Mineralogical and Al-Mg Isotopic Study of Fine-Grained Ca-Al-Rich Inclusions

Fine-grained Ca-Al-rich inclusions (FGIs) in carbonaceous chondrites are interpreted as aggregates of nebular gas-solid condensates that escaped significant melting.Thus far, a small number of FGIs from CV3 chondrites have been analyzed, showing a range of (26Al/27Al)0=~5.4×10−5to ~3.4×10−5.These values are similar to (26Al/27Al)0inferred from coarse-grained, igneous CAIs (CGIs) from CV3 chondrites.This observed spread in (26Al/27Al)0values indicates the CAI formation over an extended time period. However, more analyses are needed to determine if the FGIs formed continuously over a significant time period or by multiple episodic events of nebular condensation. In this study, we present high-precision Al-Mg isotopic data of FGIs from reduced CV3 chondrites to better constrain their formation timescale relative to CGIs in CV3 chondrites, as well as to smaller FGIs in CO3 chondrites. This isotopic study is coordinated with a FIB/TEM study to elucidate the origin and nature of FGIs in the petrologic and mineralogical context.