Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Science 27 January 1989:
Vol. 243. no. 4890, pp. 519 - 522
DOI: 10.1126/science.243.4890.519
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Articles

Rhenium-Osmium Isotope Systematics of Carbonaceous Chondrites

R. J. WALKER 1 and J. W. MORGAN 2

1 Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, Carnegie Institution of Washington, 5241 Broad Branch Road, NW, Washington, DC 20015.
2 U.S. Geological Survey, Mail Stop 981, Reston, VA 22092.

Rhenium and osmium concentrations and Os isotopic compositions of eight carbonaceous chondrites, one LL3 ordinary chondrite, and two iron meteorites were determined by resonance ionization mass spectrometry. Iron meteorite 187Re/186Os and l87Os/l86Os ratios plot on the previously determined iron meteorite isochron, but most chondrite data plot 1 to 2 percent above this meteorite isochron. This suggests either that irons have significantly younger Re-Os closure ages than chondrites or that chondrites were formed from precursor materials with different chemical histories from the precursors of irons. Some samples of Semarkona (LL3) and Murray (C2M) meteorites plot 4 to 6 percent above the iron meteorite isochron, well above the field delineated by other chondrites. Murray may have lost Re by aqueous leaching during its preterrestrial history. Semarkona could have experienced a similar loss of Re, but only slight aqueous alteration is evident in the meteorite. Therefore, the isotopic composition of Semarkona could reflect assembly of isotopically heterogeneous components subsequent to 4.55 billion years ago or Os isotopic heterogeneities in the primordial solar nebula.

Submitted on September 9, 1988
Accepted on December 12, 1988


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
New osmium isotope evidence for intracrustal recycling of crustal domains with discrete ages.
G. L. Hart, C. M. Johnson, W. Hildreth, and S. B. Shirey (2003)
Geology 31, 427-430
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Decoupling of the Sm-Nd and Re-Os Isotopic Systems in Sulphide-Saturated Magmas in the Halls Creek Orogen, Western Australia.
R. A. SPROULE, D. D. LAMBERT, and D. M. HOATSON (2002)
J. Petrology 43, 375-402
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Osmium Isotopic Evidence for Crust-Mantle Interaction in the Genesis of Continental Intraplate Basalts from the Newer Volcanics Province, Southeastern Australia.
J. S. McBRIDE, D. D. LAMBERT, I. A. NICHOLLS, and R. C. PRICE (2001)
J. Petrology 42, 1197-1218
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Osmium Isotope Constraints on Ore Metal Recycling in Subduction Zones.
B. I. McInnes, J. S. McBride, N. J. Evans, D. D. Lambert, and A. S. Andrew (1999)
Science 286, 512-516
   Abstract »    Full Text »
Identification of meteoritic components in impactites.
C. Koeberl (1998)
Geological Society, London, Special Publications 140, 133-153
   Abstract »    PDF »
Osmium-187 Enrichment in Some Plumes: Evidence for Core-Mantle Interaction?.
R. J. Walker, R. J. Walker, J. W. Morgan, and M. F. Horan (1995)
Science 269, 819-822
   Abstract »    PDF »
Detection of a Meteoritic Component in Ivory Coast Tektites with Rhenium-Osmium Isotopes.
C. Koeberl, C. Koeberl, and S. B. Shirey (1993)
Science 261, 595-598
   Abstract »    PDF »
Rhenium-Osmium Isotope Constraints on the Age of Iron Meteorites.
M. F. HORAN, J. W. MORGAN, R. J. WALKER, and J. N. GROSSMAN (1992)
Science 255, 1118-1121
   Abstract »    PDF »
Rhenium-Osmium and Samarium-Neodymium Isotopic Systematics of the Stillwater Complex.
D. D. Lambert, D. D. LAMBERT, J. W. MORGAN, R. J. WALKER, S. B. SHIREY, R. W. CARLSON, M. L. ZIENTEK, and M. S. KOSKI (1989)
Science 244, 1169-1174
   Abstract »    PDF »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)