Meteorites from the United Arab Emirates: Description, weathering, and terrestrial ages

Abstract

Abstract-We report on the first meteorite search campaign in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The geology and proximity of our search region suggest that it is the north-western extension of the Oman meteorite fields. We found 26 ordinary chondrites, bringing the total number of official meteorites from the UAE to 28. The campaign was organized and conducted in close cooperation with the UAE government and the main masses of the meteorites remained in the country where they will become part of an exhibition. The bulk composition of five meteorite and three soil samples indicates an uptake of U, Mo, Sr, Ba, Li, and Pb from the soil into the meteorites during terrestrial weathering. Terrestrial ages determined from 14 C decay of 21 meteorites range from recent falls to 24.4 ka, with two meteorites having >37 ka and approximately 39 ka, respectively. Weak correlations between weathering degree, meteorite bulk chemical composition, and terrestrial age suggest highly localized weathering conditions, possibly related to abundant occurrences of sabkhas in the search region.

EH3 matrix mineralogy with major and trace element composition compared to chondrules

“…Exceptions are enrichments in Th, U, Mo, Ba, and Pb, which are probably associated with desert terrestrial weathering similar to that in meteorites from the United Arab Emirates (Hezel et al. ), and W enrichment, which only occurs in the results from acid‐digested aliquots that may have been contaminated by tungsten carbide during pulverization.…”

“…Nevertheless, weathering in a hot desert environment has been associated with enrichments of certain elements from the soil including Li, Sr, Mo, Ba, Pb, and U (Hezel et al. ); some of these enrichments are seen in Sahara 97072.…”

Mineralogy, geochemistry and petrology of the phonolitic to nephelinitic Sadiman volcano, Crater Highlands, Tanzania

“…Trace elements including REEs were determined after open acid digestion (HF + HNO 3 + HClO 4 ) by quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass-spectrometry (ICP-MS) (Varian 810) and (Sr and Ba only) by inductively couple plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) (Varian Vista-Pro Axial) at the NHM. Further details of sample preparation and the ICP-MS analysis including a correction for polyatomic interferences (Eu, Gd, Tb, Hf and W) can be found in Ferrat et al (2012) and Hezel et al (2011). Analytical accuracy was checked by comparison to the USGS standard rocks AGV-1 (andesite) and BCR-1 (basalt) and was found to be within ±7% for all REEs and most other elements.…”

Description of a very dense meteorite collection area in western Atacama: Insight into the long‐term composition of the meteorite flux to Earth

“…In hot deserts, the age spectrum covers a few dozen kyr (Jull ; Hezel et al. ). Falls cover the last 200 years.…”

“…; Hezel et al. ). In fact, as for meteorite recovery rate, Atacama recently ranked among the major deserts apart from the Sahara from which most meteorites are usually collected without geographic information, at the same level as Oman and an order of magnitude over Australia and SW USA (Fig.…”