Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Quantifying Temperatures In The Early Solar Nebula And On Parent Bodies Using Cation Ordering In Spinel From Cais In Carbonaceous Chondrites, Victoria Houde

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Understanding the early solar system requires studying early-formed materials. Calcium-Aluminium-Rich Inclusions (CAIs) are the oldest materials in the solar system. Spinel (MgAl₂O₄) is common in CAIs. Its cation distribution relates to formation, or most recent equilibration, temperature. This can be measured using ²⁷Al Magic Angle Spinning (MAS) Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Calibration curves can be used to calculate temperature.

Micro X-ray Diffraction identified spinel-containing CAIs in four of seven meteorites tested. ²⁷Al MAS NMR and ²⁷Al Triple Quantum (3Q) MAS NMR was acquired at 21.1 Tesla. Temperature estimates were calculated for each …