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Characterization of Mukundpura Carbonaceous Chondrite


Affiliations
1 78, BGT Extension, Jodhpur 342 005, India
2 Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology, Jodhpur 342 005, India
3 Basic Sciences Research Institute, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad 380 009, India
 

Two meteorite fragments collected from the Mukundpura impact site, Rajasthan, India have been analysed using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Mössbauer spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Raman spectroscopy. High Fe (22.65 wt%), Ni (1.53%) and S (3.69%) and concentrations of other elements obtained by X-ray analysis indicate that it is a carbonaceous chondrite. Mossbauer spectra show similarity with those obtained from Cold Bokkeveld and Murchison carbonaceous chondrites, and this analogy allows us to classify it as belonging to CM group of carbonaceous chondrites. TGA shows large weight loss, implying presence of significant amount of volatiles in this meteorite and Raman spectroscopy shows the presence of abundant organic matter consisting of disordered and aromatic (graphitic or polyaromatic) carbon. These results indicate that Mukundpura meteorite is a rare type of extraterrestrial object deserving further in-depth studies.

Keywords

Carbonaceous Chondrite, Chemical Composition, Meteorite Fragments, Spectral Analysis.
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  • Characterization of Mukundpura Carbonaceous Chondrite

Abstract Views: 258  |  PDF Views: 78

Authors

R. P. Tripathi
78, BGT Extension, Jodhpur 342 005, India
Ambesh Dixit
Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology, Jodhpur 342 005, India
N. Bhandari
Basic Sciences Research Institute, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad 380 009, India

Abstract


Two meteorite fragments collected from the Mukundpura impact site, Rajasthan, India have been analysed using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Mössbauer spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Raman spectroscopy. High Fe (22.65 wt%), Ni (1.53%) and S (3.69%) and concentrations of other elements obtained by X-ray analysis indicate that it is a carbonaceous chondrite. Mossbauer spectra show similarity with those obtained from Cold Bokkeveld and Murchison carbonaceous chondrites, and this analogy allows us to classify it as belonging to CM group of carbonaceous chondrites. TGA shows large weight loss, implying presence of significant amount of volatiles in this meteorite and Raman spectroscopy shows the presence of abundant organic matter consisting of disordered and aromatic (graphitic or polyaromatic) carbon. These results indicate that Mukundpura meteorite is a rare type of extraterrestrial object deserving further in-depth studies.

Keywords


Carbonaceous Chondrite, Chemical Composition, Meteorite Fragments, Spectral Analysis.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv114%2Fi01%2F214-217