{{Short description|none}} This is a glossary of terms used in meteoritics, the science of meteorites.
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==#== * '''2 Pallas''' – an asteroid from the asteroid belt and one of the likely parent bodies of the CR meteorites. * '''4 Vesta''' – second-largest asteroid in the asteroid belt and likely source of the HED meteorites. * '''221 Eos''' – an asteroid from the asteroid belt and one of the likely parent bodies of the CO meteorites. * '''289 Nenetta''' – an asteroid from the asteroid belt and one of the likely parent bodies of the angrites. * '''3103 Eger''' – an asteroid from the asteroid belt and one of the likely parent bodies of the aubrites. * '''3819 Robinson''' – an asteroid from the asteroid belt and one of the likely parent bodies of the angrites. * '''IA meteorite''' – an iron meteorite group now part of the IAB group/complex. * '''IAB meteorite''' – an iron meteorite and primitive achondrite of the IAB group/complex. * '''IB meteorite''' – an iron meteorite group now part of the IAB group/complex. * '''IC meteorite''' – an iron meteorite that is part of the IC group.
==A== * '''Ablation''' – the process of a meteorite losing mass during the passage through the atmosphere. * '''Acapulcoite''' – a group of primitive achondrites. * '''Accretion''' – the process in which matter of the protoplanetary disk coalesces to form planetesimals. * '''Achondrite''' – a differentiated meteorite (meaning without chondrules). * '''Aerolite''' – an old term for stony meteorites. * '''ALH''' – an abbreviation used for meteorites from Allan Hills. * '''Allan Hills 84001''' – is an exotic meteorite from Mars that does not fit into any of the SNC groups and was thought to contain evidence for life on Mars. * '''Allende meteorite''' – is the largest carbonaceous chondrite ever found on Earth. * '''Amphoterite''' – an obsolete classification of chondritic meteorites that are now classified as LL. * '''Angrite''' – a basaltic meteorite. * '''ANSMET''' – the ''An''tarctic ''S''earch for ''Met''eorites is a scientific program that looks for meteorites in the Transantarctic Mountains. * '''Asteroidal achondrite''' – an achondrite that differentiated on an asteroid or planetesimal (see planetary achondrite) * '''Asteroid spectral types''' – classification of asteroids according to their spectra. * '''Ataxite''' – an iron meteorite that has no visible structures when etched. *'''Aubrite''' – a class of achondrite meteorites composed primarily of the orthopyroxene enstatite
==B== * '''Basaltic achondrite''' – a grouping of basalt meteorites (HED meteorites + Angrite) * '''Brachinite''' – either a primitive achondrite or an asteroidal achondrite * '''Bolide''' – is an extremely bright meteor, especially one that explodes in the atmosphere
==C== * '''C''' – can refer to carbonaceous chondrite or to an iron meteorite designation (Roman numeral and letter). * '''Carbonaceous chondrite''' * '''CAI''' – an abbreviation of calcium–aluminium-rich inclusion * '''Calcium–aluminium-rich inclusion''' * '''Chassignite''' * '''Chondrite''' – stony meteorites unmodified by melting or differentiation of the parent body * '''Chondrule''' – millimetre-scale round grains found in chondrites * '''Clan''' – meteorites that are not similar enough to form a group, but are also not too different from each other to be put in separate classes.<ref name="Weisberg 2006" /> * '''Class''' – two or more groups that have a similar chemistry and oxygen isotope ratios.<ref name="Weisberg 2006">{{cite book|editor=D. S. Lauretta|editor2=H. Y. McSween, Jr.|title=Meteorites and the early solar system II|date=2006|publisher=University of Arizona Press|location=Tucson|isbn=978-0816525621|pages=19–52, 942|chapter-url=http://haroldconnolly.com/EES%20716%20Fall%2009%20Reading/Lecture%201/Background%20reading/Weisberg_etal_MESSII.pdf|author=M. K. Weisberg|author2=T. J. McCoy, A. N. Krot|access-date=15 December 2012|chapter=Systematics and Evaluation of Meteorite Classification|archive-date=8 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808001147/http://haroldconnolly.com/EES%20716%20Fall%2009%20Reading/Lecture%201/Background%20reading/Weisberg_etal_MESSII.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> * '''Compositional type''' – a classification based on overall composition, for example stony, iron, stony-iron (as introduced by Maskelyne). Can also refer to the composition deduced from spectroscopy of asteroids. * '''Condensation''' – the process of chemicals changing from the gaseous to the solid phase during the cooling of the protoplanetary disk. * '''Condensation sequence''' – the sequence of minerals that changes from the gaseous to the solid state while the protoplanetary disk cools. * '''Cosmic dust''' – small interplanetary and interstellar particles that are similar to meteorites (See Micrometeorite). * '''Cosmochemistry''' – the study of the chemical composition of the universe and its constituents, and the processes that produced those compositions.<ref>{{Cite book |last=McSween |first=Harry Y. |title=Cosmochemistry |date=2021 |others=Gary R. Huss |isbn=978-1-108-88526-3 |location=Cambridge, United Kingdom |oclc=1259294621}}</ref>
==D== * '''Dar al Gani''' – a meteorite field in the Libyan Sahara. * '''Desert glass''' – natural glass found in deserts formed from the silica in sand as a result of lightning strikes or meteor impacts. * '''Differentiated''' – a meteorite that has undergone igneous differentiation. (See: achondrite) * '''Differentiation''' – usually the process of a planetesimal forming an iron core and silicate mantle. * '''Duo''' – a grouping of two meteorites that share similar characteristics (see Grouplet).
==E== * '''E''' – can refer to enstatite chondrite or to an iron meteorite designation (Roman numeral and letter). * '''Eagle Station grouplet''' – a set of pallasite meteorite specimen that do not fit into any of the defined pallasite groups. * '''Electrophonic bolide''' – a meteoroid which produces a measurable discharge of electromagnetic energy (EMP) during its passage through the atmosphere. * '''Enstatite achondrite''' – a meteorite that is mostly composed of enstatite. Usually part of the aubrite group. * '''Enstatite chondrite''' – a rare form of meteorite thought to comprise only 2% of chondrites.
==F== * '''Fall''' – a meteorite that was seen while it fell to Earth and found. * '''Find''' – a meteorite that was found without seeing it fall. * '''Fossil meteorite''' – a meteorite that was buried under layers of sediment before the start of the Quaternary period. Some or all of the original cosmic material has been replaced by diagenetic minerals.<ref name="FossilMet">{{Citation | last1 = Schmitz | first1 = B. | last2 = Tassinari | first2 = M. | contribution = Fossil Meteorites |editor1= Peucker-Ehrenbrink, B. |editor2=Schmitz, B. | title = Accretion of Extraterrestrial Matter Throughout Earth's History | pages = 319–31 | publisher = Springer | place = New York | date = 2001 | isbn = 978-1-4613-4668-5 | doi = 10.1007/978-1-4419-8694-8_17 }}</ref>{{rp|320}} (It is, however, not a fossil). * '''Fusion crust''' – a coating on meteorites that forms during their passage through the atmosphere.
==G== * '''Group''' – a collection of five or more meteorites sharing similar characteristics.<ref name="Weisberg 2006" /> * '''Grouplet''' – a collection of fewer than five meteorites sharing similar characteristics.<ref name="Weisberg 2006" />
==H== * '''Hammer Stone''' – a specific individual meteorite that has hit either a human, man-made object, and/or an animal. * '''HED''' – abbreviation for three basaltic achondrite groups howardite, eucrite and diogenite. * '''HED meteorite''' – a clan of basaltic achondrites. * '''Hexahedrite''' – a structural class of iron meteorites having a relatively low nickel content * '''Hunter''' – a person who searches for meteorites.
==I== * '''Impact breccia''' – rock composed of fragments of terrestrial, extraterrestrial or mixed origin fused by the energy of impact * '''Impactite''' – informal term for a terrestrial rock resulting from the shocking impact of a meteor. * '''Insoluble organic matter''' – Kerogen-like macromolecule residue from carbonaceous chondrite meteorites after soluble organic matter has been removed. * '''Iron–nickel alloy''' – an alternative expression for meteoric iron. * '''Iron meteorite''' – a meteorite that is mainly composed of meteoric iron.
==K== * '''Kakangari chondrite''' – a group of chondrite meteorites. * '''Kamacite''' – a native metal (mineral) found in meteorites.
==L== * '''Lodranite''' – member of a small group of primitive achondrites thought to derive from deeper within the same parent body as acapulcoites * '''Lunaite''' – a meteorite that originated from the Moon (synonym of Lunar meteorite). Compare '':Category:Meteorites found on bodies other than Earth''. * '''Lunar meteorite''' – a meteorite that originated from the Moon (synonym of Lunaite). Compare '':Category:Meteorites found on bodies other than Earth''.
==M== * '''Main group pallasite''' – a pallasite belonging to the main group. * '''Main mass''' – the largest/heaviest piece of a fragmented meteorite, typically found in a strewn field. * '''Magmatic meteorite''' * '''Martian meteorite''' – a meteorite that originated from Mars. Compare '':Category:Meteorites found on bodies other than Earth''. * '''Maskelynite''' – a natural glass found in meteorites. * '''Matrix''' – the mineral assemblage surrounding chondrules. * '''Mesosiderite''' – a grouping of stony-iron meteorite that are breccias. * '''Meteoric iron''' – a native metal found in meteorites and a mixture of different mineral phases. Compare telluric iron. * '''Meteorite Observation and Recovery Program''' – a scientific program that was centered in Canada. * '''Meteoriticist''' – a scientist working on meteorites, meteors, and meteoroids. * '''Meteoritics''' – the science of meteorites, meteors, and meteoroids. * '''MORP''' – abbreviation for Meteorite Observation and Recovery Program. * '''Micrometeorite''' – microscopic meteorites derived from Cosmic dust.
==N== * '''Nakhlite''' – a group of Martian meteorites * '''Neumann lines''' (or Neumann bands) – a pattern of fine parallel lines seen in some iron meteorites, thought to be due to impact events on the parent body * '''Nonmagmatic meteorite''' – (deprecated) iron meteorites that were thought to have not formed by igneous processes.
==O== * '''O''' – usually refers to ordinary chondrite * '''Observed fall''' – a meteorite that was seen when it fell to Earth. * '''Octahedrite''' – the most common structural class of iron meteorites. * '''Ordinary chondrite''' – a chondrite meteorite, where 'ordinary' means that it is the most common found
==P== * '''PAC''' – abbreviation for primitive achondrite. * '''Pallasite''' – a class of stony–iron meteorite. * '''Panspermia''' – the hypothesis that life could reach other planets by the means of meteorites and/or comets. * '''Parent body''' – the celestial body from which originates a meteorite or a class of meteorites. * '''Petrologic type''' – a classification scheme that expresses the degree to which a meteorite has been affected by the secondary processes of thermal metamorphism and aqueous alteration on the parent asteroid. * '''Pitts grouplet''' – a grouplet of meteorites that is part of the IAB meteorites. * '''Planetary achondrite''' – an achondrite that was differentiated on a planet and not a planetesimal or asteroid (See asteroidal achondrite).<ref name="Agee 2012 Conference">{{cite journal| last=Agee|first=C. B.|author2=N.V. Wilson |author3=F.M. McCubbin |author4=Z.D. Sharp |author5=K. Ziegler | title=Basaltic Breccia NWA 7034: New ungrouped planetary Achondrite| journal=43rd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference|date=2012|issue=1659|page=2690|bibcode=2012LPI....43.2690A| url=http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2012/pdf/2690.pdf |access-date=4 January 2013}}</ref> * '''Plessite''' – a fine grained intergrowth found in meteoric iron consisting of kamacite, taenite and tetrataenite lamella.<ref name="Goldstein 2006">{{cite journal|last=Goldstein|first=J. I.|author2=Michael, J. R.|title=The formation of plessite in meteoritic metal|journal=Meteoritics & Planetary Science|date=1 April 2006|volume=41|issue=4|pages=553–70|doi=10.1111/j.1945-5100.2006.tb00482.x|bibcode=2006M&PS...41..553G|doi-access=free}}</ref> * '''Presolar grains''' – interstellar solid matter in the form of tiny solid grains from a time before the Sun was formed. * '''Primitive meteorite''' * '''Primitive achondrite''' – a meteorite that has similarities to achondrites and chondrites. * '''Protoplanetary disk''' – a circumstellar disk from which all solids in the Solar System formed. * '''Pyroxene pallasite grouplet'''
==R==
[[File:Sikhote Alin thumbprinted.jpg|thumb|250px|Regmaglypts on Sikhote Alin]] * {{anchor|Regmaglypts}}'''Regmaglypts''' – thumbprint-sized indentations in the surface of larger meteorites formed by ablation as the meteorite passes through a planet's atmosphere, probably caused by vortices of hot gas.<ref name=RoW>{{cite web|title=regmaglypts|url=http://meteorites.wustl.edu/id/regmaglypts.htm|work=Meteorite or Meteorwrong?|publisher=Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis|access-date=15 January 2013|archive-date=6 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306072807/http://meteorites.wustl.edu/id/regmaglypts.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> * '''Rose-Tschermak-Brezina classification''' – a classification developed by Gustav Rose, Gustav Tschermak and Aristides Brezina. * '''Rumuruti chondrite''' – a group of chondrites.
==S== * '''Shergottite''' – igneous rocks of mafic to ultramafic lithology, named after a meteorite that fell at Sherghati, India in 1865. * '''Shock stage''' – a measure of the degree of fracturing of the matrix of a common chondrite meteorite. * '''Shock metamorphism''' – the effects of shock-wave related deformation and heating during impact events. * '''Siderite''' – the old term for iron meteorite. * '''Siderolite''' – the old term for stony-iron meteorites. * '''SNC''' – abbreviation for shergottite, nakhlite and chassignite, the three main types of Martian meteorite. * '''Solar nebula''' – a synonym of the protoplanetary disk. * '''Soluble organic matter''' – compounds that can be extracted from carbonaceous chondrites using water or other solvents. These compounds include amino acids, carboxylic acids, and nucleotide bases. * '''Spectral class''' – * '''Stony meteorite''' – a meteorite composed mostly of silicates. * '''Stony-iron meteorite''' – a meteorite that is a mixture of meteoric iron and silicates. * '''Strewn field''' – a field of fragments from one meteorite fall. * '''Structural class''' – a subdivision of iron meteorites in ataxites, hexahedrites and octahedrites. * '''Superbolide''' – is a bolide that reaches an apparent magnitude of −17 or brighter, which is roughly 100 times brighter than the full moon. Recent examples of superbolides include the Sutter's Mill meteorite and the Chelyabinsk meteor.
==T== * '''Taenite''' – a native metal (mineral) found in meteorites. * '''Tamdakht''' – a meteorite that fell near Ouarzazate, Morocco on 2008-12-20 producing a strewn field of approximately 25 km (16 mi) by 2 km (1.2 mi) and two small impact craters. * '''Tektite''' – glassy terrestrial debris created by meteorite impacts. * '''Thumbprinting''' – see '''regmaglypts''' * '''Total known weight''' (TKW) – total known mass of a meteorite. * '''Trio''' – a grouping of three meteorites that share similar characteristics (see Grouplet). * '''Type''' – subdivision of meteorites. Loosely defined. Usually refers to chondrite, achondrite and sometimes primitive achondrite.<ref name="Weisberg 2006" />
==U== * '''Udei Station grouplet''' – a grouplet of meteorites that is part of the IAB meteorites. * '''Ungrouped''' – a meteorite that has not been assigned to a group or grouplet. * '''Undifferentiated''' * '''Ureilite'''
==V== * '''Vesta''' – second largest asteroid in the asteroid belt and likely source of the HED meteorites. * '''Volatile elements''' – are chemical elements that have low boiling and condensation temperatures.
==W== * '''Widmanstätten pattern''' – a fine interleaving of kamacite and taenite bands/ribbons found in octahedrite irons and some pallasites. * '''Willamette meteorite''' – the largest meteorite discovered in North America, found in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. * '''Winonaite''' – a type of primitive achondrite meteorite. * '''Weston meteorite''' – a meteorite which fell to earth above the town of Weston, Connecticut on December 14, 1807.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.peabody.yale.edu/collections/met/met_weston.html|title=The Weston Meteorite (Yale Peabody Museum)|date=7 December 2010}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{meteorites}}
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