This is a glossary of terms used in meteoritics, the science of
meteorites
A meteorite is a rock that originated in outer space and has fallen to the surface of a planet or moon. When the original object enters the atmosphere, various factors such as friction, pressure, and chemical interactions with the atmospheri ...
.
#
*
2 Pallas
Pallas (minor-planet designation: 2 Pallas) is the List of largest asteroids, third-largest asteroid in the Solar System by volume and mass. It is the second asteroid to have been discovered, after 1 Ceres, Ceres, and is likely a remnant ...
– an asteroid from the
asteroid belt
The asteroid belt is a torus-shaped region in the Solar System, centered on the Sun and roughly spanning the space between the orbits of the planets Jupiter and Mars. It contains a great many solid, irregularly shaped bodies called asteroids ...
and one of the likely parent bodies of the
CR meteorites.
*
4 Vesta
Vesta (minor-planet designation: 4 Vesta) is one of the largest objects in the asteroid belt, with a mean diameter of . It was discovered by the German astronomer Heinrich Wilhelm Matthias Olbers on 29 March 1807 and is named after Vesta (mytho ...
– second-largest asteroid in the
asteroid belt
The asteroid belt is a torus-shaped region in the Solar System, centered on the Sun and roughly spanning the space between the orbits of the planets Jupiter and Mars. It contains a great many solid, irregularly shaped bodies called asteroids ...
and likely source of the
HED meteorite
HED meteorites are a clan (subgroup) of achondrite meteorites. HED stands for " howardite– eucrite– diogenite".
These achondrites came from a differentiated parent body and experienced extensive igneous processing not much different from the ...
s.
*
221 Eos – an asteroid from the
asteroid belt
The asteroid belt is a torus-shaped region in the Solar System, centered on the Sun and roughly spanning the space between the orbits of the planets Jupiter and Mars. It contains a great many solid, irregularly shaped bodies called asteroids ...
and one of the likely parent bodies of the
CO meteorites.
*
289 Nenetta – an asteroid from the
asteroid belt
The asteroid belt is a torus-shaped region in the Solar System, centered on the Sun and roughly spanning the space between the orbits of the planets Jupiter and Mars. It contains a great many solid, irregularly shaped bodies called asteroids ...
and one of the likely parent bodies of the
angrites.
*
3103 Eger – an asteroid from the
asteroid belt
The asteroid belt is a torus-shaped region in the Solar System, centered on the Sun and roughly spanning the space between the orbits of the planets Jupiter and Mars. It contains a great many solid, irregularly shaped bodies called asteroids ...
and one of the likely parent bodies of the
aubrite
Aubrites are a group of meteorites named for Aubres, a small achondrite meteorite that fell in 1836 in Aubres near Nyons, France. They are primarily composed of the orthopyroxene enstatite and are often called enstatite achondrites. Their igneou ...
s.
*
3819 Robinson – an asteroid from the
asteroid belt
The asteroid belt is a torus-shaped region in the Solar System, centered on the Sun and roughly spanning the space between the orbits of the planets Jupiter and Mars. It contains a great many solid, irregularly shaped bodies called asteroids ...
and one of the likely parent bodies of the
angrites.
*
IA meteorite – an
iron meteorite
Iron meteorites, also called siderites or ferrous meteorites, are a type of meteorite that consist overwhelmingly of an iron–nickel alloy known as meteoric iron that usually consists of two mineral phases: kamacite and taenite. Most iron me ...
group now part of the IAB group/complex.
*
IAB meteorite
IAB meteorites are a group of iron meteorites according to their overall composition and a group of primitive achondrites because of silicate inclusions that show a strong affinity to winonaites and chondrites.
Description
The IAB meteorites are ...
– an
iron meteorite
Iron meteorites, also called siderites or ferrous meteorites, are a type of meteorite that consist overwhelmingly of an iron–nickel alloy known as meteoric iron that usually consists of two mineral phases: kamacite and taenite. Most iron me ...
and
primitive achondrite
Primitive achondrites are a subdivision of meteorites. They are classified on the same rank (historically called "Class") and lying between chondrites and achondrites. They are called primitive because they are achondrites that have retained much ...
of the IAB group/complex.
*
IB meteorite – an
iron meteorite
Iron meteorites, also called siderites or ferrous meteorites, are a type of meteorite that consist overwhelmingly of an iron–nickel alloy known as meteoric iron that usually consists of two mineral phases: kamacite and taenite. Most iron me ...
group now part of the IAB group/complex.
*
IC meteorite – an
iron meteorite
Iron meteorites, also called siderites or ferrous meteorites, are a type of meteorite that consist overwhelmingly of an iron–nickel alloy known as meteoric iron that usually consists of two mineral phases: kamacite and taenite. Most iron me ...
that is part of the IC group.
A
*
Ablation
Ablation ( – removal) is the removal or destruction of something from an object by vaporization, chipping, erosion, erosive processes, or by other means. Examples of ablative materials are described below, including spacecraft material for as ...
– the process of a meteorite losing mass during the passage through the atmosphere.
*
Acapulcoite – a group of
primitive achondrite
Primitive achondrites are a subdivision of meteorites. They are classified on the same rank (historically called "Class") and lying between chondrites and achondrites. They are called primitive because they are achondrites that have retained much ...
s.
*
Accretion – the process in which matter of the
protoplanetary disk
A protoplanetary disk is a rotating circumstellar disc of dense gas and dust surrounding a young newly formed star, a T Tauri star, or Herbig Ae/Be star. The protoplanetary disk may not be considered an accretion disk; while the two are sim ...
coalesces to form planetesimals.
*
Achondrite
An achondrite is a stony meteorite that does not contain chondrules. It consists of material similar to terrestrial basalts or plutonic rocks and has been differentiated and reprocessed to a lesser or greater degree due to melting and recrystalli ...
– a differentiated
meteorite
A meteorite is a rock (geology), rock that originated in outer space and has fallen to the surface of a planet or Natural satellite, moon. When the original object enters the atmosphere, various factors such as friction, pressure, and chemical ...
(meaning without
chondrules).
*
Aerolite – an old term for
stony meteorites.
*
ALH – an abbreviation used for meteorites from
Allan Hills
The Allan Hills () are a group of hills, mainly ice free and about long, lying just north-west of the Coombs Hills near the heads of Mawson Glacier and Mackay Glacier in the Oates Land and Victoria Land regions of Antarctica.
Exploration and n ...
.
*
Allan Hills 84001
Allan Hills 84001 (ALH84001) is a fragment of a Martian meteorite that was found in the Allan Hills in Antarctica on December 27, 1984, by a team of American meteorite hunters from the ANSMET project. Like other members of the shergottite– n ...
– is an exotic meteorite from
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun. It is also known as the "Red Planet", because of its orange-red appearance. Mars is a desert-like rocky planet with a tenuous carbon dioxide () atmosphere. At the average surface level the atmosph ...
that does not fit into any of the SNC groups and was thought to contain evidence for life on Mars.
*
Allende meteorite
The Allende meteorite is the largest carbonaceous chondrite ever found on Earth. The fireball was witnessed at 01:05 on February 8, 1969, falling over the Mexican state of Chihuahua. After it broke up in the atmosphere, an extensive search for p ...
– is the largest carbonaceous chondrite ever found on Earth.
*
Amphoterite – an obsolete classification of chondritic meteorites that are now classified as LL.
*
Angrite – a
basalt
Basalt (; ) is an aphanite, aphanitic (fine-grained) extrusive igneous rock formed from the rapid cooling of low-viscosity lava rich in magnesium and iron (mafic lava) exposed at or very near the planetary surface, surface of a terrestrial ...
ic meteorite.
*
ANSMET
ANSMET (Antarctic Search for Meteorites) is a program funded by the Office of Polar Programs of the National Science Foundation that looks for meteorites in the Transantarctic Mountains. This geographical area serves as a collection point for met ...
– the ''An''tarctic ''S''earch for ''Met''eorites is a scientific program that looks for meteorites in the
Transantarctic Mountains
The Transantarctic Mountains (abbreviated TAM) comprise a mountain range of uplifted rock (primarily sedimentary) in Antarctica which extends, with some interruptions, across the continent from Cape Adare in northern Victoria Land to Coats L ...
.
*
Asteroidal achondrite
An achondrite is a stony meteorite that does not contain chondrules. It consists of material similar to terrestrial basalts or plutonic rocks and has been differentiated and reprocessed to a lesser or greater degree due to melting and recrystalli ...
– an achondrite that differentiated on an asteroid or planetesimal (see
planetary achondrite)
*
Asteroid spectral types
An asteroid spectral type is assigned to asteroids based on their reflectance spectrum, color, and sometimes Astronomical albedo, albedo. These types are thought to correspond to an asteroid's surface composition. For small bodies that are not p ...
– classification of asteroids according to their spectra.
*
Ataxite – an
iron meteorite
Iron meteorites, also called siderites or ferrous meteorites, are a type of meteorite that consist overwhelmingly of an iron–nickel alloy known as meteoric iron that usually consists of two mineral phases: kamacite and taenite. Most iron me ...
that has no visible structures when etched.
*
Aubrite
Aubrites are a group of meteorites named for Aubres, a small achondrite meteorite that fell in 1836 in Aubres near Nyons, France. They are primarily composed of the orthopyroxene enstatite and are often called enstatite achondrites. Their igneou ...
– a class of achondrite meteorites composed primarily of the orthopyroxene
enstatite
Enstatite is a mineral; the magnesium endmember of the pyroxene silicate mineral series enstatite (MgSiO3) – ferrosilite (FeSiO3). The magnesium rich members of the solid solution series are common rock-forming minerals found in igneous and m ...
B
*
Basaltic achondrite – a grouping of
basalt
Basalt (; ) is an aphanite, aphanitic (fine-grained) extrusive igneous rock formed from the rapid cooling of low-viscosity lava rich in magnesium and iron (mafic lava) exposed at or very near the planetary surface, surface of a terrestrial ...
meteorites (
HED meteorite
HED meteorites are a clan (subgroup) of achondrite meteorites. HED stands for " howardite– eucrite– diogenite".
These achondrites came from a differentiated parent body and experienced extensive igneous processing not much different from the ...
s +
Angrite)
*
Brachinite
Brachinites are a group of meteorites that are classified either as primitive achondrites or as asteroidal achondrites. Like all primitive achondrites, they have similarities with chondrites and achondrites. Brachinites contain 74 to 98% (volume ...
– either a primitive achondrite or an asteroidal achondrite
*
Bolide
A bolide is normally taken to mean an exceptionally bright meteor, but the term is subject to more than one definition, according to context. It may refer to any large Impact crater, crater-forming body, or to one that explodes in the atmosphere. ...
– is an extremely bright meteor, especially one that explodes in the atmosphere
C
* C – can refer to
carbonaceous chondrite
Carbonaceous chondrites or C chondrites are a class of chondritic meteorites comprising at least 8 known groups and many ungrouped meteorites. They include some of the most primitive known meteorites. The C chondrites represent only a small propo ...
or to an
iron meteorite
Iron meteorites, also called siderites or ferrous meteorites, are a type of meteorite that consist overwhelmingly of an iron–nickel alloy known as meteoric iron that usually consists of two mineral phases: kamacite and taenite. Most iron me ...
designation (Roman numeral and letter).
*
Carbonaceous chondrite
Carbonaceous chondrites or C chondrites are a class of chondritic meteorites comprising at least 8 known groups and many ungrouped meteorites. They include some of the most primitive known meteorites. The C chondrites represent only a small propo ...
*
CAI – an abbreviation of
calcium–aluminium-rich inclusion
*
Calcium–aluminium-rich inclusion
*
Chassignite
*
Chondrite
A chondrite is a stony (non-metallic) meteorite that has not been modified by either melting or planetary differentiation, differentiation of the parent body. They are formed when various types of dust and small grains in the early Solar Syste ...
– stony meteorites unmodified by melting or differentiation of the parent body
*
Chondrule
A chondrule (from Ancient Greek χόνδρος ''chondros'', grain) is a round grain found in a chondrite. Chondrules form as molten or partially molten droplets in space before being Accretion (astrophysics), accreted to their parent asteroids ...
– millimetre-scale round grains found in chondrites
*
Clan
A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship
and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, a clan may claim descent from a founding member or apical ancestor who serves as a symbol of the clan's unity. Many societie ...
– meteorites that are not similar enough to form a group, but are also not too different from each other to be put in separate classes.
*
Class
Class, Classes, or The Class may refer to:
Common uses not otherwise categorized
* Class (biology), a taxonomic rank
* Class (knowledge representation), a collection of individuals or objects
* Class (philosophy), an analytical concept used d ...
– two or more groups that have a similar chemistry and oxygen isotope ratios.
* Compositional type – a classification based on overall composition, for example stony, iron, stony-iron (as introduced by Maskelyne). Can also refer to the composition deduced from spectroscopy of asteroids.
*
Condensation
Condensation is the change of the state of matter from the gas phase into the liquid phase, and is the reverse of vaporization. The word most often refers to the water cycle. It can also be defined as the change in the state of water vapor ...
– the process of chemicals changing from the gaseous to the solid phase during the cooling of the
protoplanetary disk
A protoplanetary disk is a rotating circumstellar disc of dense gas and dust surrounding a young newly formed star, a T Tauri star, or Herbig Ae/Be star. The protoplanetary disk may not be considered an accretion disk; while the two are sim ...
.
*
Condensation sequence – the sequence of minerals that changes from the gaseous to the solid state while the
protoplanetary disk
A protoplanetary disk is a rotating circumstellar disc of dense gas and dust surrounding a young newly formed star, a T Tauri star, or Herbig Ae/Be star. The protoplanetary disk may not be considered an accretion disk; while the two are sim ...
cools.
*
Cosmic dust
Cosmic dustalso called extraterrestrial dust, space dust, or star dustis dust that occurs in outer space or has fallen onto Earth. Most cosmic dust particles measure between a few molecules and , such as micrometeoroids (30 μm). Cosmic dust can ...
– small interplanetary and interstellar particles that are similar to meteorites (See
Micrometeorite
A micrometeorite is a micrometeoroid that has survived entry through the Earth's atmosphere. Usually found on Earth's surface, micrometeorites differ from meteorites in that they are smaller in size, more abundant, and different in composition. T ...
).
*
Cosmochemistry
Cosmochemistry () or chemical cosmology is the study of the chemical composition of matter in the universe and the processes that led to those compositions. This is done primarily through the study of the chemical composition of meteorites and ot ...
– the study of the chemical composition of the universe and its constituents, and the processes that produced those compositions.
D
*
Dar al Gani – a meteorite field in the Libyan Sahara.
*
Desert glass – natural glass found in deserts formed from the silica in sand as a result of lightning strikes or meteor impacts.
* Differentiated – a meteorite that has undergone
igneous differentiation
In geology, igneous differentiation, or magmatic differentiation, is an umbrella term for the various processes by which magmas undergo bulk chemical change during the partial melting process, cooling, emplacement, or eruption. The sequence of ...
. (See:
achondrite
An achondrite is a stony meteorite that does not contain chondrules. It consists of material similar to terrestrial basalts or plutonic rocks and has been differentiated and reprocessed to a lesser or greater degree due to melting and recrystalli ...
)
*
Differentiation – usually the process of a planetesimal forming an iron core and silicate mantle.
*
Duo – a grouping of two meteorites that share similar characteristics (see Grouplet).
E
* E – can refer to
enstatite chondrite
Enstatite chondrites (E-type chondrites) are a rare form of meteorite, rich in the mineral enstatite. Only about 200 E-Type chondrites are currently known, comprising about 2% of the chondrites that fall on Earth.Norton, O.R. and Chitwood, L.A. F ...
or to an
iron meteorite
Iron meteorites, also called siderites or ferrous meteorites, are a type of meteorite that consist overwhelmingly of an iron–nickel alloy known as meteoric iron that usually consists of two mineral phases: kamacite and taenite. Most iron me ...
designation (Roman numeral and letter).
*
Eagle Station grouplet – a set of pallasite meteorite specimen that do not fit into any of the defined pallasite groups.
* Electrophonic bolide – a meteoroid which produces a measurable discharge of electromagnetic energy (
EMP) during its passage through the atmosphere.
*
Enstatite achondrite – a meteorite that is mostly composed of
enstatite
Enstatite is a mineral; the magnesium endmember of the pyroxene silicate mineral series enstatite (MgSiO3) – ferrosilite (FeSiO3). The magnesium rich members of the solid solution series are common rock-forming minerals found in igneous and m ...
. Usually part of the
aubrite
Aubrites are a group of meteorites named for Aubres, a small achondrite meteorite that fell in 1836 in Aubres near Nyons, France. They are primarily composed of the orthopyroxene enstatite and are often called enstatite achondrites. Their igneou ...
group.
*
Enstatite chondrite
Enstatite chondrites (E-type chondrites) are a rare form of meteorite, rich in the mineral enstatite. Only about 200 E-Type chondrites are currently known, comprising about 2% of the chondrites that fall on Earth.Norton, O.R. and Chitwood, L.A. F ...
– a rare form of meteorite thought to comprise only 2% of chondrites.
F
*
Fall – a meteorite that was seen while it fell to Earth and found.
*
Find – a meteorite that was found without seeing it fall.
* Fossil meteorite – a meteorite that was buried under layers of sediment before the start of the
Quaternary
The Quaternary ( ) is the current and most recent of the three periods of the Cenozoic Era in the geologic time scale of the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS), as well as the current and most recent of the twelve periods of the ...
period. Some or all of the original cosmic material has been replaced by
diagenetic minerals.
(It is, however, not a
fossil
A fossil (from Classical Latin , ) is any preserved remains, impression, or trace of any once-living thing from a past geological age. Examples include bones, shells, exoskeletons, stone imprints of animals or microbes, objects preserve ...
).
* Fusion crust – a coating on meteorites that forms during their passage through the atmosphere.
G
*
Group
A group is a number of persons or things that are located, gathered, or classed together.
Groups of people
* Cultural group, a group whose members share the same cultural identity
* Ethnic group, a group whose members share the same ethnic iden ...
– a collection of five or more meteorites sharing similar characteristics.
*
Grouplet – a collection of fewer than five meteorites sharing similar characteristics.
H
*
Hammer Stone – a specific individual meteorite that has hit either a human, man-made object, and/or an animal.
*
HED – abbreviation for three basaltic achondrite groups
howardite
Howardites are achondritic stony meteorites that originate from the surface of the asteroid 4 Vesta, and as such are part of the HED meteorite clan. There are about 200 distinct members known.
Characteristics
They are a regolith breccia consist ...
,
eucrite
Eucrites are achondritic stony meteorites, many of which originate from the surface of the asteroid 4 Vesta and are part of the HED meteorite clan. They are the most common achondrite group with over 100 meteorites found.
Eucrites consist of b ...
and
diogenite
Diogenites are a group of the HED meteorite clan, a type of achondritic stony meteorites.
Origin and composition
Diogenites are currently believed to originate from deep within the crust of the asteroid 4 Vesta, and as such are part of the HED ...
.
*
HED meteorite
HED meteorites are a clan (subgroup) of achondrite meteorites. HED stands for " howardite– eucrite– diogenite".
These achondrites came from a differentiated parent body and experienced extensive igneous processing not much different from the ...
– a clan of basaltic achondrites.
*
Hexahedrite
Hexahedrites are a structural class of iron meteorite. They are composed almost exclusively of the nickel–iron alloy kamacite and are lower in nickel content than the octahedrites. The nickel concentration in hexahedrites is always below 5.8% ...
– a structural class of iron meteorites having a relatively low nickel content
*
Hunter
Hunting is the human practice of seeking, pursuing, capturing, and killing wildlife or feral animals. The most common reasons for humans to hunt are to obtain the animal's body for meat and useful animal products ( fur/ hide, bone/tusks, ...
– a person who searches for meteorites.
I
*
Impact breccia – rock composed of fragments of terrestrial, extraterrestrial or mixed origin fused by the energy of impact
*
Impactite
Impactite is rock created or modified by one or more impacts of a meteorite. Impactites are considered metamorphic rock, because their source materials were modified by the heat and pressure of the impact. On Earth, impactites consist primarily ...
– informal term for a terrestrial rock resulting from the shocking impact of a meteor.
* Insoluble organic matter –
Kerogen
Kerogen is solid, insoluble organic matter in sedimentary rocks. It consists of a variety of organic materials, including dead plants, algae, and other microorganisms, that have been compressed and heated by geological processes. All the kero ...
-like
macromolecule
A macromolecule is a "molecule of high relative molecular mass, the structure of which essentially comprises the multiple repetition of units derived, actually or conceptually, from molecules of low relative molecular mass." Polymers are physi ...
residue from
carbonaceous chondrite
Carbonaceous chondrites or C chondrites are a class of chondritic meteorites comprising at least 8 known groups and many ungrouped meteorites. They include some of the most primitive known meteorites. The C chondrites represent only a small propo ...
meteorites after soluble organic matter has been removed.
*
Iron–nickel alloy
An iron–nickel alloy or nickel–iron alloy, abbreviated FeNi or NiFe, is a group of alloys consisting primarily of the elements nickel (Ni) and iron (Fe). It is the main constituent of the "iron" planetary cores and iron meteorites. In chemi ...
– an alternative expression for meteoric iron.
*
Iron meteorite
Iron meteorites, also called siderites or ferrous meteorites, are a type of meteorite that consist overwhelmingly of an iron–nickel alloy known as meteoric iron that usually consists of two mineral phases: kamacite and taenite. Most iron me ...
– a meteorite that is mainly composed of
meteoric iron
Meteoric iron, sometimes meteoritic iron, is a native metal and early-universe protoplanetary-disk remnant found in meteorites and made from the elements iron and nickel, mainly in the form of the mineral phases kamacite and taenite. Meteoric ...
.
K
*
Kakangari chondrite – a group of chondrite meteorites.
*
Kamacite
Kamacite is an alloy of iron and nickel, which is found on Earth only in meteorites. According to the International Mineralogical Association (IMA) it is considered a proper nickel-rich variety of the mineral native iron. The proportion iron:ni ...
– a
native metal
A native metal is any metal that is found pure in its metallic form in nature. Metals that can be found as native element mineral, native deposits singly or in alloys include antimony, arsenic, bismuth, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, indium, iron, ma ...
(mineral) found in meteorites.
L
*
Lodranite
Lodranites are a small group of primitive achondrite meteorites that consists of meteoric iron and silicate minerals. Olivine and pyroxene make up most of the silicate minerals. Like all primitive achondrites lodranites share similarities with ch ...
– member of a small group of primitive achondrites thought to derive from deeper within the same parent body as acapulcoites
*
Lunaite – a meteorite that originated from the Moon (synonym of
Lunar meteorite). Compare ''
:Meteorites found on bodies other than Earth''.
*
Lunar meteorite – a meteorite that originated from the Moon (synonym of
Lunaite). Compare ''
:Meteorites found on bodies other than Earth''.
M
*
Main group pallasite
Almost all pallasite meteorites are part of the pallasite main group.
References
Meteorite groups
{{Meteorite-stub ...
– a
pallasite
The pallasites are a Meteorite classification#Terminology, class of stony–iron meteorite. They are relatively rare, and can be distinguished by the presence of large olivine crystal inclusions in the ferro-nickel matrix.
These crystals represe ...
belonging to the main group.
* Main mass – the largest/heaviest piece of a fragmented meteorite, typically found in a
strewn field
A strewn field is the area where meteorites from a single meteorite fall, fall are dispersed.
It is also often used for the area containing tektite, tektites produced by a large meteorite impact.''Tektites in the geological record: showers of glas ...
.
*
Magmatic meteorite
*
Martian meteorite
A Martian meteorite is a rock that formed on Mars, was ejected from the planet by an impact event, and traversed interplanetary space before landing on Earth as a meteorite. , 277 meteorites had been classified as Martian, less than half a perce ...
– a meteorite that originated from Mars. Compare ''
:Meteorites found on bodies other than Earth''.
*
Maskelynite
Maskelynite is a glassy material found in some meteorites and meteorite impact craters. Typical samples are similar in composition to plagioclase feldspar, and revert to that mineral when melted and recrystallized. It was named after British peopl ...
– a natural glass found in meteorites.
* Matrix – the mineral assemblage surrounding chondrules.
*
Mesosiderite
Mesosiderites are a class of stony–iron meteorites consisting of about equal parts of metallic nickel-iron and silicate. They are breccias with an irregular texture; silicates and metal occur often in lumps or pebbles as well as in fine-grained ...
– a grouping of
stony-iron meteorite that are breccias.
*
Meteoric iron
Meteoric iron, sometimes meteoritic iron, is a native metal and early-universe protoplanetary-disk remnant found in meteorites and made from the elements iron and nickel, mainly in the form of the mineral phases kamacite and taenite. Meteoric ...
– a
native metal
A native metal is any metal that is found pure in its metallic form in nature. Metals that can be found as native element mineral, native deposits singly or in alloys include antimony, arsenic, bismuth, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, indium, iron, ma ...
found in meteorites and a mixture of different mineral phases. Compare
telluric iron.
*
Meteorite Observation and Recovery Program – a scientific program that was centered in Canada.
*
Meteoriticist – a scientist working on meteorites, meteors, and meteoroids.
*
Meteoritics – the science of meteorites, meteors, and meteoroids.
*
MORP – abbreviation for
Meteorite Observation and Recovery Program.
*
Micrometeorite
A micrometeorite is a micrometeoroid that has survived entry through the Earth's atmosphere. Usually found on Earth's surface, micrometeorites differ from meteorites in that they are smaller in size, more abundant, and different in composition. T ...
– microscopic meteorites derived from
Cosmic dust
Cosmic dustalso called extraterrestrial dust, space dust, or star dustis dust that occurs in outer space or has fallen onto Earth. Most cosmic dust particles measure between a few molecules and , such as micrometeoroids (30 μm). Cosmic dust can ...
.
N
*
Nakhlite – a group of
Martian meteorites
A Martian meteorite is a rock that formed on Mars, was ejected from the planet by an impact event, and traversed interplanetary space before landing on Earth as a meteorite. , 277 meteorites had been classified as Martian, less than half a perce ...
*
Neumann lines
Neumann lines, or Neumann bands, are fine patterns of parallel lines seen in cross-sections of many hexahedrite iron meteorites in the kamacite phase, although they may appear also in octahedrites provided the kamacite phase is about 30 micromet ...
(or Neumann bands) – a pattern of fine parallel lines seen in some iron meteorites, thought to be due to impact events on the parent body
*
Nonmagmatic meteorite – (deprecated) iron meteorites that were thought to have not formed by igneous processes.
O
* O – usually refers to
ordinary chondrite
The ordinary chondrites (sometimes called the O chondrites) are a class of stony chondritic meteorites. They are by far the most numerous group, comprising 87% of all finds. Hence, they have been dubbed "ordinary". The ordinary chondrites are t ...
* Observed fall – a meteorite that was seen when it fell to Earth.
*
Octahedrite
Octahedrites are the most common Iron meteorite#Structural classification, structural class of iron meteorites. The structures occur because the meteoric iron has a certain nickel concentration that leads to the exsolution of kamacite out of tae ...
– the most common structural class of iron meteorites.
*
Ordinary chondrite
The ordinary chondrites (sometimes called the O chondrites) are a class of stony chondritic meteorites. They are by far the most numerous group, comprising 87% of all finds. Hence, they have been dubbed "ordinary". The ordinary chondrites are t ...
– a chondrite meteorite, where 'ordinary' means that it is the most common found
P
*
PAC
Pac or PAC may refer to:
Aviation
* IATA code PAC Albrook "Marcos A. Gelabert" International Airport in Panama City, Panama
* Pacific Aerospace Corporation, New Zealand, manufacturer of aircraft:
** PAC 750XL
** PAC Cresco
** PAC CT/4
** PA ...
– abbreviation for primitive achondrite.
*
Pallasite
The pallasites are a Meteorite classification#Terminology, class of stony–iron meteorite. They are relatively rare, and can be distinguished by the presence of large olivine crystal inclusions in the ferro-nickel matrix.
These crystals represe ...
– a class of stony–iron meteorite.
*
Panspermia
Panspermia () is the hypothesis that life exists throughout the universe, distributed by space dust, meteoroids, asteroids, comets, and planetoids, as well as by spacecraft carrying unintended contamination by microorganisms,Forward planetary c ...
– the hypothesis that life could reach other planets by the means of meteorites and/or comets.
*
Parent body
A parent body in meteoritics is the celestial body from which originates a meteorite or a class of meteorites.
Identification
It is easiest to correlate a meteorite with a parent body when the parent body still exists. This is the case for Lun ...
– the celestial body from which originates a meteorite or a class of meteorites.
*
Petrologic type
A chondrite is a stony (non-metallic) meteorite that has not been modified by either melting or differentiation of the parent body. They are formed when various types of dust and small grains in the early Solar System accreted to form primiti ...
– a classification scheme that expresses the degree to which a meteorite has been affected by the secondary processes of thermal metamorphism and aqueous alteration on the parent asteroid.
*
Pitts grouplet – a grouplet of meteorites that is part of the
IAB meteorites
IAB meteorites are a group of iron meteorites according to their overall composition and a group of primitive achondrites because of silicate inclusions that show a strong affinity to winonaites and chondrites.
Description
The IAB meteorites are ...
.
*
Planetary achondrite – an achondrite that was differentiated on a planet and not a planetesimal or asteroid (See
asteroidal achondrite
An achondrite is a stony meteorite that does not contain chondrules. It consists of material similar to terrestrial basalts or plutonic rocks and has been differentiated and reprocessed to a lesser or greater degree due to melting and recrystalli ...
).
*
Plessite – a fine grained intergrowth found in
meteoric iron
Meteoric iron, sometimes meteoritic iron, is a native metal and early-universe protoplanetary-disk remnant found in meteorites and made from the elements iron and nickel, mainly in the form of the mineral phases kamacite and taenite. Meteoric ...
consisting of
kamacite
Kamacite is an alloy of iron and nickel, which is found on Earth only in meteorites. According to the International Mineralogical Association (IMA) it is considered a proper nickel-rich variety of the mineral native iron. The proportion iron:ni ...
,
taenite
Taenite is a mineral found naturally on Earth mostly in iron meteorites. It is an alloy of iron and nickel, with a chemical formula of and nickel proportions of 20% up to 65%.
The name is derived from the Greek ταινία for "band, ribbo ...
and
tetrataenite lamella.
*
Presolar grains
Presolar grains are interstellar solid matter in the form of tiny solid grains that originated at a time before the Sun was formed. Presolar grains formed within outflowing and cooling gases from earlier presolar stars. The study of presolar grai ...
– interstellar solid matter in the form of tiny solid grains from a time before the Sun was formed.
* Primitive meteorite
*
Primitive achondrite
Primitive achondrites are a subdivision of meteorites. They are classified on the same rank (historically called "Class") and lying between chondrites and achondrites. They are called primitive because they are achondrites that have retained much ...
– a meteorite that has similarities to achondrites and chondrites.
*
Protoplanetary disk
A protoplanetary disk is a rotating circumstellar disc of dense gas and dust surrounding a young newly formed star, a T Tauri star, or Herbig Ae/Be star. The protoplanetary disk may not be considered an accretion disk; while the two are sim ...
– a circumstellar disk from which all solids in the Solar System formed.
*
Pyroxene pallasite grouplet
R

* Regmaglypts – thumbprint-sized indentations in the surface of larger
meteorite
A meteorite is a rock (geology), rock that originated in outer space and has fallen to the surface of a planet or Natural satellite, moon. When the original object enters the atmosphere, various factors such as friction, pressure, and chemical ...
s formed by
ablation
Ablation ( – removal) is the removal or destruction of something from an object by vaporization, chipping, erosion, erosive processes, or by other means. Examples of ablative materials are described below, including spacecraft material for as ...
as the meteorite passes through a planet's
atmosphere
An atmosphere () is a layer of gases that envelop an astronomical object, held in place by the gravity of the object. A planet retains an atmosphere when the gravity is great and the temperature of the atmosphere is low. A stellar atmosph ...
, probably caused by vortices of hot gas.
*
Rose-Tschermak-Brezina classification – a classification developed by
Gustav Rose
Prof Gustavus ("Gustav") Rose Royal Society of London, FRSFor HFRSE (18 March 1798 – 15 July 1873) was a German mineralogist who was a native of Berlin. He was President of the German Geological Society from 1863 to 1873.
Life
He was born in Be ...
,
Gustav Tschermak
Gustav Tschermak von Seysenegg (19 April 1836 – 24 May 1927) was an Austrian mineralogist.
Biography
He was born in Litovel, Moravia, and studied at the University of Vienna, where he obtained a teaching degree. He studied mineralogy at Heid ...
and
Aristides Brezina.
*
Rumuruti chondrite – a group of chondrites.
S
*
Shergottite – igneous rocks of mafic to ultramafic lithology, named after a meteorite that fell at Sherghati, India in 1865.
*
Shock stage – a measure of the degree of fracturing of the matrix of a common chondrite meteorite.
*
Shock metamorphism
Shock metamorphism or impact metamorphism describes the effects of shock-wave related deformation and heating during impact events.
The formation of similar features during explosive volcanism is generally discounted due to the lack of metamorp ...
– the effects of shock-wave related deformation and heating during impact events.
*
Siderite
Siderite is a mineral composed of iron(II) carbonate (FeCO3). Its name comes from the Ancient Greek word (), meaning "iron". A valuable iron ore, it consists of 48% iron and lacks sulfur and phosphorus. Zinc, magnesium, and manganese commonly ...
– the old term for
iron meteorite
Iron meteorites, also called siderites or ferrous meteorites, are a type of meteorite that consist overwhelmingly of an iron–nickel alloy known as meteoric iron that usually consists of two mineral phases: kamacite and taenite. Most iron me ...
.
*
Siderolite – the old term for
stony-iron meteorites.
*
SNC – abbreviation for
shergottite,
nakhlite and
chassignite, the three main types of Martian meteorite.
*
Solar nebula
There is evidence that the formation of the Solar System began about 4.6 bya, billion years ago with the gravitational collapse of a small part of a giant molecular cloud. Most of the collapsing mass collected in the center, forming the Sun, whil ...
– a synonym of the
protoplanetary disk
A protoplanetary disk is a rotating circumstellar disc of dense gas and dust surrounding a young newly formed star, a T Tauri star, or Herbig Ae/Be star. The protoplanetary disk may not be considered an accretion disk; while the two are sim ...
.
* Soluble organic matter – compounds that can be extracted from
carbonaceous chondrites using water or other solvents. These compounds include
amino acids
Amino acids are organic compounds that contain both amino and carboxylic acid functional groups. Although over 500 amino acids exist in nature, by far the most important are the Proteinogenic amino acid, 22 α-amino acids incorporated into p ...
,
carboxylic acids
In organic chemistry, a carboxylic acid is an organic acid that contains a carboxyl group () attached to an Substituent, R-group. The general formula of a carboxylic acid is often written as or , sometimes as with R referring to an organyl ...
, and
nucleotide bases.
* Spectral class –
*
Stony meteorite – a meteorite composed mostly of
silicate
A silicate is any member of a family of polyatomic anions consisting of silicon and oxygen, usually with the general formula , where . The family includes orthosilicate (), metasilicate (), and pyrosilicate (, ). The name is also used ...
s.
*
Stony-iron meteorite – a meteorite that is a mixture of
meteoric iron
Meteoric iron, sometimes meteoritic iron, is a native metal and early-universe protoplanetary-disk remnant found in meteorites and made from the elements iron and nickel, mainly in the form of the mineral phases kamacite and taenite. Meteoric ...
and
silicate
A silicate is any member of a family of polyatomic anions consisting of silicon and oxygen, usually with the general formula , where . The family includes orthosilicate (), metasilicate (), and pyrosilicate (, ). The name is also used ...
s.
*
Strewn field
A strewn field is the area where meteorites from a single meteorite fall, fall are dispersed.
It is also often used for the area containing tektite, tektites produced by a large meteorite impact.''Tektites in the geological record: showers of glas ...
– a field of fragments from one meteorite fall.
* Structural class – a subdivision of
iron meteorite
Iron meteorites, also called siderites or ferrous meteorites, are a type of meteorite that consist overwhelmingly of an iron–nickel alloy known as meteoric iron that usually consists of two mineral phases: kamacite and taenite. Most iron me ...
s in
ataxites,
hexahedrite
Hexahedrites are a structural class of iron meteorite. They are composed almost exclusively of the nickel–iron alloy kamacite and are lower in nickel content than the octahedrites. The nickel concentration in hexahedrites is always below 5.8% ...
s and
octahedrite
Octahedrites are the most common Iron meteorite#Structural classification, structural class of iron meteorites. The structures occur because the meteoric iron has a certain nickel concentration that leads to the exsolution of kamacite out of tae ...
s.
*
Superbolide
A bolide is normally taken to mean an exceptionally bright meteor, but the term is subject to more than one definition, according to context. It may refer to any large crater-forming body, or to one that explodes in the atmosphere. It can be a s ...
– is a bolide that reaches an apparent magnitude of −17 or brighter, which is roughly 100 times brighter than the full moon. Recent examples of superbolides include the Sutter's Mill meteorite and the Chelyabinsk meteor.
T
*
Taenite
Taenite is a mineral found naturally on Earth mostly in iron meteorites. It is an alloy of iron and nickel, with a chemical formula of and nickel proportions of 20% up to 65%.
The name is derived from the Greek ταινία for "band, ribbo ...
– a
native metal
A native metal is any metal that is found pure in its metallic form in nature. Metals that can be found as native element mineral, native deposits singly or in alloys include antimony, arsenic, bismuth, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, indium, iron, ma ...
(mineral) found in meteorites.
*
Tamdakht – a meteorite that fell near Ouarzazate, Morocco on 2008-12-20 producing a strewn field of approximately 25 km (16 mi) by 2 km (1.2 mi) and two small impact craters.
*
Tektite
Tektites () are gravel-sized bodies composed of black, green, brown or grey natural glass formed from terrestrial debris ejected during meteorite impacts. The term was coined by Austrian geologist Franz Eduard Suess (1867–1941), son of Eduar ...
– glassy terrestrial debris created by meteorite impacts.
* Thumbprinting – see regmaglypts
*
Total known weight (TKW) – total known mass of a meteorite.
*
Trio – a grouping of three meteorites that share similar characteristics (see Grouplet).
*
Type
Type may refer to:
Science and technology Computing
* Typing, producing text via a keyboard, typewriter, etc.
* Data type, collection of values used for computations.
* File type
* TYPE (DOS command), a command to display contents of a file.
* ...
– subdivision of meteorites. Loosely defined. Usually refers to
chondrite
A chondrite is a stony (non-metallic) meteorite that has not been modified by either melting or planetary differentiation, differentiation of the parent body. They are formed when various types of dust and small grains in the early Solar Syste ...
,
achondrite
An achondrite is a stony meteorite that does not contain chondrules. It consists of material similar to terrestrial basalts or plutonic rocks and has been differentiated and reprocessed to a lesser or greater degree due to melting and recrystalli ...
and sometimes
primitive achondrite
Primitive achondrites are a subdivision of meteorites. They are classified on the same rank (historically called "Class") and lying between chondrites and achondrites. They are called primitive because they are achondrites that have retained much ...
.
U
*
Udei Station grouplet – a grouplet of meteorites that is part of the
IAB meteorites
IAB meteorites are a group of iron meteorites according to their overall composition and a group of primitive achondrites because of silicate inclusions that show a strong affinity to winonaites and chondrites.
Description
The IAB meteorites are ...
.
* Ungrouped – a meteorite that has not been assigned to a group or grouplet.
* Undifferentiated
*
Ureilite
V
*
Vesta – second largest asteroid in the
asteroid belt
The asteroid belt is a torus-shaped region in the Solar System, centered on the Sun and roughly spanning the space between the orbits of the planets Jupiter and Mars. It contains a great many solid, irregularly shaped bodies called asteroids ...
and likely source of the
HED meteorite
HED meteorites are a clan (subgroup) of achondrite meteorites. HED stands for " howardite– eucrite– diogenite".
These achondrites came from a differentiated parent body and experienced extensive igneous processing not much different from the ...
s.
*
Volatile elements – are chemical elements that have low boiling and condensation temperatures.
W
*
Widmanstätten pattern
Widmanstätten patterns (), also known as Thomson structures, are figures of long Phase (matter), phases of nickel–iron, found in the octahedrite shapes of iron meteorite crystals and some pallasites.
Iron meteorites are very often formed ...
– a fine interleaving of kamacite and taenite bands/ribbons found in octahedrite irons and some pallasites.
*
Willamette meteorite – the largest meteorite discovered in North America, found in the
Willamette Valley
The Willamette Valley ( ) is a valley in Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. The Willamette River flows the entire length of the valley and is surrounded by mountains on three sides: the Cascade Range to the east, the ...
of Oregon.
*
Winonaite
Winonaites are a group of primitive achondrite meteorites. Like all primitive achondrites, winonaites share similarities with chondrites and achondrites. They show signs of metamorphism, partial melting, brecciation and relic chondrules. Their c ...
– a type of primitive achondrite meteorite.
*
Weston meteorite
The Weston meteorite is an H4 ordinary chondrite meteorite which fell to earth above the town of Weston, Connecticut on the morning of December 14, 1807.
History
The Weston meteorite fell to earth above the town of Weston, Connecticut at appr ...
– a meteorite which fell to earth above the town of
Weston, Connecticut
Weston ( ) is a New England town, town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 10,354 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census and had the highest median income in the state of Connecticut. The town is part of the ...
on December 14, 1807.
References
{{meteorites
Meteorites
Geology terminology
Meteoritics
Wikipedia glossaries using unordered lists