The origin of 4-Vesta’s volatile depletion revealed by the zinc isotopic composition of diogenites
Data files
Feb 10, 2026 version files 10 KB
-
README.md
1.52 KB
-
Table_1.csv
2.40 KB
-
Table_S1.csv
3.49 KB
-
Table_S2.csv
1.01 KB
-
Table_S3.csv
579 B
-
Table_S4.csv
997 B
Abstract
Volatile element abundances vary significantly among terrestrial planetary bodies like Earth, Mars, Moon, and differentiated asteroids, leading to intense debate about the governing processes. Howardites-Eucrites-Diogenites (HED) meteorites, most likely from asteroid 4-Vesta, represent highly volatile-depleted Solar System samples, offering critical insights into these processes. Zinc is a moderately volatile element and its isotopic composition reveals sources of volatiles in planetary bodies. Our study finds Zn isotopic anomalies in diogenites overlapping with non-carbonaceous reservoirs, indicating insignificant contribution of outer solar system materials to 4-Vesta's volatiles. Additionally, zinc isotopic composition of 4-Vesta is lighter than that of chondrites, contrary to the expected signature of evaporation-based volatile depletion. This suggests that after 4-Vesta lost all its volatiles through evaporation during the magma ocean stage, partial kinetic recondensation occurred that produced the observed isotopically light composition. These insights, combined with previous data, underscore the process of global evaporation followed by partial condensation as a key factor influencing the final volatile budget of planetary bodies.
https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.djh9w0w5x
The dataset contains five tables. Table 1 (Table_1.csv) gives the zinc isotopic composition of diogenite. Table S1(Table_S1.csv) shows the elemental concentration of the diogenite residues. Table S2 (Table_S2.csv) Zinc, strontium and barium percentage of leachates for individual diogenites and selected elemental ratios of diogenite leachates. Table S3 (Table_S3.csv) Parameters used for a simple 2-endmember mixing model for isotope anomalies of ε48Ca, ε54Cr and ε50Ti against ε66Zn.Table S4 (Table_S4.csv) Compiled Zn, Ca, Cr, Ti anomaly of carbonaceous and non-carbonaceous components in the solar system.
Description of the data and file structure
In the tables, the name columns show the name of diogenite samples and the suffix “L” in the sample name means the leachate part of the diogenite, and the suffix “R” represents the residue aliquot. In Table 1, Geo-standard BHVO-2 was measured in different concentrations (a: 50 ppb, b:20 ppb) to monitor the accuracy and the reproducibility of the data under different solution concentrations. In Table S1, 'a' represents that the data was measured in IPGP (Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris), and other data was determined in IUEM (Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer). Table S4 is a compilation dataset. 'n/a' means the data is not applicable.
- Fang, Linru; Moynier, Frederic; Barrat, Jean-Alix et al. (2024). The origin of 4-Vesta’s volatile depletion revealed by the zinc isotopic composition of diogenites. Science Advances. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adl1007