Mass-independent and mass-dependent Cr isotopic composition of the Rumuruti (R) chondrites: Implications for their origin and planet formation

WOS:000600550100030International audienceChromium (Cr) isotopes play an important role in cosmochemistry and planetary science because they are powerful tools for dating (Mn-53-Cr-53 short-lived chronometry), tracing (Cr-54 nucleosynthetic anomalies) the origins of the materials, and studying the processes involved in volatile element fractionation and planetary differentiation (Cr stable isotopic fractionation). To use Cr isotopes for these purposes, it is essential to precisely know the compositions of the various chondritic reservoirs. However, the Cr isotope composition of Rumuruti (R) chondrites remains unknown. Here, we report high-precision mass-independent (average 2SE uncertainty of similar to 0.02 and similar to 0.06 for epsilon Cr-53 and epsilon Cr-54, respectively; epsilon indicates 10,000 deviation) and mass-dependent (uncertainty of average 0.03 parts per thousand for delta Cr-53; .delta indicates 1000 deviation) Cr isotope data for 12 bulk R chondrites of petrologic types 3-6 (including R chondrite breccias), and one R chondrite-like clast (MS-CH) in the Almahata Sitta polymict ureilite. All the R chondrites show homogeneous bulk epsilon Cr-54 values, -0.06 +/- 0.08 (2SD), similar only to those of the Earth-Moon system and enstatite chondrites. This first epsilon Cr-54 dataset for R chondrites provides significant addition to the epsilon Cr-54-A, Delta O-17 diagram, and positions them as a potential endmember for planetary precursors. The R chondrites possess a higher Mn-55/Cr-52 of 0.68 +/- 0.04 relative to most of carbonaceous chondrites and higher epsilon Cr-53 values 0.23 +/- 0.05 (2SD) relative to most of chondrite groups. This likely results from the lower chondrule abundance in R chondrites compared to that of ordinary and enstatite chondrites. The stable Cr isotope composition of R chondrites is homogeneous with a delta Cr-53 = -0.12 +/- 0.03%e (2SD). Combined with previous data of other groups of chondrites, we show that the stable Cr isotopic composition of all the chondrites is homogeneous with delta Cr-53 of -0.12 +/- 0.04%e (2SD, N = 42) and is independent of the petrologic type and redox conditions. The lack of mass-dependent fractionation between all groups of chondrites suggests that the average chondrite delta Cr-53 value is also representative for the initial composition of all differentiated planets in the Solar System. Finally, the MS-CH clast in Almahata Sitta has a Cr isotopic composition (epsilon Cr-53 = 0.18 +/- 0.04, epsilon Cr-54 = 0.16 +/- 0.07, and delta Cr-53 = -0.11 +/- 0.05%e) that is consistent (within error) with it being an R chondrite-like clast. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved