What is so special about carbonaceous chondrite meteorites?

Carbonaceous chondrites are arguably the most important class of meteorite for three reasons. First, members of the CI group have the most primitive bulk compositions of any chondrite—i.e., their nonvolatile element compositions are very similar to that of the Sun.

Where do carbonaceous meteorites come from?

Most carbonaceous chondrites are thought to come from the low-albedo, C-type asteroids, which are the most abundant type between 2.7 and 3.4 AU (Bell et al., 1989), CM chondrites may be derived from an altered C-like asteroid called G-type (Burbine et al., 2002).

What kind of scientists study meteorites?

Meteorologists do not study flaming rocks, but they do study different kinds of meteors. A meteor can be anything that falls through the air. So, raindrops, dust, and snowflakes can be though of as atmospheric “meteors.” Scientists have different names for different kinds of weather meteors.

What are the three main types of meteorites?

More than 60,000 meteorites have been found on Earth. Scientists have divided these meteorites into three main types: stony, iron, and stony-iron.

How common are carbonaceous chondrites?

The C chondrites represent only a small proportion (4.6\%) of meteorite falls.

How do you identify chondrites?

Nickel Iron: Most chondrites contain tiny flecks of nickel iron sprinkled throughout. For this reason, meteorite hunters often use metal detectors in areas where meteorites are likely to be found. A chondrite’s high nickel-iron content makes it adhere to a strong magnet.

What do carbonaceous chondrites tell us?

“Carbonaceous chondrites provide clues about the delivery of water to Earth: How meteorites retained water and organic material inside them before reaching our planet.” ScienceDaily.

What causes meteors to burn up in the atmosphere?

When the meteor hits the atmosphere, the air in front of it compresses incredibly quickly. When a gas is compressed, its temperature rises. This causes the meteor to heat up so much that it glows. The air burns the meteor until there is nothing left.

Where are carbonaceous chondrites found?

It is thought they have not been heated above 50 °C (122 °F), indicating that they condensed in the cooler outer portion of the solar nebula. Six CI chondrites have been observed to fall: Ivuna, Orgueil, Alais, Tonk, Revelstoke, and Flensburg. Several others have been found by Japanese field parties in Antarctica.

What causes a meteor to burn up?

They are comprised of small pieces of debris, typically no larger than a grain of dust or sand, which continually crash into the Earth’s atmosphere. As that debris plunges deeper and deeper, friction with the atmosphere causes it to ablate – burning up from the outside in.

How do you identify a carbonaceous chondrite?

General description. C chondrites contain a high proportion of carbon (up to 3\%), which is in the form of graphite , carbonates and organic compounds, including amino acids. In addition, they contain water and minerals that have been modified by the influence of water.