[en] The magnetic levitation technique has been used to test for fractional electric charge on samples of several types of meteorite material, thus providing the first mass-independent search for free quarks or other fractionally-charged particles in natural non-terrestrial materials. The tests were made on diced samples of the Hoba and Forsyth County iron-nickel meteorites, and the Murchison stony meteorite, the latter being plated with iron to allow magnetic levitation. No evidence for fractional charge was found, the quantities tested being 1.3 mg (Hoba), 1.1 mg (Forsyth), and 0.4 mg (Murchison). (orig.)

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[en] Retuerta del Bullaque is a new Spanish iron meteorite. Found in 1980, has been recovered from the Province of Ciudad Real, near the northern limit of the Cabaneros National Park (39 degree centigrade 27 min 32 s N, 4 degree centigrade 22 min 39 s W). The specimen is a coarse octahedrite of about 100 kg in weight, with many concave regmaglyphes in one surface and moderate terrestrial weathering. The atmospheric heat-affected rim (≤1.5 mm) is partially preserved. Analysis by ICP-AES (Ni: 7.527 and Co: 0.475 in wt%) and by ICP-MS (Ga: 68.9, Ge: 365, As: 13.7, W: 0.95, Ir: 1.95 and Au: 1.70 in ppm) we used to classify the specimen as an IAB complex (Main Group). Chemically, Retuerta del Bullaque iron is similar to Kaalijarv iron but its mineralogy and texture are more like other low Ni-Au irons of main group (e.g. Diablo Canyon). The bulk of the specimen is a Wid-manstatten kamacite (band-width estimated at 2.0 ± 0.3 mm) with large and tabular crystals of cohenite and polygonal kamacite without cohenite that exhibits abundant Neumann lines. Schreibersite (irregular crystals + rhabdite) is rare in the two sectors. Taenite is present in thick lamellae between kamacite bands and pearlitic plessite. Lamellar cohenite is very abundant (9.5% of the total area into two sections 77.7 and 41.1 cm²), is partially covered of schreibersite and contains kamacite-taenite spherules. The larger sections display irregularly shaped troilite-graphite nodules (max. size, 5-12 mm), located in the central areas of the kamacite polygonal sectors. Each nodule has a rim of schreibersite + cohenite. The original morphology of the specimen was preserved making replicas as molds and casts (using elastomers, resins and modified plasters) and a 3D-laser scan. (Author)

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[en] The microdistribution of U has been studied, using fission track techniques, in eleven mesosiderites, seven pallasites and four iron meteorites with silicate inclusions. When concentrated, U is usually found in phosphates: merrillite and/or chlorapatite. As in stony meteorites, the U concentrations in a given phosphate phase are highly variable from meteorite to meteorite and sometimes also exhibit variations in the same meteorite. Uranium is found to be concentrated in merrillite in all the mesosiderites except Bondoc where none was observed. No U-rich phase was identified in six of the seven pallasites. In the seventh, Marjalahti, there are merrillite grains with concentrations ranging from 0.06 to 0.14 ppm. Where observed, the phosphates from silicate inclusions in the irons appear to have U concentrations similar to the mesosiderites. (author)

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[en] A brief introduction into meteorites and the role of INAA in their investigation is presented. Tables include nuclear characteristics of some 'exotic' elements determined in iron meteorites by INAA, INAA of iron meteorites, and INAA of the 'moon' achondrite Al Qaryah Ash Sahrqiyah in Libya. (P.A.)

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