Chromites in cosmic spherules: a unique perspective on the extraterrestrial flux to earth

Chromite (FeCr2O4) is a mineral phase with a spinel structure found in different types of rocks across the planet and our solar system, including meteorites and micrometeorites [1]. Because of their strong resistance to weathering, chromite grains can survive in sedimentary successions in the stratigraphic record and advance our understanding of the variability of the extraterrestrial flux through time [2]. However, a full understanding of the origin of these sedimentary chromite grains and potential alteration processes requires detailed in situ analysis. A full characterization of individual chromites is necessary to comprehend what processes or reservoirs sedimentary spinels trace and how their abundance changes over time. Here, we characterize 27 chromite-bearing cosmic spherules (1751000 µm) from two different Antarctic micrometeorite collections.

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