nonchondrite

Nonchondrites are a class of meteorites that do not contain chondrules, which are small, spherical particles that are characteristic of chondritic meteorites. Chondrules are believed to have formed through rapid cooling of molten droplets in the early solar system. The absence of chondrules in nonchondrites suggests that these meteorites have undergone significant thermal processing or differentiation, which altered their original composition.

Nonchondrites are further divided into two main groups: achondrites and primitive achondrites. Achondrites are differentiated meteorites that have experienced partial or complete melting and crystallization. They are composed of various minerals and do not retain the primitive composition of the early solar system. Primitive achondrites, on the other hand, are a subset of achondrites that have experienced limited differentiation and retain some of their primitive characteristics.

Nonchondrites are of particular interest to scientists studying the early solar system and the processes that shaped it. By studying the composition and structure of nonchondrites, researchers can gain insights into the thermal history of the solar system, the formation of planetary bodies, and the processes that led to the diversity of meteorites we observe today.