Graduate Student Seminar with Mary Iskakova on Space Rocks

Current isotopic composition of the Solar System was influenced by its astrophysical birth environment, so measurements of light isotope systems allow us to put constraints on its formation. We propose to measure light isotope systems in lithic clasts in the Isheyevo meteorite. Isheyevo is a CB/CH-like metal-rich carbonaceous chondrite that has the largest measured 15N enrichments in the Solar System. Previous studies have measured its bulk isotopic composition and characterised its lithology. Two main groups of clasts were identified: hydrous (H) and anhydrous (A). The origin of these clasts and anomalies remain poorly understood. We suggest that measurements of correlated anomalies between H, C, N, and O isotope systems will provide constraints on the astrophysical environment of their origin. Depending on which elements have correlated isotope anomalies, we will know whether solar system formed in an intense UV irradiation environment or in low-temperature solar nebula.