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Meteorite composition

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Meteorite composition. Major groupings: Stony meteorites Chondrites Achondrites Iron meteorites Octahedrites, hexahedrites, ataxites Stony-iron meteorites Pallasites Mesosiderites. Chondrites Carbonaceous chondrite class CI chondrite (Ivuna-like) group - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Page 2: Meteorite composition

Meteorite composition

• Major groupings:– Stony meteorites

• Chondrites• Achondrites

– Iron meteorites• Octahedrites, hexahedrites, ataxites

– Stony-iron meteorites• Pallasites• Mesosiderites

Page 3: Meteorite composition

• Chondrites • Carbonaceous chondrite class

– CI chondrite (Ivuna-like) group – CM-CO chondrite (mini-chondrule) clan

• CM chondrite (Mighei-like) group • CO chondrite (Ornans-like) group

– CV-CK chondrite clan • CV chondrite (Vigarano-like) group

– CV-oxA chondrite (oxidized, Allende-like) subgroup – CV-oxB chondrite (oxidized, Bali-like) subgroup – CV-red chondrite (reduced) subgroup

• CK chondrite (Karoonda-like) group – CR chondrite clan

• CR chondrite (Renazzo-like) group • CH chondrite (Allan Hills 85085-like) group • CB chondrite (Bencubbin-like) group

– CBa chondrite subgroup – CBb chondrite subgroup

• Ordinary chondrite class – H chondrite group – L chondrite group – LL chondrite group

• Enstatite chondrite class – EH chondrite group – EL chondrite group

• Other chondrite groups, not in one of the major classes – R chondrite (Rumuruti-like) group – K chondrite (Kakangari-like) grouplet (a grouplet is a provisional group with <5 members)

Page 4: Meteorite composition

Chondrites• Stony meteorites – most common meteorites and

represent the oldest solids that are the building blocks of the solar system

• Parent bodies were small-medium asteroids, not planetoids!

• Contain up to 80% chondrules, which were freely floating molten drops in space

• Few m to 1 cm spheres• Mostly olivine and

pyroxene, also feldspathic glass or crystals with minor troilite (FeS), chromite, phosphates

• 15 groups of chondrites

Page 5: Meteorite composition

Chondrite groups• Ordinary – make up 80% of the meteorites and

90% of chondritic meteorites, abundant chondrules, variable Fe-Ni lead to H, L, and LL chondrites

• Carbonaceous chondrites –less the 5% of chondritic meteorites, few chondrules, more lithophile elements (Ca, Mg, K, Cr, Al, Cl,…), high levels of water and organic compounds - many types based on characteristic specimen

• Enstatite Chondrites – 2% of chondritic meteorites, very chemically reduced – enstatite-rich chondrules and abundant metal and sulfide minerals

Page 6: Meteorite composition

Peekskill MeteoritePeekskill Meteor: October 9, 1992. This famous fireball was seen and

filmed across several eastern states. It broke up into many fragments, one of which hit the trunk of Michelle Knapp's 1980 Chevy Malibu. When Ms. Knapp investigated a crash sound outside her Peekskill, NY home, she discovered the damaged trunk and found a warm 12-kg meteorite lying beside the car.

12-kg Ordinary Chondritic meteorite

Car – $10K

Meteorite – $75K

Page 7: Meteorite composition

Achondrites• Stony meteorite similar to terrestrial basalts or

plutonic rocks, represent 8% of meteorites grouped on the basis of Fe/Mn and 17O/18O ratios characteristic of the parent body

• 2/3 of these meteorites are HED type, originating from one asteroid, Vesta 4 - there is a large impact crater observed on this asteroid

• Also includes Martian and lunar meteorites

Lunar Meteorite Allan Hills 81005 The Johnstown Diogenite.

Page 8: Meteorite composition

Martian Meteorites

• All are igneous, lherzolitic to basaltic composition, and some contain hydrated carbonates and sulfates, evidence of liquid water

• ALH84001 is 4.5 ga, contains carbonate veins 3.6 – 4 ga, Organic matter (PAH), aligned magnetite crystals, proposed nanofossils (careful!!) – very controversial…

ALH84001 Nahkla MeteoriteALH84001 – round

carbonate grains

Page 9: Meteorite composition

Iron Meteorites• 5% of meteorites, but 90% of the mass of recovered

meteorites and all of the largest meteorites (66 tons is the record) - primarily composed of iron-nickel alloy intergrowths:– Kamacite – Fe-Ni alloy at 90:10 to 95:5 Fe:Ni– Taenite – Fe-Ni alloy at 80:20 to 45:65 Fe:Ni– Widmanstätten pattern – finely interweaved Kamacite and Taenite

(Octahedrites)

• Classified on Ni content: Ataxites>Octahedrites>Hexahedrites

Page 10: Meteorite composition

Stony-iron Meteorites

• Mix of iron-nickel alloy and silicate minerals (mostly olivine), 1% of meteorites– Pallasites are thought to form a the core-

mantle boundary of differentiated asteroids– Mesosiderite – equal parts metal alloy and

silicate with a breccia texture

Page 11: Meteorite composition

Identifying a meteorite

• Fusion crust – dull black to dark brown, often soft, can be weathered to red (but can flake off)

• Density – generally dense• Chondrules are specifically meteoritic• Never porous, but can be ‘dimpled’ with

surface depressions• 99% of meteorites are magnetic• Unusually high Ni content

Page 12: Meteorite composition

• Fusion crust forms on entry through the atmosphere

Page 13: Meteorite composition

Meteorite/ Comet Impacts

• P/T space??

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Chicxulub, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

• K/T event at 64.98 ma, formed from a 6-12 mile diameter asteroid impact (50 megaton blast)

Page 15: Meteorite composition

Barringer Meteor Crater, Arizona, formed from Canyon Diable Meteorite

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Impact Craters

Clearwater lakes, Quebec – 36+26km diameter, 290 ma

• Many famous impact craters, hundreds known on earth (why might there have been plenty more??)– Sudbury, Ontario (250km

diameter, 1.85 ga)– Chesapeake Bay (90km

diameter, 35 ma)– Manson, Iowa (35km, 74ma)– Barringer, Arizona (1.2km, 49

ka)– Serpent Mound, Ohio (8km,

320 ma)

Page 17: Meteorite composition

Megatsunamis

• Meteorite impact in the ocean displaces huge quantities of water instantly

• The Chixculub crater impact generated a megatsunami 150-300 feet high

Page 18: Meteorite composition

Energy of an impact

• Kinetic energy – going from very fast to stopping is a BIG change in energy

• What happens to that energy??

• Impactite – any mineral formed as a result of this impact Shatter cone

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Materials indicating Meteorite Impacts

• Tektites• Glass formed from impact

Page 20: Meteorite composition

Diaplectic Glass

• Glass formed through fusion of different minerals – not melted, but fused…

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What Happens to minerals that are there but not melted?

• Shock Quartz

• Lamellae retaining evidence of impact

Page 22: Meteorite composition

Diamonds• Very small diamonds can form from

impacts and are found in meteorite impact craters around the world

• Diamonds can also form in meteorites- these can be gray to black

• Lonsdalite - Hexagonal allotrope of diamond, specific to meteorite impacts, thought to form from graphite in meteorites

Page 23: Meteorite composition

Quartz Polymorphs• Coesite and Stishovite found associated with

impact craters


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