Benjamin Botwe’ Agyemang, MS candidate

What processes may have formed/controlled the fabrics in ureilites?

Ureilites is a type of meteorite which formed from the disruption of an asteroid. It consists of minerals such as olivine, pigeonite, troilite, and high-pressure carbon phases like graphite and diamond. These meteorites, which are linked to magmatic origins, show signs of shock impact deformation, with their minerals arranged in preferred patterns or orientations called fabrics. However, the mechanisms and processes behind the formation of these fabrics remains uncertain. My research goal is to investigate whether the fabrics in ureilites formed by either flow alignment process of restite origin, crystal settling process of cumulate origin, or shock deformation process. With the optical microscope and SEM-EBSD (Scanning Electron Microscope-Electron Backscattered Diffraction) techniques, I analyze the texture, crystal shapes and orientations to elucidate the formation history and evolutionary processes of ureilites.

I finalized my thesis and defended it in 2025. However, my supervisor and I are currently revising my thesis into a publication. In addition to this, we have a few hypotheses that my supervisor suggested that we test. This could potentially alter the outcome of my thesis slightly, and this hypothesis testing is underway.