Meteoritentypen

Meteoritentypen (Meteorite types) refers to the classification of meteorites based on their composition and structure, which reflect their origin within the solar system. The vast majority of meteorites that fall to Earth are stony meteorites, making up about 94% of all observed falls. These are further subdivided into chondrites and achondrites.

Chondrites are the most primitive type of stony meteorite, retaining much of their original composition from the early solar system. They are characterized by the presence of chondrules, small, spherical grains that are thought to have formed from molten droplets in the protoplanetary disk. Chondrites are further divided into various types, such as ordinary chondrites, carbonaceous chondrites, and enstatite chondrites, each with distinct mineralogical and chemical properties. Ordinary chondrites are the most common type, while carbonaceous chondrites, rich in carbon compounds and sometimes water, are considered to be among the most primitive.

Achondrites, on the other hand, lack chondrules and show evidence of having undergone melting and differentiation, similar to the terrestrial planets. They are believed to originate from larger parent bodies, such as asteroids or even planets like Mars or the Moon, that experienced volcanic activity and internal heating. Examples of achondrites include howardites, eucrites, and diogenites, which are thought to originate from the asteroid Vesta, and lunar meteorites, which are fragments of the Moon.

The remaining meteorites are iron meteorites and stony-iron meteorites. Iron meteorites, making up about 5% of falls, are primarily composed of iron-nickel alloys and are thought to be fragments of the cores of differentiated asteroids. Stony-iron meteorites, the rarest type at about 1%, consist of roughly equal proportions of silicate minerals and iron-nickel. These are further divided into pallasites, which have large olivine crystals embedded in an iron-nickel matrix, and mesosiderites, which are brecciated mixtures of silicates and metal. Understanding these meteorite types provides crucial insights into the formation and evolution of the solar system.