Description
Chondrite Meteorite weighing 9.58gm
This is a section of Chondrite Meteorite weighing 9.58gm, and it measures 2cm across. This is part of Meteorite NWA869 from the Sahara Desert, in Tindouf Province, Algeria.
Chondrite Meteorites get their name from chondrules, these are the small round particles of silicate material inside. These are some of the oldest known rocks in the solar system. They were formed within the solar nebular around 4.5 billion years ago. Once a new meteorites is discovered it is documented and given a name, and an identity. This one is part of Meteorite ‘NWA869’ which weighed between 2 and 4 tons. It broke up as it entered the earths atmosphere and then scattered over a wide area. This was at some time during the last 10,000 years.
There are three principle types of meteorite, they are, the Chondrites, the Achondrites, and the Iron meteorites.
Achondrites differ from chondrite meteorites because they don’t contain chondrules. These are also ancient rocks originating from various asteroids. A small number however appear to have come from the Moon and also from the planet Mars.
Iron Meteorites represent only 5% of all meteorites that are found. These are made of iron-nickel alloys, including Kamacite and Taenite. Rarer still are the stony-iron meteorites, these are made up of iron-nickel metal and silicate minerals. These however make up only 1% of all meteorites found.
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