The CR chondrite clan: Implications for early solar system processes

Abstract

In this paper, we review the mineralogy and chemistry of Ca, Al-rich inclusions (CAIs), chondrules, FeNi-metal, and fine-grained materials of the CR chondrite clan, including CR, CH, and the metal-rich CB chondrites QUE 94411, Hammadah al Hamra 237, Bencubbin, Gujba, and Weatherford. The members of the CR chondrite clan are among the most pristine early solar system materials, which largely escaped thermal processing in an asteroidal setting (Bencubbin, Weatherford, and Gujba may be exceptions) and provide important constraints on the solar nebula models. These constraints include: (i) multiplilicity of CAI formation; (ii) formation of CAIs and chondrules in spatially separated nebular regions; (iii) formation of CAIs in gaseous reservoir(s) having 16O-rich isotopic compositions; chondrules appear to have formed in the presence of 16O-poor nebular gas; (iv) isolation of CAIs and chondrules from nebular gas at various ambient temperatures; (v) heterogeneous distribution of 26Al in the solar nebula; (vi) absence of matrix material in the regions of CAI and chondrule formation.