Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Review Article
  • Published:

Interstellar grains in meteorites

Abstract

Primitive meteorites contain grains of silicon carbide, graphite and diamond formed outside the Solar System and probably before its birth. The isotopic compositions of these grains provide a record of stellar nucleosynthesis and of condensation processes near carbon stars; the fact of their survival places constraints on conditions in the solar nebula and early Solar System. The search is now on for other surviving stellar condensates, such as nitrides and oxides.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Burbidge, E. M., Burbidge, G. R., Fowler, W. A. & Hoyle, F. Rev. mod. Phys. 29, 547–650 (1957).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Clayton, D. D. Principles of Stellar Evolution and Nucleosynthesis (Univ. Chicago Press, 1983).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Fowler, W. A. Science 226, 922–935 (1984).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Thiemens, M. H. in Meteorites and the Early Solar System (eds Kerridge, J. F. & Matthews, M. S.) 899–923 (Univ. of Arizona Press, Tucson, 1988).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Mauersperger, K. Geophys. Res. Lett. 14, 80–83 (1987).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. Hunten, D. M., Pepin, R. O. & Walker, J. C. G. Icarus 69, 532–549 (1987).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Suess, H. E. A. Rev. Ast. Astrophys. 3, 217–234 (1965).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Reynolds, J. H. & Turner, G. J. geophys. Res. 69, 3263–3281 (1964).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Black, D. C. & Pepin, R. O. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 6, 395–405 (1969).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Clayton, R. N., Grossmann, L. & Mayeda, T. K. Science 182, 485–488 (1973).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Lee, T. in Meteorites and the Early Solar System (eds Kerridge, J. F. & Matthews, M. S.) 1063–1089 (Univ. of Arizona Press, Tucson, 1988).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Smith, V. V. in Cosmic Abundances of Matter (ed Waddington, C. J.) 200–223 (Am. Inst. Phys, New York, 1989).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Iben, I. Jr in Evolution of Stars: The Photospheric Abundance Connection (eds Michaud, G. & Tutukov, A.) 257–274 (Kluwer, Dordrecht, 1991).

    Google Scholar 

  14. Lewis, R. S., Anders, E. & Draine, B. T. Nature 339, 117–121 (1989).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Tang, M., Anders, E., Hoppe, P. & Zinner, E. Nature 339, 351–354 (1989).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. Ott, U. in Protostars and Planets III (eds Levy, E. H., Lunine, J. & Matthews, M. S.) 883–902 (Univ. of Arizona Press, Tucson, 1993).

    Google Scholar 

  17. Anders, E. & Zinner, E. Meteoritics 28 (in the press).

  18. Lewis, R. S., Srinivasan, B. & Anders, E. Science 190, 1251–1262 (1975).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Lewis, R. S., Tang, M., Wacker, J. F., Anders, E. & Steel, E. Nature 326, 160–162 (1987).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Bernatowicz, T. et al. Nature 330, 728–730 (1987).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Zinner, E., Tang, M. & Anders, E. Nature 330, 730–732 (1987).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Amari, S., Anders, E., Virag, A. & Zinner, E. Nature 345, 238–240 (1990).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Tielens, A. G. G. M. in Carbon in the Galaxy: Studies from Earth and Space, 59–111 (NASA Conf. Publ. 3061, 1990).

    Google Scholar 

  24. Allamandola, L. J., Sandford, S. A., Tielens, A. G. G. M. & Herbst, T. M. Astrophys. J. 399, 134–145 (1992).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Allamandola, L. J., Sandford, S. A., Tielens, A. G. G. M. & Herbst, T. M. Science 260, 64–66 (1993).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Nuth, J. A., III & Allen, J. E. Jr Astrophys. Space Sci. 196, 117–123 (1992).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  27. Amari, S., Lewis, R. S. & Anders, E. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 57 (in the press).

  28. Mathis, J. S., Rumpl, W. & Nordsieck, K. H. Astrophys. J. 217, 425–433 (1977).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Virag, A. et al. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 56, 1715–1733 (1992).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Hoppe, P., Amari, S., Zinner, E., Ireland, T. & Lewis, R. S. Astrophys. J. (submitted).

  31. Smith, V. V. & Lambert, D. L. Astrophys. J. Suppl. Ser. 72, 387–416 (1990).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Busso, M., Gallino, R., Lambert, D. L., Raiteri, C. M. & Smith, V. V. Astrophys. J. 399, 218–230 (1992).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Gallino, R., Busso, M., Picchio, G. & Raiteri, C. M. Nature 348, 298–302 (1990).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Gallino, R., Raiteri, C. M. & Busso, M. Astrophys. J. (in the press).

  35. Sackmann, I.-J. & Boothroyd, A. I. in Evolution of Stars: The Photospheric Abundance Connection (eds Michaud, G. & Tutukov, A.) 275–285 (Kluwer, Dordrecht, 1991).

    Google Scholar 

  36. Arnould, M. In Evolution of Stars: The Photospheric Abundance Connection (eds Michaud, G. & Tutukov, A.) 287–297 (Kluwer, Dordrecht, 1991).

    Google Scholar 

  37. Arnould, M. & Howard, W. M. Meteoritics 28 (in the press).

  38. Swart, P. K., Grady, M. M., Pillinger, C. T., Lewis, R. S. & Anders, E. Science 220, 406–410 (1983).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Amari, S., Zinner, E. & Lewis, R. S. Lunar planet. Sci. XXII, 19–20 (1991).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  40. Alexander, C. M. O'D. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 57 (in the press).

  41. Tang, M. et al. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 52, 1221–1234 (1988).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  42. Fowler, W. A., Caughlan, G. R. & Zimmermann, B. A. A. Rev. Astr. Astrophys. 5, 525–570 (1967).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Caughlan, G. R. & Fowler, W. A. Astrophys. J. 136, 453–464 (1962).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Zinner, E., Amari, S., Anders, E. & Lewis, R. S. Nature 349, 51–54 (1991).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Ireland, T. R., Zinner, E. K. & Amari S. Astrophys. J. 376, L53–L56 (1991).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Hoppe, P., Amari, S., Zinner, E. & Lewis, R. S. Meteoritics 27, 235 (1992).

    Google Scholar 

  47. Nichols, R. H. Jr, Hohenberg, C. M., Hoppe, P., Amari, S. & Lewis, R. S. Lunar planet. Sci. XXIII, 989–990 (1992).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  48. Amari, S., Hoppe, P., Zinner, E. & Lewis, R. S. Astrophys. J. 394, L43–L46 (1992).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Amari, S., Hoppe, P., Zinner, E. & Lewis, R. S. Lunar planet. Sci. XXIII, 27–28 (1992).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  50. Lewis, R. S. & Amari, S. Lunar planet. Sci. XXIII, 775–776 (1992).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  51. Ott, U. & Begemann, F. Lunar planet. Sci. XXI, 920–921 (1990).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  52. Prombo, C. A., Podosek, F. A., Amari, S. & Lewis, R. S. Lunar planet. Sci. XXIII, 1111–1112 (1992).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  53. Ott, U. & Begemann, F. Astrophys. J. 353, L57–L60 (1990).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Prombo, C. A., Podosek, F. A., Amari, S. & Lewis, R. S. Astrophys. J. (in the press).

  55. Zinner, E., Amari, S. & Lewis, R. S. Astrophys. J. 382, L47–L50 (1991).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Richter, S., Ott, U. & Begemann, F. Lunar planet. Sci. XXIII, 1147–1148 (1992).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  57. Käppeler, F., Beer, H. & Wisshak, K. Rep. Prog. Phys. 52, 945–1013 (1989).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  58. Ott, U., Begemann, F., Yang, J. & Epstein, S. Nature 332, 700–702 (1988).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Lewis, R. S., Amari, S. & Anders, E. Nature 348, 293–298 (1990).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Busso, M., Picchio, G., Gallino, R. & Chieffi, A. Astrophys. J. 326, 196–207 (1988).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. Lewis, R. S., Amari, S. & Anders, E. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 57 (in the press).

  62. Gallino, R., Raiteri, C. M., Busso, M. & Matteucci, F. Astrophys. J. (submitted).

  63. Brown, L. E. & Clayton, D. D. Astrophys. J. 392, L79–L82 (1992).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  64. Cameron, A. G. W. in Protostars and Planets III (eds Levy, E. H., Lunine. J. & Mathews, M. S.) 47–73 (Univ. of Arizona Press, Tucson, 1993).

    Google Scholar 

  65. Russell, S. S., Arden, J. W. & Pillinger, C. T. Science 254, 1188–1191 (1991).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  66. Fraundorf, P., Fraundorf, G., Bernatowicz, T., Lewis, R. & Tang, M. Ultramicroscopy 27, 401–412 (1989).

    Google Scholar 

  67. Anders, E., Higuchi, H., Gros, J., Takahashi, H. & Morgan, J. W. Science 190, 1262–1271 (1975).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  68. Manuel, O. K., Hennecke, E. W. & Sabu, D. D. Nature Phys. Sci. 240, 99–101 (1972).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  69. Lewis, R. S., Anders, E., Wright, I. P., Norris, S. J. & Pillinger, C. T. Nature 305, 767–771 (1983).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  70. Lewis, R. S., Anders, E., Shimamura, T. & Lugmair, G. Science 222, 1013–1015 (1983).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  71. Heymann, D. & Dziczkaniec, M. Proc. 10th lunar planet. Sci. Conf. 1943–1959 (1979).

  72. Heymann, D. & Dziczkaniec, M. Meteoritics 15, 15–24 (1980).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  73. Howard, W. M., Meyer, B. S. & Clayton, D. D. Meteoritics 27, 404–412 (1992).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  74. Lewis, R. S., Huss, G. R. & Lugmair, G. Lunar planet. Sci. XXII, 807–808 (1991).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  75. Lewis, R. S. & Anders, E. Astrophys. J. 247, 1122–1124 (1981).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  76. Clayton, D. D. Proc. Lunar planet. Sci. B12, 1781–1802 (1981).

  77. Jørgensen, U. G. Nature 332, 702–705 (1988).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  78. Tang, M. & Anders, E. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 52, 1245–1254 (1988).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  79. Bernatowicz, T. J., Gibbons, P. C. & Lewis, R. S. Astrophys. J. 359, 246–255 (1990).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  80. Lewis, R. S. & Anders, E. Lunar planet. Sci. XIX, 679–680 (1988).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  81. Nichols, R. H. Jr. et al. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 55, 2921–2936 (1991).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  82. Verchovsky, A. B., Ott, U., Russell S. S., Fisenko, A. V. & Shukolyukov, Yu. A. Lunar planet, Sci. XXIII, 1467–1468 (1992).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  83. Huss, G. R. & Lewis, R. S. Meteoritics 28 (in the press).

  84. Alexander, C. M. O'D., Arden, J. W., Ash, R. D. & Pillinger, C. T. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 99, 220–229 (1990).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  85. Huss, G. R. Nature 347, 159–162 (1990).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  86. Ott, U., Löhr, H. P. & Begemann, F. Meteoritics 26, 382 (1991).

    Google Scholar 

  87. Alexander, C. M. O'D., Swan P. & Walker, R. M. Nature 348, 715–717 (1990).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  88. Tang, M. & Anders, E. Astrophys. J. 335, L31–L34 (1988).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  89. Beer, H. Astrophys. J. 375, 823–832 (1991).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  90. Frenklach, M., Carmer, C. S. & Feigelson E. D. Nature 339, 196–198 (1989).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  91. Lodders, K. & Fegley, B. Jr Meteorites 27, 250–251 (1992).

    Google Scholar 

  92. Bernatowicz, T. J., Amari S., Zinner E. K. & Lewis, R. S. Astrophys, J. 373, L73–L76 (1991).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  93. Bernatowicz, T. J., Amari, S. & Lewis, R. S. Lunar planet. Sci. XXIII, 91–92 (1992).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  94. Alexander, C. M. O'D., Prombo, C. A., Swan, P. D. & Walker, R. M. Lunar planet. Sci. XXII, 5–6 (1991).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  95. Lee, M. R., Russell, S. S., Arden, J. W. & Pillinger, C. T. Meteoritics 27, 248–249 (1992).

    Google Scholar 

  96. Zinner, E. in Meteorites and the Early Solar System (eds Kerridge, J. F. & Matthews, M. S.) 956–983 (Univ. of Arizona Press, Tucson, 1988).

    Google Scholar 

  97. Prombo, C. A. & Clayton, R. N. Science 230, 935–937 (1985).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  98. Sugiura, N. & Hashizume, K. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 111, 441–454 (1992).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  99. Rotaru, M., Birck, J. L. & Allègre C. J. Nature 358, 465–470 (1992).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  100. Huss, G. R., Hutcheon, I. D., Wasserburg, G. J. & Stone, J. Lunar planet. Sci. XXIII, 563–564 (1992).

    Google Scholar 

  101. Nittler, L. R., Walker, R. M. & Zinner, E. Lunar planet. Sci. XXIV, 1087–1088 (1993).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  102. McCulloch, M. T., & Wasserburg, G. J. Astrophys. J. 220, L15–L19 (1978).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ott, U. Interstellar grains in meteorites. Nature 364, 25–33 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1038/364025a0

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/364025a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing