achondrite
Sign in to saveAn achondrite is a stony meteorite that does not contain chondrules. It consists of material similar to terrestrial basalts or plutonic rocks and has been differentiated and reprocessed to a lesser or greater degree due to melting and recrystallization on or within meteorite parent bodies. As a result, achondrites have distinct textures and mineralogies indicative of igneous processes.
Key facts
- Meteorite subdivision.Image
- Cumberland Falls meteorite.jpg
- Meteorite subdivision.Image_caption
- Cumberland Falls, achondrite (aubrite)
- Meteorite subdivision.Compositional_type
- Stony
- Meteorite subdivision.Clan
- <!-- list/link all subgroups of this group as a
- Meteorite subdivision.Subgroups
- -->
- Meteorite subdivision.Image2
- MillbillillieMeteorite.jpg
- Meteorite subdivision.Image2_caption
- A eucrite achondrite from the Millbillillie meteorite shower.
- Meteorite subdivision.Subdivision
- Type
- Meteorite subdivision.Name
- Achondrite
via Wikipedia infobox
Wikidata facts
- Image
- JohnstownDiogenite.jpg
Show 2 more facts
- Commons category
- Achondrite meteorites
- exact match
- purl.obolibrary.org/obo/ENVO_00002050
via Wikidata · CC0
~3 min read
Article
8 sectionsContents
- Classification
- Primitive achondrites
- Asteroidal achondrites
- Lunar meteorites
- Martian meteorite
- See also
- References
- External links
An achondrite is a stony meteorite that does not contain chondrules. It consists of material similar to terrestrial basalts or plutonic rocks and has been differentiated and reprocessed to a lesser or greater degree due to melting and recrystallization on or within meteorite parent bodies. As a result, achondrites have distinct textures and mineralogies indicative of igneous processes.
Achondrites account for about 8% of meteorites overall, and the majority (about 2/3) of them belong to the HED clan, possibly originating from the crust of asteroid Vesta. Other types include Martian, Lunar, and several types thought to originate from as-yet unidentified asteroids. These groups have been determined on the basis of e.g. the Fe/Mn chemical ratio and the 17O/18O oxygen isotope ratios, thought to be characteristic "fingerprints" for each parent body.