MINERAL EQUILIBRIUM IN FRACTIONATED NEBULAR SYSTEMS

Abstract

We investigated the equilibrium mineral assemblages in chemically fractionated nebular systems, using a computer routine that finds the set of minerals and gases which minimizes the Gibbs free energy of a system with stipulated elemental abundances. Diagrams are presented showing the equilibrium mineralogy, as a function of temperature (400–2300 K), for unfractionated solar material and five fractionated systems. The fractionated systems were defined by mixing, in various proportions, the following four volatility components that solar material can be divided into: refractory dust, carbonaceous matter, ices, and H2 gas. Dust enrichment is seen to increase temperatures of condensation/evaporation and the Fe2+ content of mafic minerals and to permit existence of stable melt phases. Enrichment of dust and organic matter produces mineral assemblages that are similar in many ways to those of enstatite chondrites, but with mafic minerals that are far more reduced (Fe2+-poor) than those in primitive enstatite chondrites. Enrichment of dust, organics and ices leads to highly ferrous mineralogies even at the highest temperatures but does not predict the stability of hydrous phases above ~450 K.