meteorite
Chondrite Meteorite
Stone Meteorite (Chondrite)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness: 5-6 (Mohs), Color: Dark brown to black (fusion crust) with grayish interior, Luster: Dull to sub-metallic, Crystal structure: Amorphous fusion crust over granular silicate matrix, Specific gravity: 3.0-3.7
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Physical properties
Hardness: 5-6 (Mohs), Color: Dark brown to black (fusion crust) with grayish interior, Luster: Dull to sub-metallic, Crystal structure: Amorphous fusion crust over granular silicate matrix, Specific gravity: 3.0-3.7
Formation & geological history
Formed in the early solar nebula approximately 4.5 billion years ago. These are primitive rocks that never underwent melting or differentiation in a parent body.
Uses & applications
Scientific research into the origin of the solar system, private collecting, and occasionally used in high-end jewelry (as beads or pendants).
Geological facts
Chondrites contain small spherical grains called chondrules, which were molten droplets in space before being accreted into asteroids. They are among the oldest materials in our solar system.
Field identification & locations
Identify by looking for a 'fusion crust' (a thin, dark, glassy rind), possible regmaglypts (thumbprint-like indentations), and a magnetic response due to flecks of iron-nickel. Often found in deserts or ice fields where dark rocks stand out.
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