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Meteorite Glossary IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE FOUND A METEORITE, email me first or please send a small,
quarter-sized piece for me to examine along with a description and photograph of the
entire specimen. If you wish to have the sample returned to you, you must enclose return
postage. All non-meteorite samples without return postage are added to the pile outside
the back door. If I suspect that your sample is a meteorite, I will contact you by letter
and phone, so be sure to enclose your name, address and phone number with all samples. A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Achondrites Stone meteorites that do not contain visible chondrules. Amino acid Large organic molecule: building block of protein Amphoterite Obsolete name for LL (low-low iron content) chondrites Anomalous Highly unusual, unique, uncategorized Asteroid An interplanetary body, of varying size not associated with a fixed orbit Ataxite High-nickel content iron meteorite showing no Widmanstatten pattern when etched Bronzite A silicate mineral with associated iron content of between 10% and 20% - (Mg,Fe)2 Si2O6 Carbonado Carbon that has metamorphosed into its diamond phase but remains black Chondrites Stone meteorites that contain chondrules Chondrules Small spheres of silicaceous minerals associated with early formation of solar system. Enstatite Silicate mineral with an associated iron content of 10% or less. Mg2Si2O6 Eucrite Class of stone meteorite consisting of Ca-pyroxene and plagioclase Fall Witnessed event of meteorite-dropping fireball Find A found piece without associated witnessing of event Hexahedrite Six-sided crystal structure found in nickel-iron meteorites Hypersthene A silica mineral with associated iron content of between 20% and 30% (Mg,Fe)SiO3 Inclusions Mineral grains that once existed separately but now form an aggregate Kamacite Nickel-iron alloy (7wt %) phase with body-centered cubic structure Lodranite Refers to only the silicated portions of silicated irons - archaic term Matrix Base material, surrounding material Mesosiderite A class of meteorite; partly stone, partly nickel iron in a melded mixture Meteor A meteoroid that has entered Earth's atmosphere Meteorite The remnants of a meteor after it has actually impacted the Earth Meteoroid An object in space; similar to but smaller than an asteroid Newman Lines Fine striations seen in some high-nickel iron meteorites Octahedrite Eight-sided crystal structure found in nickel-iron meteorites Olivine A silicate mineral with the general formula (Mg,Fe)25i04 Pallasite Class of stony-iron meteorite containing crystals of olivine Plagioclase A triclinic mineral with the general chemical composition of Al2Si2O8 Pyroxene One of a number of 5i04 silicate minerals common in meteorites Schreibersite A phosphide mineral with the formula (Fe,Ni)3P Silicate Glassy or stony component made up primarily of the element silicon Strewnfield The area over which a meteorite has fallen Sulfide Sulfur-containing, as in sulfur-oxide Taenite Iron alloy with a face-centered crystalline orientation Troilite Stoichiometric iron sulphide, FeS Ureilite Carbon-rich achondrite meteorites with olivine and pigeonite Widmanstatten A crystalline pattern seen in iron meteorites after acid etching IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE FOUND A METEORITE, email me first or please send a small, quarter-sized piece for me to examine along with a description and photograph of the entire specimen. If you wish to have the sample returned to you, you must enclose return postage. All non-meteorite samples without return postage are added to the pile outside the back door. If I suspect that your sample is a meteorite, I will contact you by letter and phone, so be sure to enclose your name, address and phone number with all samples.
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