Hydrothermal alteration experiments of the Allende meteorite under reducing conditions

Abstract

Among the processes that have affected early cosmic materials including carbonaceous chondrites, water perhaps played the most significant role in the chemical and mineralogical evolution of a range of small asteroidal bodies, by modifying the primary mineralogical characteristics of precursor materials. The obvious effect of aqueous alteration is the formation of secondary phases, such as serpentines and smectite. The diversity in alteration assemblages among various chondrites likely reflect the aqueous environment of the parent bodies. Here we report hydrothermal alteration experiments of Allende meteorites.