Types of meteorite
An iron meteorite which has been cut and acid-etched to reveal its crystal structure
There are three main groups of meteorite. They differ in the amount of iron-nickel metal they contain.
- iron meteorites are almost completely metal
- stony-iron meteorites have nearly equal amounts of metal and silicate crystals
- stony meteorites are dominated by silicate minerals
Each group of meteorites is split into many more classes and types depending on the minerals they contain, their chemistry and their structure.
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Iron meteorites
Most iron meteorites are thought to be the cores of asteroids that melted early in their history. They consist mainly of iron-nickel metal with small amounts of sulphide and carbide minerals.
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Stony-iron meteorites
Stony-iron meteorites consist of almost equal amounts of iron-nickel metal and silicate minerals and are amongst the most beautiful of meteorites.
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Stony meteorites
The majority of meteorite falls are stony meteorites consisting mainly of silicate minerals.
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Until 1938 whale carcasses were buried in the Museum grounds so that their flesh would decay leaving only the skeletons.