HAPPY CANYON: A NEW TYPE OF ENSTATITE ACHONDRITE

Abstract

Happy Canyon [found: 1971, 34° 46.5′N, 101° 33.6′W, Texas] consists of about 85 vol. % enstatite (Fs 0.4%), 5 to 10 vol % plagioclase (An 26%), and 5 vol % diopside (Fs 0.9%). In addition, there are minor remnants of metal (Ni 6.35 wt %, Si‐free) and troilite (with 5.10 wt % Cr and 1.15 wt % Ti) that have survived extensive terrestrial weathering. The meteorite has a cumulate texture, uniform‐size euhedral, prismatic crystals of enstatite (0.3 to 0.4 mm long) with interstitial plagioclase, diopside, troilite, and metal. The enstatite crystals are dominantly disordered and occur in alignments that suggest flow. There are no chondrules or remnants of chondrules. The enstatite crystals contain internal negative crystal voids, which are charactieristic of enstatite achondrites, as well as internal branching submicron rivulet dislocations. The bulk composition is that of an E6 enstatite chondrite, however, it has the texture of a crystal cumulate; achondritic, but unlike that of enstatite achondrites. Glass of a granitic composition occurs mainly in the mesostasis and is compositionally like the glass found inside pyroxene crystals in the Cumberland Falls enstatite achondrite.Happy Canyon is most simply explained as an E6 composition that has melted and reprecipitated at a slightly higher oxidation state, at some depth (> 7 km), possibly in the core volume of a small, asteroidal‐size parent body. In terms of classification, it occupies the gap between the recrystallized enstatite chondrites and the igneous, crystalline, unbrecciated enstatite achondrites like Shallowater. Happy Canyon is a new type of enstatite achondrite