- #1
snorkack
- 2,190
- 477
I understand that when chondritic material is heated, the first material to melt is matte - eutectic mixture of troilite with a small excess of iron-nickel. This melts at about 990 Celsius.
At this temperature, most silicate minerals are still solid. And so is nickel-iron, which needs over 1400 Celsius to melt.
The grains of nickel-iron may be softened at 1000 degrees, but they are still solid. Therefore they should get stuck between the solid silicate grains and be unable to drain to the core with molten matte.
Are meteorites commonly found which have undergone partial melting such that troilite has drained away and iron grains remained stuck mixed with rock?
At this temperature, most silicate minerals are still solid. And so is nickel-iron, which needs over 1400 Celsius to melt.
The grains of nickel-iron may be softened at 1000 degrees, but they are still solid. Therefore they should get stuck between the solid silicate grains and be unable to drain to the core with molten matte.
Are meteorites commonly found which have undergone partial melting such that troilite has drained away and iron grains remained stuck mixed with rock?