The mineralogy of the Yaringie Hill meteorite - A new H5 chondrite from South Australia

Abstract

<jats:p><jats:bold>Abstract—</jats:bold> The Yaringie Hill meteorite is a new H5 ordinary chondrite found in the Gawler Ranges, South Australia. The meteorite, which shows only minor signs of terrestrial weathering, is predominantly composed of olivine (Fa<jats:sub>17.2</jats:sub>), orthopyroxene (Fs<jats:sub>15.1</jats:sub>Wo<jats:sub>1.1</jats:sub>), and three distinct phases of nickeliferous iron metal (kamacite, taenite, tetrataenite). Other minerals include troilite, plagioclase (Ab<jats:sub>81</jats:sub>An<jats:sub>16</jats:sub>Or<jats:sub>3</jats:sub>), clinopyroxene (En<jats:sub>52</jats:sub>Wo<jats:sub>42</jats:sub>Fs<jats:sub>6</jats:sub>), chlorapatite, merrillite, ilmenite, and native copper. Three types of spinel with distinctive textures (coarse, skeletal aggregates, rounded aggregates) and with compositions close to the join MgAl<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>O<jats:sub>4</jats:sub>‐FeCr<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>O<jats:sub>4</jats:sub> are also present. Chondrules within the Yaringie Hill meteorite, which often have poorly defined boundaries, are placed in a recrystallized matrix. Shock indicators suggest that the meteorite experienced only weak shock metamorphism (S3).</jats:p>