Petrology and geochemistry of chondrules and metal in NWA 5492 and GRO 95551: A new type of metal-rich chondrite

Oxygen isotope ratios of chondrules in NWA 5492 and GRO 95551 show considerable overlap with chondrules in O, E and R chondrites, with average compositions indistinguishable from LL3 chondrules, suggesting considerable mixing between these Solar System materials during chondrule formation and/or that their precursors experienced similar formation environments and/or processes. Another characteristic shared between NWA 5492 and GRO 95551 and O, E and R chondrites is that they are all relatively dry (low abundances of hydrated minerals), compared to many C chondrites and have fewer, smaller CAIs than many C chondrites. (No CAIs were found in NWA 5492 or GRO 95551 but they contain rare Al-rich chondrules.) We suggest that O, E, R and the NWA 5492 and GRO 95551 chondrites are closely related Solar System materials.