The concentrations and distributions of volatile trace elements potentially provide information about the thermal history of meteorites and their parent planets.  However, due to their low concentrations and unique chemical properties the moderately- to highly-volatile halogens F, Cl, Br, and I have not been well utilized in cosmochemical studies.  To this end, we are investigating analytical methodologies that will facilitate the characterization of the contents of these elements in meteorites.  We are developing both total and multiple-step partial dissolution methods in attempt to determine concentrations of halogens in both bulk and selectively dissolved potential halogen-containing host phases in the primitive chondrites Allende (CV3.2), Murchison (CM2), and Krymka (LL3).  We utilize ion chromatography (IC) with suppressed ion conductivity and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometric (ICPMS) detection for the determination of halogens in solution generated from these dissolutions.  Preliminary results indicate that halogens primarily reside in water and CH3COOH soluble high surface area to volume phases, presumably alkali halides.  Our results are consistent with the theory that these elements are preferentially sited on the surfaces of fine-grained meteorite matrix material, potentially due to secondary processing on the parent body.  Our presentation will detail the development and validation of our chemical dissolution and instrumental methodologies.

Development of IC and IC-ICPMS for the determination of concentrations and distribution of halogens in primitive meteorites

247th National Meeting (2014)

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