In thin section under the microscope it is easy to see that the components of Dhofar 008 L3.3 underwent several episodes of processing before their final assembly and delivery to earth. We see it in layered features and in the presence of enveloping compound chondrules.
Enveloping compound chondrules have one or more chondrules completely enclosed in another.
With enveloping compound chondrules the enclosed chondrules obviously had to form before the chondrule into which it became incorporated.
In another class of compound chondrules adhering chondrules became attached when molten or still-plastic chondrules impacted and stuck to already solid chondrules.
Sibling Compound Chondrules are adhering chondrules with similar textures and compositions.
Independent Compound Chondrules are adhering chondrules with different textures and compositions.
Returning to enveloping chondrules, if the interior and the enclosing chondrules are of the same type it can be difficult to discern the existence of the compound situation. Fortunately here we have barred olivine (BO) chondrules in porphyritic olivine pyroxene (POP) chondrules. The textural differences stand out. Further, BO chondrules are often single skeletal crystals that go to optical extinction all at once. This, too, highlights their presence in POP chondrules when the polarizing filters are rotated.
