Transmission electron microscopic study of the fine-grained vein matrix in the Suizhou L6 meteorite

The mineralogy of shock vein matrix in the Suizhou meteorite has been investigated by optical and transmission electron microscopy. It was revealed that the vein matrix is composed of majorite-pyrope garnet, magnesiowüstite, and ringwoodite, with FeNi–FeS intergrowths. The observation and character of ring-like selected electron diffraction(SAED) patterns indicate that the idiomorphic garnet crystals in the vein matrix have different orientations. The polycrystalline nature of magnesiowüstite is also confirmed by a ring-like SAED pattern.Both garnet and magnesiowüstite crystals showed sharp diffraction spots, signifying the good crystallinity of these two minerals. The SAED pattern of cryptocrystalline ringwoodite shows only diffuse concentric diffraction rings. FeNi metal and troilite(FeS), which were molten during the shock event, occur in the matrix as fine eutectic FeNi–FeS intergrowths filling the interstices between garnet and magnesiowüstite grains. Based on the phase diagram of the Allende chondrite and the results of this TEM study, it is inferred that majorite-pyrope garnet first crystallized from the Suizhou chondritic melt at 22–26 GPa,followed by crystallization of magnesiowüstite at 20–24 GPa, and then ringwoodite at 18–20 GPa. The eutectic intergrowths of FeNi-metal and troilite are proposed to have crystallized during meteorite cooling and solidified at the last stage of vein formation.