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What are the three main classes of chondrites?
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Meteorite
The Hoba meteorite, lying where it was discovered in 1920 near Grootfontein, Namibia. The largest meteorite on Earth and an iron meteorite by classification, it consists of a nickel-iron alloy and is estimated to weigh about 60 tons.
Chondrites are divided into three main classes based on their bulk chemical compositions, oxygen isotopic compositions, and petrology. These classes are:1
- Carbonaceous chondrites: A diverse class that provides significant insights into the early history of the solar system. They are often characterized by a higher abundance of fine-grained matrix.12
- Ordinary chondrites: The most abundant class of meteorites, which typically originate from S-class asteroids.1
- Enstatite chondrites: A distinct class named for their mineralogical composition.1
These classifications reflect conditions present during the formation of the meteorites' parent bodies. Within these classes, individual meteorites may be further categorized by petrologic types, which indicate the degree to which they have been modified by thermal metamorphism or aqueous alteration.3