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Unveiling the Mysteries of Meteorites and Meteoroids

Discover the origins of meteorites, their types, and how they provide insights into the formation of our solar system. Explore different classifications like iron, stony, and achondrites. Learn about differentiation and the fascinating world of asteroids and celestial bodies.

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Unveiling the Mysteries of Meteorites and Meteoroids

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  1. Meteorites

  2. Meteors? Meteoroid in space Meteorin atmosphere Meteoriteon Earth

  3. Where do they come from? Asteroid belt:source of meteorites

  4. How do we know? Pribram 1959 Innisfree 1977

  5. Asteroids can be really big • Often smash into each other Mars

  6. Meteorites are…. • Samples of planetesimals • Samples of asteroids • Oldest evidence of our solar system • Up to 4.6 billion years old!

  7. Types of Meteorite Stony stony, iron or stony-iron… Iron Stony-iron

  8. Types of Meteorite Iron • Iron meteorites • Stony meteorites • Chondrites • Achondrites Stony Stony

  9. Early Solar System A star exploded Bits of the cloud, called a nebula, began to stick together Gravity pulled the lumps together The lumps gathered more and more rocky dust They became the planets

  10. Chondrite • From the oldest asteroids • Lumps ‘left over’ from when our Solar System formed!

  11. Crusty Chondrite • Can you see the ‘crust’ on this meteorite? • Friction melted the meteorite’s surface as it entered the Earth’s atmosphere Heated crust

  12. Carbonaceous chondrites • Rare meteorites • Most studied • Formed in the solar nebula 4.56 billion yrs ago • Contain elemental carbon and amino acids.

  13. Differentiation • Some planetesimals were large • They differentiated into an iron-rich core and a rocky mantle and crust

  14. Iron Meteorite • From the cores of asteroids • Dense iron-nickel • Same material as core of Earth

  15. Iron Meteorite • Has a ‘thumb pressed’ surface • Caused by melting due to friction in the atmorpshere This stamp commemorates the fall of this meteorite

  16. Iron Meteorite • Sliced to reveal the inside • Iron-nickel alloy • Unique pattern of crystals called ‘Widmanstätten’

  17. Differentiated Body Not differentiated Crust Achondrites

  18. Achondrites • From the crust of a planetary body • Created by meteorite impacts • Look like rocks from Earth

  19. Stony meteorite(Achondrite) • Some are from the crusts of asteroids • Others are from the Moon and Mars

  20. Stony meteorite(Achondrite) Vesta • This one is actually from the Asteroid Vesta!

  21. Pallasites • Mixtures of iron-nickel alloy and non-metallic minerals • Earth's core/mantle

  22. Stony meteorites(Achondrites) • Look like rocks from Earth • Some are the crusts of asteroids • Others are from the Moon and Mars

  23. Tektites • Earth rocks can be melted on impact • Molten droplets of splashed rock fall back to Earth

  24. Moldavites • A type of tektite found in the Czech Republic • From the Ries crater in Germany • 15 million years old Source crater Moldavites

  25. How to spot a meteorite • Magnetic • No holes or bubbles • Melted outside, silver inside • OR Dark crust, grey inside

  26. Impacts Try the Impact Calculator to see what effect a meteorite impact can have http://down2earth.eu/ Impact_calculator

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