Iron-sulfides and layer silicates: a new approach to aqueous processing of organics in interplanetary dust particles, CI and CM meteorites

The mineralogical properties of aggregate interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) and matrix of CI and CM carbonaceous chondrites support a sequence of increasingly intense aqueous alteration that could have modified pristine organics in aggregate IDPs to more complex organic compounds in chondrite matrix. Water for hydration was initially derived from sulfidation of condensed Fe-oxides whereby pyrrhotite produced contributed to the formation of increasingly Fe-rich serpentine layer silicates. This sequence was possible as consequence of the unique, metastable eutectic, compositions of the amorphous silicates.