Kushiroite

kushiroite

pyroxene

grossite

chondrite

Formula: CaAlAlSiO₆
Inosilicate (chain silicate), clinopyroxene subgroup, pyroxene group, approved in 2008
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Environments:

Meteorites

Localities

The type locality is the Allan Hills 85085 meteorite (ALH 85085), Allan Hills, Victoria Land, Eastern Antarctica. This is a carbonaceous chondrite meteorite, where kushiroite is associated with other pyroxenes and grossite (Mindat).
There is no obvious evidence for impact in this inclusion. It is suggested that metastable crystallisation of this pyroxene took place from refractory melts in the solar nebula. Coexisting grossite-bearing refractory inclusions in the type specimen show ²⁶Mg excesses with inferred initial ²⁶Al to ²⁷Al ratios between 2.1 × 10−6 to 3.9 × 10−5, providing evidence that condensation, melting, and crystallisation took place in the solar nebula when ²⁶Al was still extant (AM 94.1479–1482).

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