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FAQ
faq

Frequently Asked Questions

In this section we'd like to answer some frequently asked questions concerning meteorites. If you don't find your question here, feel free to contact us - it's our pleasure to provide you with additional information!

What is a meteorite?

A meteorite is an actual piece of extra-terrestrial matter that has reached the surface of our planet, Earth. Sometimes the term "meteorite" is confused with two related terms - "meteoroid" and "meteor". A meteoroid is a small object that orbits the Sun near the Earth - the precursor of a meteorite before it enters the atmosphere. Upon entering the Earth's atmosphere, it produces a bright streak of light in the sky, a phenomenon known as a "shooting star", or a "meteor". However, most meteors do not produce any meteorites because they stem from tiny particles burning up completely in the atmosphere. Only larger chunks of matter finally make it to the ground, producing extremely bright meteors known as "fireballs", or "bolides". >> top...

Where do meteorites come from?

Most meteorites have their origin in the asteroid belt, a region between Mars and Jupiter, where many thousands of large and small asteroids orbit the Sun. Through collisions and gravitational forces, pieces of these asteroids are sometimes pulled into an Earth-crossing orbit, finally reaching the ground in the form of a meteorite. However, some rare types of meteorites have proven to have different origins. Today, we know of several meteorites that are pieces of the Moon and the planet Mars. Some other rare meteorites are suspected to have a cometary origin. For further information, have a look at our Origins page. >> top...

How do we know that some meteorites are from the Moon?

When it comes to lunar meteorites, the answer is easy: we have been to the Moon, and we have returned samples for comparison. Chemical and mineral compositions, isotope ratios, and textures of lunar meteorites, are similar to those of samples collected on the Moon during the Apollo and Luna missions. Taken together, these characteristics differ from those of any other type of meteorite or terrestrial rock, so that we can say for sure: Yes, these meteorites are genuine lunar rocks. >> top...

How do we know that some meteorites are from Mars?

When it comes to Martian meteorites, we haven't returned any samples thus far. However, the Viking and Pathfinder probes have provided enough data to justify this conclusion. Some Martian meteorites were found to contain trapped gas-inclusions that perfectly match the composition of the Martian atmosphere, but are distinct from our own. Several other characteristics are consistent with a Martian origin for these rare meteorites - have a look at our Mars meteorite page. >> top...

What are meteorites composed of?

The most common meteorites from the asteroid belt are stony meteorites, called chondrites, which are primarily composed of olivine, different types of pyroxene, and nickel-iron metal. Their mineral compositions have remained more or less unaltered since the time of the formation of our solar system, and hence, they can be regarded as genuine primordial matter. Other, less common, meteorite types were subjected to a process of differentiation, a fact that is reflected in their mineral compositions. Their parent bodies developed a nickel-iron core, a stony-iron mantle, and a stony crust. Hence, meteorites that stem from the core of a differentiated asteroid are composed of different alloys of nickel-iron, and they are usually referred to as iron meteorites. Meteorites from the mantle of a differentiated asteroid often have a stony-iron compostion, while those from the crust have stony compositions, often resembling terrestrial rocks. Have a look at our Classification section for additional information. >> top...


 

See us and our meteorites at:
> Tucson Mineral Show
   USA, Feb 01 - Feb 15, 202
> Tokyo Mineral Show
   Japan, Jun. 04-08, 202
> Ensisheim Meteorite Show
   France, June 22-23  202
> St. Marie aux Mines Show
   France, June 25-28, 202
> Denver Mineral Show
   USA, Sept. 10-20, 202
> Munich Mineral Show
   Germany, Oct 30-Nov 01 202
> Tokyo Mineral Show
   Japan, Dec. ??, 202

NWA 480 - "Théodore Monot", our first Martian rock
NWA 480 - Basaltic Shergottite
NWA 817 - our second Martian rock, the fifth nakhlite
NWA 817  -  Our new Nakhlite
NWA 856 - "Djel Ibone", our third Martian meteorite
NWA 856 - Basaltic Shergottite
NWA 1068 - "Louise Michel", our fourth Martian rock
NWA 1068 - Picritic Shergottite
NWA 479 - "Khter n'Ait Khebbach", our first lunar rock
NWA 479  -  Lunar Mare Basalt

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