Numerical models uncover how barred olivine crystals formed in ancient meteorites
by Riko Seibo
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) May 26, 2025
Researchers from Nagoya City University and Tohoku University have successfully simulated the formation of barred olivine, a rare mineral texture found in chondrules-small spherical particles within meteorites dating back to the early solar system. Unlike textures in Earth rocks, barred olivine is unique to these primordial materials.

Led by Associate Professor Hitoshi Miura, the team used a phase-field model to numerically reproduce barred olivine structures, offering new insight into how these textures emerged. Their simulations modeled molten chondrules cooling in vacuum-like conditions, revealing that a cooling rate exceeding 1 C per second is necessary to form the barred texture-significantly faster than prior assumptions.

These findings suggest that traditional laboratory experiments may have underestimated the rapid cooling conditions in space. The study not only advances the understanding of crystal growth during the solar system's infancy but also reshapes theories on how the earliest planetary components assembled.

To build on this discovery, the researchers are now planning a microgravity experiment aboard the International Space Station to test their numerical predictions under space-like conditions.

Research Report:Decoding the formation of barred olivine chondrules: Realization of numerical replication

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