Mesosiderite

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Mesosiderite
— Class —
Vaca muerta mesosiderite.
TypeStony-iron
Subgroups
  • A
  • B
  • C
  • anomalous
Composition
sulphides (troilite)
Total known specimens208

Mesosiderites are a class of

pyroxenes, and Ca-rich feldspar and is similar in composition to eucrites and diogenites.[1][2]

They are a rare type of meteorite; as of November 2014 only 208 are known (of which 56 come from Antarctica) and only 7 of these are observed

falls
. On the other hand, some mesosiderites are among the largest meteorites known.

At Vaca Muerta in the

strewnfield. They were first discovered in the 19th century by ore prospectors who mistook the shiny metal inclusions for silver and thought they had found an outcrop of a silver ore deposit. Later when an analysis was made and nickel-iron was found, the true nature as a meteorite was established. The meteorite was called Vaca Muerta.[3]
The picture at right shows a cut and polished piece of Vaca Muerta.

The most recent fall of a mesosiderite occurred at Dong Ujimqin Qi in China, on September 7, 1995, where three large pieces with a total mass of 129 kilograms (284 lb) fell. The fall of the Estherville mesosiderite in Iowa, US occurred on May 10, 1879. After a brilliant fireball had been seen, a shower of several large masses and many small fragments fell, totaling 320 kilograms (710 lb). The fall at Lowicz in Poland on March 12, 1935, yielded many (more than 50) fragments with a total weight of 59 kilograms (130 lb). The other observed mesosiderite falls occurred in 1842 at Barea (Spain), in 1880 at Varamin (Iran), in 1933 at Dyarrl Island (Papua New Guinea), and at Patwar (India) in 1935.[4] The legendary Chinguetti meteorite is also supposed to be a mesosiderite.

The asteroid 16 Psyche is a candidate for the parent body of the mesosiderites.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ F. Heide, F. Wlotzka: Meteorites, Messengers from Space. Springer Verlag 1985.
  2. ^ Karl K. Turekian. Meteorites, comets, and planets, Page 112
  3. ^ H. Pedersen et al., Meteoritics 27 (1992) 126
  4. ^ The Meteoritical Bulletin Database, http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meteor/metbull.php
  5. doi:10.1006/icar.1998.6037
    .

External links

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