Nature 292, 135 - 136 (09 July 1981); doi:10.1038/292135a0

Evidence for secondary origin of chondrules

Hiroko Nagahara

Geological Institute, University of Tokyo, Hongo, Tokyo 113, Japan

Although chondrules have been extensively studied chemically^1,2, petrologically³⁻⁵ and experimentally⁶⁻⁸, their origin is still not certain. I discuss here whether chondrules were condensed directly from the primitive solar nebula⁹⁻¹¹ or were formed from precursory materials by various mechanisms, such as high velocity impact of small bodies^12,13, impact on the surface of a parental body^14,15 or dust fusion¹⁶⁻¹⁸. Investigations of an Antarctic meteorite suggest that chondrules could have formed through melting of pre-existing materials.

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