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What are the three main types of meteorites?
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Meteor and meteoroid
The Cabin Creek meteorite, an iron (nickel-iron alloy) meteorite that was observed to fall in northwestern Arkansas on March 27, 1886. Its characteristic pattern of “thumbprint” dimples, or regmaglypts, is the result of melting and consequent ablation of its surface as it traveled through the atmosphere. The meteorite is likely a fragment of one of the M class asteroids, which show significant nickel-iron in their surface material.
Meteorites are traditionally divided into three broad categories based on the proportions of rock-forming minerals and nickel-iron metal they contain. These categories are:1
- Stony meteorites (or stones): These consist largely of silicate minerals and make up approximately 94 percent of all known meteorites. They are further divided into chondrites and achondrites.12
- Iron meteorites (irons): Composed primarily of nickel-iron metal, these represent about 5 percent of known meteorites and are believed to originate from the cores of their parent asteroids.13
- Stony iron meteorites (stony irons): These contain roughly equal amounts of silicate minerals and nickel-iron metal, accounting for about 1 percent of known meteorites.14