Willow Grove: A unique nickel‐rich ataxite from Victoria, Australia

Abstract

Abstract-The Willow Grove meteorite is a new ungrouped iron meteorite from Victoria, Australia, with an extremely high Ni content (28%). It has a lath martensite structure, in contrast to the plate martensite shown by Tishomingo, a compositionally similar ungrouped iron meteorite with a slightly higher Ni content (32%). Despite the meteorite's unique texture, it has not been possible to estimate the rate at which the meteorite cooled, either before or after the transformation to martensite. Willow Grove also shows a pervasive network of microcracks most likely caused by terrestrial stress corrosion.Like Tishomingo, Willow Grove is depleted in volatiles. It is suggested that the volatiles were lost during asteroid processing, the high temperature possibly produced by an impact event.

Chemical Analysis of Iron Meteorites Using a Hand‐Held X‐Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer

“…,Choi et al (1995),Wasson et al (1998),Benedix et al (2000),Birch et al (2001),Wasson and Richardson (2001),Wasson and Kallemeyen (2002), Petaev and Jacobsen (2004), Russell et al (2004), van Niekerk et al (2007), Wasson et al (2007), Walker et al (2008), D'Orazio et al (2011), Buchner et al (2012), Fazio et al (2013).…”

LA‐ICP‐MS Pb isotope test of meteorite provenance: A terrestrial origin for Lovina

“…Of the 16 known ungrouped ataxites (as of the 2019 MetSoc Database), all have complex, debated origins (Haack and McCoy 2007). For example, Willow Grove shows very low element/Ni ratios, significantly depleted in Cu, Ga, As, and Au, caused potentially by impact outgassing (Birch et al 2001). Elephant Moraine 83230 was possibly derived in a smaller planetesimal by impact with an IVA parent body (McCoy et al 2011).…”