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The Winchcombe meteorite, a unique and pristine witness from the outer solar system

Abstract:
Direct links between carbonaceous chondrites and their parent bodies in the solar system are rare. The Winchcombe meteorite is the most accurately recorded carbonaceous chondrite fall. Its pre-atmospheric orbit and cosmic-ray exposure age confirm that it arrived on Earth shortly after ejection from a primitive asteroid. Recovered only hours after falling, the composition of the Winchcombe meteorite is largely unmodified by the terrestrial environment. It contains abundant hydrated silicates formed during fluid-rock reactions, and carbon- and nitrogen-bearing organic matter including soluble protein amino acids. The near-pristine hydrogen isotopic composition of the Winchcombe meteorite is comparable to the terrestrial hydrosphere, providing further evidence that volatile-rich carbonaceous asteroids played an important role in the origin of Earth’s water.
Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.1126/sciadv.abq3925

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Institution:
University of Oxford
Role:
Author
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Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MPLS
Department:
Earth Sciences
Role:
Author
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Institution:
University of Oxford
Role:
Author


Publisher:
American Association for the Advancement of Science
Journal:
Science Advances More from this journal
Volume:
8
Issue:
46
Article number:
eabq3925
Publication date:
2022-11-16
Acceptance date:
2022-09-23
DOI:
EISSN:
2375-2548


Language:
English
Keywords:
Pubs id:
1279954
Local pid:
pubs:1279954
Deposit date:
2022-09-27

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