Chondrite components: archives of protoplanetary disk processes. From natural samples to experimental approaches.

This Ph.D. thesis investigates the formation and evolution of the Solar System's earliest building blocks. Chondrites are recognised as archives of protoplanetary disk processes, extending the geosciences' conventional disciplinary boundaries to link astrophysics and cosmochemistry. Despite decades of study, the formation of chondrites components—particularly chondrules and refractory inclusions—remains unresolved. This work addresses open questions regarding carbonaceous chondrites and the record of protoplanetary disk processes. The thesis is structured around distinct research efforts, which integrate analyses of natural samples with experimental petrology and laboratory activities. Chapter 1 provides a comprehensive overview of chondrites and their components, establishing the fundamental petrological context for the research. In Chapter 2, I propose a review of the classical rock cycle, extending this concept to a cosmic scale. Chapter 3 presents the analysis of natural meteorite samples. The principal investigations detailed in this chapter include the classification of a new carbonaceous chondrite (NWA 16768), the study of Wark Lovering (WL) rims on two exceptionally well-preserved Calcium-Aluminum-rich Inclusions and the characterization of melt inclusions in chondrules. Finally, Chapter 4 presents a diverse set of experimental investigations and their implications for planetary science. The principal studies detailed in this chapter include an evaluation of the prebiotic potential of carbonaceous chondrites, the design and preliminary testing of the VF-Smelt (Vacuum Furnace for Space Melts) experimental apparatus and a Brillouin spectroscopy study on natural and complex volcanic glasses to determine the role of divalent cations.