What Is an Iron Meteorite?

Meteorite, iron meteorite, meteorite whose main ingredient is iron and nickel.

An iron meteorite with an Ni content of about 6 to 14%. It has an image composed of grains of ferrite and nickel grains. This image is called

Two classifications were used. Earlier structural classifications were based on percentages or Weidmannian patterns, which can be evaluated from the cross-stripes that appear on the polished surface after etching with acid. This classification is linked to the relative abundance of iron and nickel and is classified as ^[2]

Iron-nickel alloys were used by many cultures to make tools and weapons, for example, parts of the Cape York meteorite used by the Inuit ^[3]

Iron meteorite China

China's largest iron meteorite

The third largest in the world in 1898,

Xinjiang iron meteorite (4 photos)

The largest iron meteorite in China, found in the northwest of Qinghe County, Altai, Xinjiang, with the name "silver camel". The surface of these meteorites has an iron luster; the surface is covered with potholes and scars. According to the fracture surface analysis, its composition is black-white iron-nickel metal. Its shape is an irregular cone; its volume is 2.42m × 1.85m × 1.37m = 3.5 cubic meters and weighs about 30 tons. The iron meteorite contains 88.67% iron and 9.27% nickel. In particular, it contains 6 kinds of minerals not found on the earth: conestone, nickel-grained stone, nickel-grained stone, conglomerate, sulphide iron, and iron phosphate nickel.

Historically, a large meteorite rain has occurred in Qinghe County. No matter the scattered area, scale and number of meteorites, they are all the highest in the world. The meteorite is currently deposited in the Xinjiang Geological and Mineral Museum. It is now on display in the Xinjiang Exhibition Center in China.

China's second largest iron meteorite

Also called Lingshi, in the Luzu Temple outside the north gate of the old city of Lingshi County.

Iron meteorite in Lingshi County-China's second largest iron meteorite (4 photos)

The stones are full of holes, like iron and non-ferrous, like stone and non-stone. Its color is pale and its sound is loud. The exposed part is 1.6 meters high, 1.5 meters in diameter, and has a volume of about 2.4 cubic meters. 7 tons. Enclose with railings. According to "Lingshi County Records", this stone was obtained by excavating a river channel in the tenth year of Sui Kaihuang (590 years). At that time, "The emperor was lucky to be in Taiyuan, and opened the road next to the Fenhe River. He obtained this stone, and said the stone was called" the avenue Yongji ", because he thought it was Rui and built the county government there. In the old days, the villagers nearby regarded this as a god stone. Every Spring and Autumn Festival, help the elderly and the young, come to worship incense and pray for peace. In recent years, scientists have carried out a scientific analysis of the "spirit stone" and found that it is a meteorite flying out of the sky with an iron content of 96.17%? Its height is 1.8 meters and its base width is 1.55 meters. The top is 1.3 meters wide and weighs about 6.8 tons. It currently ranks as the second largest iron meteorite in the country. Later generations have praised and said, "The emperor Wen Xun was lucky, and the emperor opened in the Sui Dynasty. The river is open, and the strange stones are auspicious. The stones are not iron and iron, and the sound is blue.

China's third largest iron meteorite

In 2000, archaeologists from the Xinjiang Museum also found iron meteorite clusters with a scattered area of several square kilometers in a ravine in the northwest of Qinghe County, northern Xinjiang. According to the composition, density and volume of the meteorite, it is presumed that some of the meteorite weighed more than 100 tons. The meteorite group discovered this time is also located in the Altai region of Xinjiang, and the number reaches thousands.

Iron meteorite USA

On July 18, 2014,

NASA's Curiosity rover has completed an investigation into the year of Mars. NASA announced the latest discovery of Curiosity, taking a picture of the Martian iron meteorite, this iron meteorite has a unique shape and surface gloss, scientists named it "Lebanon" iron meteorite, about 2 meters wide, " "Lebanon" is a large meteorite in the back, and a small one in front is named "Lebanon B". ^[4]

The iron meteorite seems like a huge burning object with a surface filled with angular cavity structures. Scientists believe that this may be formed by erosion of metal crystals on the edge of the rock. Another possible explanation is that these hollow cavity structures and olivine Specifically, this kind of material can be found in rare stone meteorites, and the formation process of the latter is more complicated. Generally, scientists think that it is formed on the boundary layer near the planet's core and mantle. Obviously, the stone meteorite is a relatively rare material. . ^[4]