1. METEORITE INVESTIGATORS
This is Dr Claudia Alexander – NASA Planetary Scientist

2. INTRODUCTION In this activity you are going to:
Learn about the different types of meteorites, how they form and where they come from
Investigate different objects from the loan box and estimate their volumes to enable you to calculate their densities
Use your understanding of meteorites to identify the objects and find the meteorites
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3. This includes other planets, moons and meteorites!
PLANETARY SCIENTISTS
Planetary scientists apply the science of geology and space to other worlds.
This includes other planets, moons and meteorites!
Jane MacArthur, Planetary Scientist – University of Leicester

4. WHAT IS A METEORITE? Simply: A rock from space that hits the Earth
Scientifically: A bit more complicated!
The Chelyabinsk meteorite hit the Earth’s atmosphere in 2013 and was dramatically observed over Russia. It airburst (fragmented) before hitting the ground, but the shockwaves from its high speed did blow out a lot of windows in the area.

5. MANY DIFFERENT NAMES Asteroid Meteoroid Meteor Meteorite
A large rocky body found between Mars and Jupiter
Atmosphere
Meteoroid
A smaller fragment of an asteroid outside of the Earth’s atmosphere
Space rocks have many different names, and they all depend on where the rock is in space.
Meteor
A meteoroid that is burning up in the atmosphere
Meteorite
The fragments that make it to the surface of the Earth

6. WHERE DO THEY COME FROM?
Mars
Asteroid Belt
Jupiter

7. NOTE! All asteroid belt meteorites contain some iron
THREE MAIN TYPES
STONY
NOTE! All asteroid belt meteorites contain some iron
IRON
STONY - IRON

8. Larger asteroids have enough gravity to pull them into a spherical shape

9. They start to heat up from being pulled inwards

10. Dense iron falls to the centre, forming an iron core

11. Iron core Mantle Crust The surface cools to form a crust…
…leaving a semi solid mantle below the surface

12. And if a large asteroid is hit by another one, it will break up into smaller pieces

13. STONY-IRON PALLASITES STONY (ACHONDRITE) METEORITES
Iron core
Core/mantle
boundary
IRON METEORITES
STONY-IRON PALLASITES
Crust
STONY (ACHONDRITE) METEORITES

14. METEORITE SUMMARY Chondrites Achondrites Pallasites Meteorites Stony
Iron
Stony - iron
Chondrites
Achondrites
Pallasites
From: Small asteroids
Features: Small spherical shapes called chondrules
From: Crust of larger asteroids
Features: Small spherical shapes called chondrules
Meteorite type:
Meteorite subtype:
Made of:
Features:
From: Core of a large asteroid
Features: Extremely dense
From: Core – mantle boundary of larger asteroids
Features: Iron surrounding olivine (glass like) crystals
Chondrules
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15. METEORITES ALSO HAVE… Fusion crust
What happens to a meteorite as it tears through the Earth’s atmosphere?
Fusion crust
Dark brown/black surface with ripples, waves or bubbles in from the melted rock and escaping gases
The outside of the meteorite heats up as it squashes the air in front of it

16. IMPACTITES Tektite Glass Impactite
Melted material from below a meteorite impact. Gets solid as it cools. Looks like bubbly glass. Can be different colours.
Tektite
Glass Impactite