Determining the impactor of the Ordovician Lockne crater: Oxygen and neon isotopes in chromite versus sedimentary PGE signatures

Abundant chromite grains with L-chondritic composition in the resurge deposits of the Lockne impact crater (458 Myr old; dia. ~ 10 km) in Sweden have been inferred to represent relict fragments of an impactor from the break-up of the L-chondrite parent body at 470 Ma. This view has been challenged based on Ir/Cr and platinum group element (PGE) patterns of the same resurge deposits, and a reinterpretation of the origin of the chromite grains. An impactor of the non-magmatic iron meteorite type was proposed instead. Here we show that single-grain oxygen and noble-gas isotope analyses of the chromite grains from the resurge deposits further support an origin from an L-chondritic asteroid. We also present PGE analyses and Ir/Cr ratios for fossil L-chondritic meteorites found in mid-Ordovician marine limestone in Sweden. The L-chondritic origin has been confirmed by several independent methods, including major element and oxygen isotopic analyses of chromite. Although the meteorites show the same order-of-magnitude PGE and Cr concentrations as recent L chondrites, the elements have been redistributed to the extent that it is problematic to establish the original meteorite type from these proxies. Different PGE data processing approaches can lead to highly variable results, as also shown here for the Lockne resurge deposits. We conclude that the Lockne crater was formed by an L-chondritic impactor, and that considerable care must be taken when inferring projectile type from PGEs in sedimentary ejecta deposits.

Research highlights
► O-isotopes in chromite in Lockne crater resurge deposit identify L chondritic impactor.
► Single-grain noble-gas isotopic analyses confirm asteroidal origin of the chromite.
► Results rule out iron meteorite impactor, proposed based on ejecta PGE patterns.
► PGE patterns are highly unreliable for impact projectile determination.
► Results support pulse of asteroid bombardment of Earth during the mid-Ordovician.