Meteorite/Planetary Science Quiz

Question #2

What is the oldest known matter in our solar system?

The oldest known material (that we know of and currently have) are the CAI inclusions in chondrites. They have radiometric ages ( the time of mineral closure for specific isotopic systems) that are within a few million years of the initiation of formation of our solar system (4.56 billion years).

This is a prepared surface of the Allende meteorite. CAI's are the whitish irregular-shaped inclusions.

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