Structure and Chemical Composition of the Ordinary Chondrite Jiddat Al Harasis 055

Abstract

A comprehensive study of the Jiddat Al Harasis 055 (L4-5 type) ordinary chondrite is conducted using 2D X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, Mössbauer spectroscopy, X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and vibrating sample magnetometry. The content of Fe, Ni, Si, Mg, S, Ca, Al, Mn, Ti, and Cr is determined; several components and areas with increased content of S, Ti, Cr, and Ni are detected along with several Ca–Al inclusions. According to XANES data, the Jiddat Al Harasis 055 sample contains iron with the average oxidation state 2.4+. This result is consistent with the data of Mössbauer spectroscopy used to identify iron phases which testifis that 46% and 54% of iron ions appear in Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ states, respectively. By comparing the pre-edge energy position and the area under the preedge peak of XANES spectra with literature data reported for geological materials, the average coordination number in the first coordination sphere of iron is found to be 5.3. According to the data of Xray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy, the iron-containing meteorite phases consist mainly of olivine, pyroxene, hematite, and goethite. The observed magnetic properties of the sample can be attributed to small inclusions of ferromagnetic phases such as nickel nanoparticles, which cannot be reliably identified using laboratory spectral methods.