DIX Planetary Science Seminar

Abstract: To comprehend the early dynamical evolution of our Solar System and the formation history of planetary building blocks and Earth, it is crucial to understand the underlying fractionation and mixing processes that took place during the dawn of Solar System history. A promising avenue for studying these processes is the analysis of carbonaceous chondrites, which are cosmic sediments derived from the solar nebula. These primitive meteorites exhibit variable chemical compositions and contain diverse components believed to have originated at different heliocentric distances and during distinct periods within the protoplanetary disk. In this presentation, I will focus on the investigation of mass-dependent isotopic fractionation of the moderately volatile element tellurium (Te), along with nucleosynthetic isotope anomalies of the more refractory elements chromium (Cr) and titanium (Ti). By examining these isotope variations, we can constrain the processes that led to volatile element depletion in carbonaceous chondrites and unravel crucial steps that facilitated planetesimal accretion.