1994•Lunar and Planetary Science ConferenceRequires access
The Complex Thermal History of Enstatite Chondrites
Y. Zhang, P. H. Benoit, D. W. G. Sears
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Abstract
The induced thermoluminescence properties of 32 enstatite chondrites have been measured in order to explore the metamorphic history of the EH and EL classes. The EH chondrites show a small increase in TL sensitivity with petrographic type consistent with the increase in blue luminescence as minor elements diffuse out of enstatite during metamorphism. However, the EL chondrites show a much greater range of TL sensitivity and the EL5,6 chondrites appear to be acting independently of the other EL chondrites. We speculate that this is because, unlike the other enstatite chondrites, enstatite is in the ordered structural state in the EL6 chondrites. The TL data provide further evidence, consistent with mineral composition data, that the EL6 chondrites do not constitute a simple monotonic metamorphic series.