Refractory Metal Nuggets - Formation of the first condensates in the Solar Nebula

► Accretion onto the Sun formed a hot, thin, atmosphere around the inner Solar Nebula. ► RMN and CAI formed in this solar 16O-rich “infall” atmosphere. ► For ∼100,000 years, conditions were conducive to RMN and CAI formation. ► This short RMN/CAI formation time scale implies an injection “spike” of 26Al. ► RMNs formed in a stable, slowly cooling environment by an optical-magnetic trap.