamorphism.