The Wairarapa Valley, New Zealand, Chondrite

M. H. Battey
Geology Department, King's College, Newcastle upon Tyne.

Summary: The Wairarapa Valley hypersthene-olivine chondrite, found about 1863, has been analysed with the following result: SiO2 35·72, TiO2 0·11, Al2O3 2·91, Cr2O3 0·48, FeO 12·42, MnO 0·28, MgO 23·28, CaO 1·73, Na2O 0·96, K2O 0·20, P2O5 0·31, Fe 12·61, Ni 1·50, Co 0·04, FeS 5·46, Cl 0·07, H2O+ 1·05, H2O 0·48, less O for Cl 0·03; total 99·58 %. D. 3·65. The phases present are kamacite, taenite, plessite, troilite, magnetite, chromite, olivine Fa16, bronzite Fs15, possibly enstatite, plagioclase An25, and (?) maskelynite An9. The structures of the silicate phases and those disclosed by etching the metal phase are illustrated and described.

Mineralogical Magazine; June 1962 v. 33; no. 257; p. 73-85; DOI: 10.1180/minmag.1962.033.257.02
© 1962, The Mineralogical Society
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