mesosiderite

meteorite

Also known as: siderolite

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June 30, 2026

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Mesosiderites are a type of stony iron meteorite, which means they contain substantial amounts of both rocky silicates and nickel-iron metal. They are considered an intermediate type between stony meteorites and iron meteorites. Mesosiderites are impact breccias, likely formed when a body collided with and broke apart the mesosiderite parent body. The metal within them may have originated from the core of the colliding object. Stony iron meteorites, including mesosiderites, make up about 1% of all known meteorites.12

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stony iron meteorite
meteorite - Stony iron meteorites
meteorite - Refractory inclusions

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stony iron meteorite
The other common type, the mesosiderites (formerly called siderolites), are impact breccias. They are probably related to the basaltic achondrite group of stony meteorites, but they contain an unusually large quantity of interspersed metal. The source of the metal is not known for certain, but it may be from the…
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The other common type, the mesosiderites (formerly called siderolites), are impact breccias. They are probably related to the basaltic achondrite group of stony meteorites, but they contain an unusually large quantity of interspersed metal. The source of the metal is not known for certain, but it may be from the…
Read More
meteorite
Stony iron meteorites
…above in the section Achondrites, mesosiderites are probably related to the three classes of achondrites collectively called HEDs. Like one of the HED classes, howardites, mesosiderites are impact breccias containing fragments belonging to the other two classes, eucrites and diogenites. In addition, however, the mesosiderites contain a large amount of…
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…above in the section Achondrites, mesosiderites are probably related to the three classes of achondrites collectively called HEDs. Like one of the HED classes, howardites, mesosiderites are impact breccias containing fragments belonging to the other two classes, eucrites and diogenites. In addition, however, the mesosiderites contain a large amount of…
Read More