Identification of isotopically primitive interplanetary dust particles: A NanoSIMS isotopic imaging study

We have carried out a comprehensive survey of the isotopic compositions (H, B, C, N, O, and S) of a suite of interplanetary dust particles (IDPs), including both cluster and individual particles. Isotopic imaging with the NanoSIMS shows the presence of numerous discrete hotspots that are strongly enriched in N, up to 1300&. A number of the IDPs also contain larger regions with more modest enrichments in N, leading to average bulk N isotopic compositions that are N-enriched in these IDPs. Although C isotopic compositions are normal in most of the IDPs, two N-rich hotspots have correlated C anomalies. CN /C ratios suggest that most of the N-rich hotspots are associated with relatively N-poor carbonaceous matter, although specific carriers have not been determined. H isotopic distributions are similar to those of N: D anomalies are present both as distinct D-rich hotspots and as larger regions with more modest enrichments. Nevertheless, H and N isotopic anomalies are not directly correlated, consistent with results from previous studies. Oxygen isotopic imaging shows the presence of abundant presolar silicate grains in some of the IDPs. The O isotopic compositions of the grains are similar to those of presolar oxide and silicate grains from primitive meteorites. Most of the silicate grains in the IDPs have isotopic ratios consistent with meteoritic Group 1 oxide grains, indicating origins in oxygen-rich red giant and asymptotic giant branch stars, but several presolar silicates exhibit the O and O enrichments of Group 4 oxide grains, whose origin is less well understood. Based on their N isotopic compositions, the IDPs studied here can be divided into two groups. One group is characterized as being ‘‘isotopically primitive’’ and consists of those IDPs that have anomalous bulk N isotopic compositions. These particles typically also contain numerous N-rich hotspots, occasional C isotopic anomalies, and abundant presolar silicate grains. In contrast, the other ‘‘isotopically normal’’ IDPs have normal bulk N isotopic compositions and, although some contain N-rich hotspots, none exhibit C isotopic anomalies and none contain presolar silicate or oxide grains. Thus, isotopically interesting IDPs can be identified and selected on the basis of their bulk N isotopic compositions for further study. However, this distinction does not appear to extend to H isotopic compositions. Although both H and N anomalies are frequently attributed to the survival of molecular cloud material in IDPs and, thus, should be more common in IDPs with anomalous bulk N compositions, D anomalies are as common in normal IDPs as they are in those characterized as isotopically primitive, based on their N isotopes. 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.