Incorporation of A late-forming chondrule into comet Wild 2

  • R. C. Ogliore
  • , G. R. Huss
  • , K. Nagashima
  • , A. L. Butterworth
  • , Z. Gainsforth
  • , J. Stodolna
  • , A. J. Westphal
  • , D. Joswiak
  • , T. Tyliszczak

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

81 Scopus citations

Abstract

We report the petrology, O isotopic composition, and Al-Mg isotope systematics of a chondrule fragment from the Jupiter-family comet Wild 2, returned to Earth by NASA's Stardust mission. This object shows characteristics of a typeII chondrule that formed from an evolved oxygen isotopic reservoir. No evidence for extinct 26Al was found, with (26Al/ 27Al)0 < 3.0 × 10-6. Assuming homogenous distribution of 26Al in the solar nebula, this particle crystallized at least 3Myr after the earliest solar system objects - relatively late compared to most chondrules in meteorites. We interpret the presence of this object in a Kuiper Belt body as evidence of late, large-scale transport of small objects between the inner and outer solar nebula. Our observations constrain the formation of Jupiter (a barrier to outward transport if it formed further from the Sun than this cometary chondrule) to be more than 3Myr after calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions.

Original languageEnglish
Article numberL19
JournalAstrophysical Journal Letters
Volume745
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 1 2012

Keywords

  • comets: individual (Wild 2)
  • Kuiper belt: general
  • planets and satellites: formation
  • planets and satellites: individual (Jupiter)

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