Itqiy meteorite

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
Itqiy meteorite
Type Chondrite (ongoing scientific debate)
Class Enstatite chondrite (ongoing scientific debate)
Group EH7-an (ongoing scientific debate)
Parent body NWA2526-Itqiy[1]
Composition Enstatite (78 %), meteoric iron (22 %), sulfides.[2]
Country Western Sahara[3]
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[3]
Observed fall Yes[3]
Fall date 1990[3]
Found date 1990 + 2000-07[3]
TKW 0.410 kilograms (0.90 lb)[3] + 4.310 kilograms (9.50 lb)[3]

The Itqiy meteorite is an enstatite-rich stony-iron meteorite. It is classified as an enstatite chondrite of the EH group that was nearly melted and is therefore very unusual for that group.[2][4] Other classifications have been proposed and are an ongoing scientific debate.

History

Itqiy fell during 1990 in Western Sahara and is named after a small hamlet.[3][5] One stone was recovered soon after by a nomad, a second stone was recovered in July 2000 by Marc, Luc, and Jim Labenne who were searching for meteorites in the same location.[3] It was first described in 2001.[6]

Mineralogy and petrology

Itqiy is a stony-iron meteorite consisting of 78% enstatite and 22% meteoric iron. The meteoric iron is kamacite with 5.77% nickel. Small amounts of other minerals include troilite, Mg-Mn-Fe sulfides and Fe-Cr sulfides.[2][7]

Classification

The meteorite was described as an "Enstatite meteorite ungrouped" in 2001. It was reasoned that Itqiy represents a rock that formed through partial melting of an enstatite chondrite.[2][7] In 2006 Itqiy was classified as a member of the EH group, petrologic type 7, emphasizing the strong metamorphic overprint of the specimen.[2] In 2008 it was argued that Itqiy represents the residue of an enstatite chondrite that was partially molten about 20%, thereby removing the plagioclase.[8] In 2011 it was proposed that Itqiy, QUE 94204, QUE 97289, QUE 97348, NWA 2526 and possibly Yamato 793225 are part of a new group that should be called "primitive enstatite achondrites".[9]

Parent body

In 2010 it was proposed that NWA 2526 and Itqiy share the same parent body.[8]

See also

References

  1. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. 7.0 7.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. 8.0 8.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.