Multiple nitrogen isotopic components coexisting in ureilites

Abstract

Nitrogen and noble gas isotopic compositions and C abundance of ureilites were analyzed using a stepwise combustion technique. Four Antarctic ureilites, ALHA77257, Asuka 881931, Yamato 791538 and Yamato 790981 were analyzed. Multiple N isotopic components were observed in these ureilites. The δ15N values of these N components ranged from +160 to -120%o. The minimum δ15N values of typically -120%o were observed at combustion temperatures at 700-900 °C where large amounts of C were released. A heavy N component was observed in only two ureilites, ALHA77257 and Asuka 881931. Silicate-enriched fractions and C-concentrated fractions were prepared for these two ureilites. We conclude that both the light N and the heavy N are trapped in the carbonaceous vein minerals. The lack of correlation between the N/C ratio and the 36Ar/C ratio suggests that the primary carrier phase of the light N does not correspond to that of the planetary noble gases. We consider that the isotopically heavy N, which was observed in this study, is related to the heavy N observed among polymict ureilites. Small amounts (<0.5 ppm) of light N with the minimum (δ15N value of-120%o were observed among the silicate fractions at the highest combustion temperature of 1200 °C, although the exact carrier phase of this light N is not known. We consider that the currently observed ureilites were produced by injection of several volatile-rich objects into volatile-poor ureilitic silicates. © Meteoritical Society, 1998.