Meteoritics

Meteoritics is the scientific study of meteorites, the solid bodies that originate in space and reach Earth after surviving atmospheric passage. The field seeks to understand the origin, composition, structure and history of meteorites, and what their abundances and textures reveal about the early solar system, planetary differentiation and impact processes. It also encompasses the recovery, curation and documentation of meteorite samples and the interpretation of their cosmochemical signatures.

Research in meteoritics combines petrography, mineralogy and geochemistry with radiometric dating, isotope systematics, and cosmochemistry. Laboratory methods include optical microscopy, electron microscopy and microanalysis, X-ray diffraction, mass spectrometry and imaging techniques, as well as isotopic dating schemes such as U-Pb, Ar-Ar and Rb-Sr. Field collection, meteorite curation and the management of meteorite databases are essential components of the practice.

Meteorites are broadly classified into irons, stones and stony-iron meteorites. Stone meteorites include chondrites, which contain chondrules and primitive components, and achondrites, which have undergone differentiation. Chondrites are further grouped into subtypes (for example carbonaceous, ordinary and enstatite). Lunar and Martian meteorites are among the best-studied differentiated samples available on Earth, and many meteorites originate from asteroids, the Moon or Mars.

The study of meteorites yields insights into the early solar system, planetary formation, and the timing of differentiation events. Notable specimens include the Allende meteorite, a carbonaceous chondrite that provided key information about solar nebula materials.

The Meteoritical Society coordinates the field, publishes research in Meteoritics & Planetary Science, and maintains the Meteoritic Bulletin Database for classification and nomenclature.