LAUSR

Pallasites are type of stony-iron meteorites that contain large olivine grains surrounded by an iron-nickel metal matrix. This mineralogy denotes differentiation of the parent body. Besides this basic differentiation, most hypothesis of formation have different ways of explaining the mixed nature of the morphology of the olivines and relationships between the different minerals present. Most hypotheses start with basic fractional crystallization, but then branch in to other modes of differentiation/convection of materials [1], or invoke impact related events [2]. The main observations that these two hypotheses have to consider is the coexisting nature of rounded, euhedral, and fragmented olivine grains, often in the same meteorite, while surrounded by metal matrix. This study looks at the morphology of the olivine grains, while discussing possible mineralogical control.