Chondrites: Fingerprint of Early Solar System Formation
摘要
Meteorites are crucial in elucidating the early conditions and processes that shaped the solar system's evolution. Among the various types of meteorites, chondrites are of particular interest due to their representation in the oldest rocks formed in the early solar system, dating back to 4.567 billion years ago. Furthermore, as chondrites have not undergone melting or differentiation, they provide a pristine record of our planetary system's origin and evolution, with chondrules as distinguishing features. This study aims to investigate chondrites elemental composition and mineralogy, providing insights into the astrophysical processes that occurred during the early solar system's formation. To this end, physical tests, including appearance, magnetism, density, streak test, and fusion crust, were conducted on 123 samples from 2017 to 2023, with 144 analyses being carried out. Upon verifying their authenticity, more detailed studies were performed using advanced techniques such as X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Of the 123 samples, only eight were genuine meteorites, with four of them being stony chondrites. The chemical composition of these chondrites is the main focus of this study, where XRF and XRD have being used to determine the elemental and mineralogical composition. This research contributes to the planetary science program in the UAE and provides valuable references for university students and researchers in this field.