Trace Element Conundrum of Natural Quasicrystals

We report laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry measurements of the trace element contents two naturally occurring quasicrystalline minerals, Al63Cu24Fe13 icosahedrite and Al71Ni24Fe5 decagonite, from their type locality in Khatyrka meteorite. The isolated quasicrystal fragments were mounted separately any matrix are larger than beam diameter. When elements sorted order volatility, a systematic unique pattern emerges both bulk natural specimens. They highly depleted compared to primitive solar system materials (chondritic meteorites) moderately refractory (those with 50% condensation temperatures near 1350–1300 K; V, Co, Mg, Cr) significantly enriched volatile between 1250 500 Sb, B, Ag, Sn, Bi). compare chondrite-normalized patterns ratios quasicrystals those scoriaceous cosmic spherules other meteoritic components. nonmonotonic shapes decagonite incompatible single process gas nebula. Previous transmission electron microscopy studies show that contain 3–5 vol % silicate oxide nanoparticle inclusions, which we consider be main host measured elements. On this basis, construct three-stage model for formation inclusions: high-temperature stage low-temperature vapor-fractionation make nanoparticles, followed by third leads incorporating different types nanoparticles incorporation into CV chondrite parent body