Dr. Alan E. Rubin, UCLA
Even though the IIE meteorites are irons, a few contain chondrule-bearing clasts. These clasts and the metal fraction have chemical and isotopic compositions that show that they constitute the fourth major ordinary-chondrite group. Considered collectively, these four groups provide insights into the nature of the chemical fractionations that occurred in the solar nebula.
About the presenter
Alan Rubin received a B.S. in Astronomy from the University of Illinois, Urbana in 1974, after which he worked part-time at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago. He obtained an M.S. in Geological Sciences from the University of Illinois, Chicago in 1979, and a Ph.D. in Geology from the University of New Mexico in 1982. Ed Olsen was his M.S. advisor and Klaus Keil his Ph.D. advisor. While at New Mexico, Rubin also worked with Jeff Taylor and Ed Scott. Rubin was a post-doctoral fellow at the Smithsonian from 1982-1983 under the supervision of Roy Clarke. He went on to UCLA where he joined John Wasson’s group. Rubin has published about 220 research papers on all varieties of meteorites, as well as 50 popular-level articles and three non-fiction books. He notes that, as a garnet, his eponymous mineral is semi-precious.