Image Analysis of 2D X-ray Intensity Maps: Element Abundances, Mineralogy, and Modal Analysis of Meteorites

Denton S. Ebel, Ellen J. Crapster-Pregont, Jon M. Friedrich
2014 Microscopy and Microanalysis  
X-ray mapping is increasingly used in the geological sciences for qualitative observations of textures, mineral zoning, and element distribution among rock components [1] [2] [3] [4] . We combine mapping with an aggressive program of image analysis in deepening our understanding of the early solar system through the analysis of chondritic meteorites [5, 6] . Chondrites are "sediments" that accreted in the earliest solar system into planetesimals now represented by objects in the asteroid belt.
more » ... hey accumulated hightemperature inclusions (igneous rock droplets or aggregations) with a low-temperature fine-grained mineral matrix including pre-solar grains and macromolecular carbon [7] . We seek to measure the relative abundances, modal mineralogies, and chemical compositions of these components with such different thermal histories, to higher accuracy than has been done previously. 752
doi:10.1017/s1431927614005480 fatcat:kvhzgncbt5gshinsvvyoz4pfs4