Aubrite
This article needs additional citations for verification. (March 2009) |
Aubrite | |
---|---|
— Asteroidal achondrite or enstatite achondrite | |
Parent body | Possibly (3103) Eger |
Shallowater meteorite, an aubrite |
Aubrites are a group of
Aubrites are typically light-colored with a brownish fusion crust. Most aubrites are heavily brecciated; they are often said to look "lunar" in origin.
Aubrites are primarily composed of large white crystals of the Fe-poor, Mg-rich orthopyroxene, or enstatite, with minor phases of olivine, nickel-iron metal, and troilite, indicating a magmatic formation under extremely reducing conditions. The severe brecciation of most aubrites attests to a violent history for their parent body. Since some aubrites contain chondritic xenoliths, it is likely that the aubrite parent body collided with an asteroid of "F-chondritic" composition.
Comparisons of aubrite spectra to the spectra of asteroids have revealed striking similarities between the aubrite group and the E-type asteroids of the Nysa family. A small near-Earth object, 3103 Eger, is also often suggested as the parent body of the aubrites.[2]
It has been suggested that aubrites may originate from the planet Mercury.[1][3]
See also
References
- ^ a b O'Callaghan, Jonathan (10 February 2024). "Fragments of Asteroid With Mystery Origin Are Found Outside Berlin - Astronomers tracked the entry of a small space rock into Earth's atmosphere, and then meteorite hunters made an unexpected discovery". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 10 February 2024. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
- . Retrieved 14 May 2021.
- ^ O'Callaghan, Jonathan (23 May 2022). "Shards of the Planet Mercury May Be Hiding on Earth". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 February 2023.