The Multiple Sulfur Isotopic Composition of Iron Meteorites: Implications for Nebular Evolution

Abstract

Multiple sulfur isotopic measurements of troilite from 61 different iron meteorites were undertaken in order to test for sulfur isotopic homogeneity within (and between) 8 different iron meteorite groups. It was found that different members within a given group of iron meteorites have homogeneous Δ33S compositions, but that these Δ33S compositions differ between groups. This thesis shows that iron meteorites from the groups IC, IIAB, IIIAB, IIIF, and IVA have small yet resolvable enrichments or depletions in Δ33S relative to Canyon Diablo Troilite (CDT) and troilite from other non-magmatic (IAB and IIE) iron meteorites. The observed anomalous sulfur isotopic compositions in magmatic iron meteorites are most consistent with Lyman-α photolysis of H2S, pointing towards inheritance of an unexpected photolytically-derived sulfur component in magmatic iron meteorite groups which is absent in non-magmatic iron meteorites, chondrites, and the Earth-Moon System.