Meteorite and its Classification

PRESENTED BY
Sushree Asmita Sahoo
GEO/28/22
FM UNIVERSITY,BALASORE
Table of Content

1. Introduction
2. Classification
 Iron meteorite
 Stony iron
meteorite
 Stony meteorite
 Tektite
3. Reference
 Introduction

Definition: THE EXTRA TERRESTIAL OBJECT FALLING ON THE EARTH. IT IS

OTHERWISE KNOWN AS FALLINGSTAR OR SHOOTING STAR.

• Meteoroid- Large piece of stone or metal that travel in the space or orbiting to
any celestial body called meteorite.
• Meteor- When meteoroid enter into the earths atmosphere due to earth gravity, its
exterior is heated and produce a visible streak of light called meteor.
• Meteorite- When that meteor fallen on the earth it called meteorite.
• Antarctica is the best fertile ground for the finding meteorites
 Classification

Iron Meteorite

On the basis of composition of the Stony iron meteorite

meteorites they are broadly
classified into 4 types

Stony meteorite

Tektite
 Iron meteorite

 It is also known as siderite meteorite.

 Mainly it consist of iron- nickel alloy(Ni is 4-20%)
 Other accesories such as FeS (troilite), schreibersite [(Fe, Ni, Co) 3 P] and graphite.
 Widmanstatten figure: is displayed normally (etch the polished surface with alcoholic
solution of HNO3)
 In this structure lamella of kamacite bounded by the taenite.
 Kamacite are the Ni poor while taenite are Ni rich mineral phase.
 Widmanstätten structure

Widmanstätten patterns, also known as Thomson structures, are figures of long nickel–iron crystals, found in
the octahedrite iron meteorites and some pallasites. They consist of a fine interleaving of kamacite and taenite
bands or ribbons called lamellae.
 Stony Iron meteorite

 It is also known as siderolite meteorite.

 They have Ni-Fe and silicates in approximately equal proportions.
 Two groups are recognized:
 Pallasites
 Mesosiderites
 Pallasites have a continuous base of Ni-Fe and enclose olivine grains of euhedral forms.
 Mesosiderites have a discontinuous base and silicates are Plagioclase and pyroxene with
accessory olivine.
 Siderolite

A meteorite consisting of a mixture of iron, nickel, and such ferromagnesian minerals as olivine and 
pyroxene
 Stony meteorite

 It is also known as aerolite.

 These are the most abundant type of meteorite(85.7%)
 They mainly composed of rock forming silicate minerals.
 On the basis of texture and composition they are divided into 2 groups
1. Chondrites
2. Achondrite
 Chondrites meteorite

 Chondrites: Chondrites have chondrules or chondri

(small rounded bodies of up to 1mm in diameter)
made of olivine and pyroxene. Unique to meteorites
and never found in terrestrial rocks.
 Avg composition: 40% Olivine, 30% pyroxene, 10-
20% nickel-iron, 10% plagioclase and 6% troilite.
 Achondrites meteorite

 Donot contain chondrules and are more coarse

grained
 Resemble terrestrial silicate rocks and hence
probably crystallized from a silicate melt.
 Similar to basalts and gabbros.
 They are differentiated meteorites.
 Other type are asteroidal type, lunar type and
martian type on the basis of their origin.
 Tektites

 Made of silica-rich glass (75% SiO2)

 Resembles obsidian but still different
 Also have Al, K, and Ca.
 Very low Mg and Na.
 Driest glasses (0.005% water)
 Unusual in composition.
 Usually small (200-300gm) and occur in areas
where no volcanic activity is known.
 References

 Introduction to Geochemistry by K .C . Mishra

 Principle of Geochemistry by Brain Mason and Carleton b. Moore