Tagish Lake meteorite, Tagish Lake, Carcross, Whitehorse mining district, Yukon, Canadai
Regional Level Types | |
---|---|
Tagish Lake meteorite | Meteorite Fall Location |
Tagish Lake | Lake |
Carcross | - not defined - |
Whitehorse mining district | Mining District |
Yukon | Territory |
Canada | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
59° 42' 15'' North , 134° 12' 5'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Meteorite Class:
Meteoritical Society Class:
KΓΆppen climate type:
Mindat Locality ID:
31218
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:31218:4
GUID (UUID V4):
5990a65e-22c9-44fc-9e8b-1c78c480976a
Carbonaceous Chondrite (C2-ung; S1)
~10 kg recovered in small fragments (fresh & weathered)
An unusually bright meteoritic fireball preceded the fall of an unusually primitive Carbonaceous Chondrite. Tagish Lake exploded over the skies of Yukon Territory, British Columbia, Northwest Territories, and Alaska on January 18, 2000. Most of the fragments found were from Tagish Lake, and most were actually found within British Columbia. Calculations using seismic and satellite data suggest that a preatmospheric porous meteoroid with a ~ 5 m diameter and roughly 100 ton mass created the spectacular pre-dawn display which produced the relative meager surving material we now label the Tagish Lake meteorite. Carbonaceous chondrites are unusually fragile objects which are often thoroughly disrupted by passage through the earth's atmosphere. Tagish Lake seems to be at the most fragile end of the spectrum for this already fragile class and may be representative of a very important subgroup of poorly sampled objects.
Fresh specimens collected immediately after the fall lying on the ice plus addition specimens collected before the spring and summer thaws revealed a phyllosilicate-rich breccia. Sulfides and magnetite are the most pervasive minor constituents among many found in this unique carbonaceous chondrite with important, but incomplete affinities to both CI and CM Carbonaceous Chondrites. Within the various clasts and fragments of the matrix are various aggregates, loose grains, sparse chondrules, and rare Calcium-Aluminum rich Inclusions (CAIs). Somewhat discrete components include a chondrule poor carbonate-rich lithology, a chondrule poor carbonate-poor lithology, an unusual CM1 carbonaceous chondrite clast with affinities to an equally unusual Kaidun clast, and CAIs in various states of aqueous alteration.
While Tagish Lake does not belong to any of the 8 defined Chemical Groups of Carbonaceous Chondrites it appears to be as near-solar in its chemical composition as the CI Carbonaceous Chondrites. Tagish Lake also contains minute nanodiamonds and silicon carbide grains created in 'Presolar' environments preceding the formation of the Solar Nebula.
Tagish Lake shows a scoriaceous texture and a significant number of vesicles (about 24,000 vesicles/mm2), thus allowing statistical analysis. Vesicles range from being spherical to irregular-shaped and from a few ΞΌm to ~70ΞΌm (equivalent diameter) in size. Vesicle size distribution and cumulative number density analyses show a high nucleation event and a fractal distribution of the vesicle population, respectively. These features may be due to disequilibrium degassing processes, which simultaneously produce continuous/accelerating vesicle nucleation and growth. Finally, possible analogies between the scoriaceous Tagish Lake fusion crust and the space-weathered βfrothy layerβ on the surface of Ryuguβs grains could be found in terms of vesicularity.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsMineral List
26 valid minerals.
Meteorite/Rock Types Recorded
Note: data is currently VERY limited. Please bear with us while we work towards adding this information!
Select Rock List Type
Alphabetical List Tree DiagramDetailed Mineral List:
β Andradite Formula: Ca3Fe3+2(SiO4)3 Description: Rare, found with magnetite & phyllosilicates |
β Barringerite Formula: (Fe,Ni)2P |
β Calcite Formula: CaCO3 References: |
β Chromite Formula: Fe2+Cr3+2O4 |
β Clinochlore Formula: Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 Description: Replaces both serpentine & saponite in Ca-poor lithology |
β 'Clinopyroxene Subgroup' |
β Diamond Formula: C |
β Diopside Formula: CaMgSi2O6 |
β Dolomite Formula: CaMg(CO3)2 References: |
β Enstatite Formula: Mg2Si2O6 |
β Farringtonite ? Formula: Mg3(PO4)2 |
β 'Fayalite-Forsterite Series' Description: Usually highly forsteritic, Fa0-29 with a peak at Fa1 (Brown et al.,2000); Frequently replaced by phyllosilicates; Olivine aggregates were abundant in original chondrules References: |
β Forsterite Formula: Mg2SiO4 |
β Graphite Formula: C Description: Rare, perhaps presolar?; Graphite on sulfide rims is poorly organized |
β Gypsum Formula: CaSO4 · 2H2O Description: X-ray diffraction of pristine samples |
β Hibonite Formula: CaAl12O19 References: |
β 'Iddingsite' Formula: MgO · Fe2O3 · 3SiO2 · 4H2O |
β Iron Formula: Fe |
β Iron var. Kamacite Formula: (Fe,Ni) |
β Magnesioferrite Formula: MgFe3+2O4 |
β Magnesite Formula: MgCO3 |
β Magnetite Formula: Fe2+Fe3+2O4 Description: Pervasive except in the Ca-rich lithology References: |
β 'Nickel-iron' Description: As tiny blebs in Olivine |
β Pentlandite Formula: (NixFey)Ξ£9S8 References: |
β Perovskite Formula: CaTiO3 Description: Perovskite β Rare, an apparent residual phase within dolomite
|
β 'Pyroxene Group' Formula: ADSi2O6 Description: Pyroxene Fs1-7 with peak at Fs2 References: |
β Pyrrhotite Formula: Fe1-xS References: |
β Saponite Formula: Ca0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O Description: Fine-grained saponite is dominant phyllosilcate of the Ca-rich lithology; Mostly, however, in Saponite-Serpentine intergrowths References: |
β 'Serpentine Subgroup' Formula: D3[Si2O5](OH)4 References: |
β Siderite Formula: FeCO3 References: |
β Siderite var. Mg-rich Siderite Formula: (Fe,Mg)CO3 |
β 'Smectite Group' Formula: A0.3D2-3[T4O10]Z2 · nH2O Description: Invariably intergrown with other phyllosilicates in observations by Bilova et.al. (2014) |
β Spinel Formula: MgAl2O4 References: |
β Taenite Formula: (Fe,Ni) |
β Talc Formula: Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 Description: X-ray diffraction of pristine sample (in very small amount) |
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
Group 1 - Elements | |||
---|---|---|---|
β | Iron | 1.AE.05 | Fe |
β | var. Kamacite | 1.AE.05 | (Fe,Ni) |
β | Taenite | 1.AE.10 | (Fe,Ni) |
β | Barringerite | 1.BD.10 | (Fe,Ni)2P |
β | Graphite | 1.CB.05a | C |
β | Diamond | 1.CB.10a | C |
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
β | Pentlandite | 2.BB.15 | (NixFey)Ξ£9S8 |
β | Pyrrhotite | 2.CC.10 | Fe1-xS |
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
β | Magnesioferrite | 4.BB.05 | MgFe3+2O4 |
β | Chromite | 4.BB.05 | Fe2+Cr3+2O4 |
β | Spinel | 4.BB.05 | MgAl2O4 |
β | Magnetite | 4.BB.05 | Fe2+Fe3+2O4 |
β | Perovskite | 4.CC.30 | CaTiO3 |
β | Hibonite | 4.CC.45 | CaAl12O19 |
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
β | Siderite | 5.AB.05 | FeCO3 |
β | var. Mg-rich Siderite | 5.AB.05 | (Fe,Mg)CO3 |
β | Magnesite | 5.AB.05 | MgCO3 |
β | Calcite | 5.AB.05 | CaCO3 |
β | Dolomite | 5.AB.10 | CaMg(CO3)2 |
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates | |||
β | Gypsum | 7.CD.40 | CaSO4 Β· 2H2O |
Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates | |||
β | Farringtonite ? | 8.AB.05 | Mg3(PO4)2 |
Group 9 - Silicates | |||
β | Forsterite | 9.AC.05 | Mg2SiO4 |
β | Andradite | 9.AD.25 | Ca3Fe3+2(SiO4)3 |
β | Enstatite | 9.DA.05 | Mg2Si2O6 |
β | Diopside | 9.DA.15 | CaMgSi2O6 |
β | Talc | 9.EC.05 | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
β | Saponite | 9.EC.45 | Ca0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 Β· nH2O |
β | Clinochlore | 9.EC.55 | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
Unclassified | |||
β | 'Iddingsite' | - | MgO Β· Fe2O3 Β· 3SiO2 Β· 4H2O |
β | 'Clinopyroxene Subgroup' | - | |
β | 'Fayalite-Forsterite Series' | - | |
β | 'Pyroxene Group' | - | ADSi2O6 |
β | 'Smectite Group' | - | A0.3D2-3[T4O10]Z2 Β· nH2O |
β | 'Serpentine Subgroup' | - | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
β | 'Nickel-iron' | - |
List of minerals for each chemical element
H | Hydrogen | |
---|---|---|
H | β Clinochlore | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
H | β Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
H | β Saponite | Ca0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
H | β Talc | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
H | β Iddingsite | MgO · Fe2O3 · 3SiO2 · 4H2O |
H | β Smectite Group | A0.3D2-3[T4O10]Z2 · nH2O |
H | β Serpentine Subgroup | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
C | Carbon | |
C | β Calcite | CaCO3 |
C | β Diamond | C |
C | β Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
C | β Graphite | C |
C | β Magnesite | MgCO3 |
C | β Siderite | FeCO3 |
C | β Siderite var. Mg-rich Siderite | (Fe,Mg)CO3 |
O | Oxygen | |
O | β Andradite | Ca3Fe23+(SiO4)3 |
O | β Calcite | CaCO3 |
O | β Chromite | Fe2+Cr23+O4 |
O | β Clinochlore | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
O | β Diopside | CaMgSi2O6 |
O | β Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
O | β Enstatite | Mg2Si2O6 |
O | β Farringtonite | Mg3(PO4)2 |
O | β Forsterite | Mg2SiO4 |
O | β Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
O | β Hibonite | CaAl12O19 |
O | β Magnesite | MgCO3 |
O | β Magnesioferrite | MgFe23+O4 |
O | β Magnetite | Fe2+Fe23+O4 |
O | β Perovskite | CaTiO3 |
O | β Saponite | Ca0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
O | β Siderite | FeCO3 |
O | β Spinel | MgAl2O4 |
O | β Talc | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
O | β Iddingsite | MgO · Fe2O3 · 3SiO2 · 4H2O |
O | β Pyroxene Group | ADSi2O6 |
O | β Smectite Group | A0.3D2-3[T4O10]Z2 · nH2O |
O | β Serpentine Subgroup | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
O | β Siderite var. Mg-rich Siderite | (Fe,Mg)CO3 |
Mg | Magnesium | |
Mg | β Clinochlore | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
Mg | β Diopside | CaMgSi2O6 |
Mg | β Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
Mg | β Enstatite | Mg2Si2O6 |
Mg | β Farringtonite | Mg3(PO4)2 |
Mg | β Forsterite | Mg2SiO4 |
Mg | β Magnesite | MgCO3 |
Mg | β Magnesioferrite | MgFe23+O4 |
Mg | β Saponite | Ca0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
Mg | β Spinel | MgAl2O4 |
Mg | β Talc | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
Mg | β Iddingsite | MgO · Fe2O3 · 3SiO2 · 4H2O |
Mg | β Siderite var. Mg-rich Siderite | (Fe,Mg)CO3 |
Al | Aluminium | |
Al | β Clinochlore | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
Al | β Hibonite | CaAl12O19 |
Al | β Saponite | Ca0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
Al | β Spinel | MgAl2O4 |
Si | Silicon | |
Si | β Andradite | Ca3Fe23+(SiO4)3 |
Si | β Clinochlore | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
Si | β Diopside | CaMgSi2O6 |
Si | β Enstatite | Mg2Si2O6 |
Si | β Forsterite | Mg2SiO4 |
Si | β Saponite | Ca0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
Si | β Talc | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
Si | β Iddingsite | MgO · Fe2O3 · 3SiO2 · 4H2O |
Si | β Pyroxene Group | ADSi2O6 |
Si | β Serpentine Subgroup | D3[Si2O5](OH)4 |
P | Phosphorus | |
P | β Barringerite | (Fe,Ni)2P |
P | β Farringtonite | Mg3(PO4)2 |
S | Sulfur | |
S | β Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
S | β Pentlandite | (NixFey)Ξ£9S8 |
S | β Pyrrhotite | Fe1-xS |
Ca | Calcium | |
Ca | β Andradite | Ca3Fe23+(SiO4)3 |
Ca | β Calcite | CaCO3 |
Ca | β Diopside | CaMgSi2O6 |
Ca | β Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
Ca | β Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
Ca | β Hibonite | CaAl12O19 |
Ca | β Perovskite | CaTiO3 |
Ca | β Saponite | Ca0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
Ti | Titanium | |
Ti | β Perovskite | CaTiO3 |
Cr | Chromium | |
Cr | β Chromite | Fe2+Cr23+O4 |
Fe | Iron | |
Fe | β Andradite | Ca3Fe23+(SiO4)3 |
Fe | β Barringerite | (Fe,Ni)2P |
Fe | β Chromite | Fe2+Cr23+O4 |
Fe | β Iron | Fe |
Fe | β Iron var. Kamacite | (Fe,Ni) |
Fe | β Magnesioferrite | MgFe23+O4 |
Fe | β Magnetite | Fe2+Fe23+O4 |
Fe | β Pentlandite | (NixFey)Ξ£9S8 |
Fe | β Pyrrhotite | Fe1-xS |
Fe | β Saponite | Ca0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
Fe | β Siderite | FeCO3 |
Fe | β Taenite | (Fe,Ni) |
Fe | β Iddingsite | MgO · Fe2O3 · 3SiO2 · 4H2O |
Fe | β Siderite var. Mg-rich Siderite | (Fe,Mg)CO3 |
Ni | Nickel | |
Ni | β Barringerite | (Fe,Ni)2P |
Ni | β Iron var. Kamacite | (Fe,Ni) |
Ni | β Pentlandite | (NixFey)Ξ£9S8 |
Ni | β Taenite | (Fe,Ni) |
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