Some scientific terms describing meteorites or attributes of meteorites.
Ablation Removal of material from the surface of a meteor by vaporization, chipping, or other erosive processes
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
Hematite Oxidized iron ore
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
Limonite Oxidized iron; rust
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
Regmaglypt (plural regmaglypts) A small, shallow indentation or pit on the surface of a meteorite, resembling a thumbprint impression in clay, created by heat ablation while falling through an atmosphere.
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