What are chondrites made of?
Most chondrites contain the anhydrous silicate minerals olivine, orthopyroxene and clinopyroxene, and plagioclase, as well as the nickel-iron minerals kamacite and taenite and the iron sulfide troilite. Some contain claylike hydrous silicates.
What are carbonaceous chondrites made of?
Among the stony meteorites are the chondrites which contam small round spheres called chondrules. These small spherules are principally made up of olivine and pyroxene (minerals made up of Mg, Fe and silicate) The carbonaceous chondrites are composed not only of inorganic minerals but have a high abundance of carbon.
What is so special about chondrites?
Carbonaceous chondrites are arguably the most important class of meteorite for three reasons. First, members of the CI group have the most primitive bulk compositions of any chondrite—i.e., their nonvolatile element compositions are very similar to that of the Sun.
How are carbonaceous chondrites formed?
Carbonaceous chondrites are derived from very diverse asteroids, which probably formed in very different locations. The parent bodies of CI and CM chondrites are highly altered, yet the parent bodies of CH and CB chondrites are less altered than all other chondrite bodies.
Are chondrite meteorites magnetic?
This meteorite probably also fell thousands of years ago and has been exposed to harsh conditions in the desert. Note that there is no obvious metal. L chondrites do not contain as much metal as H chondrites. The rock does attract a magnet, however.
How are chondrite meteorite obtained?
A chondrite /ˈkɒndraɪt/ 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 primitive asteroids.
Do carbonaceous chondrite meteorites contain organic carbon compounds?
These carbon-rich meteorites contain a variety of extraterrestrial organic molecules that are a record of chemical evolution in the early solar system and subsequent aqueous and thermal processes on asteroids. Perhaps the most intriguing feature of carbonaceous chondrites is their carbon-rich nature.
What material primarily composes the matrix of carbonaceous chondrites?
Both chondrules and matrix material are dominated by the minerals olivine and pyroxene (or their alteration products). Because these minerals have densities similar to those of most minerals in the Earth’s crust, primitive chondrites will not feel unusually heavy for their size.
How much is a carbonaceous chondrite meteorite worth?
There are three basic types: stones, irons, and stoney irons. Stones consist of ordinary chondrites, which sell for between $3 and $10 per gram. Carbonaceous chondrites fetch about $8 per gram and up.
How are chondrite meteorites obtained?
What are the 3 types of meteorite?
Types of meteorites. Meteorites are classified into three major families based on their composition: iron, stony, and stony-iron.