[meteorite-list] Orbicular granite and chondrites

[Elton Jones]

Kevin Forbes wrote:

> Hi list,
> has anyone ever seen orbicular granite?

yes it is a popular dimension stone for construction

> Is the formation of this material related to the formation of chondritic 
> meteorites in any way?

NOPE--can't even stretch a connection as to similar formation. 
Chondrules apparently formed molecule by molecule out of primordial, 
proto-solar-disk "soup" flash melted by really huge lightening bolts


Orbicular granite is a partial remelt of older granitoid material -- 
rarely country rock of other igneous or metamorphic origin.  The loosely 
spherical objects seen are referred to as zenoliths.  If the orbicular 
granite hadn't been suddenly chilled -- had the process ran to 
completion,  the zenos would have been reintegrated into the 
average/existing composition of the surrounding material. The result 
would have been regular texture granite. Perhaps the rain of zenoliths 
into the melt took away too much of the available heat and the activity 
came to a fast halt in mid-process.

Elton