On the Classification of Meteorites

The classification of meteorites as a whole is briefly presented and discussed; in particular, it is pointed out that the intermediate or transitional group, now universally known as the siderolites (symbol, So), consists of 2 main subdivisions, namely the “irony stones,” hereinafter termed sideraerolites (Sa), and the “stony irons” or so-called lithosiderites (Li).     

Meteorites found on Misfits Flat dry lake,Nevada

Meteorites have been found on the small Misfits Flat dry lakebed near Stagecoach, Nevada (119.382W, +39.348N). Since the first find on Sept. 22, 2013, a total of 58 stones of weathering stage W2/3 with a combined mass of 339 g have been collected in 19 visits to the area. This small (3.3 × 3.6 km) lakebed is now a newly designated dense collection area (DCA). Most meteorites were found in a small 350 × 180 m area along the north shore and most are fragments of several broken individual stones. Three of these fragments were classified as an LL4/5 of shock stage S2, now named Misfits Flat 001, one of which (stone MF33) fell 8.1 ± 1.3 ka ago based on the ¹⁴C terrestrial age, assuming it came from a 20–80 cm diameter meteoroid. In addition, a small darkly crusted meteorite MF34, now named Misfits Flat 002, was found 820 m WSW from the main mass. This meteorite is classified as an LL5 ordinary chondrite with shock stage S4/5. The meteorite is saturated in ¹⁴C at 63 dpm kg^?1, suggesting it originated from the center of a 0.5 m diameter meteoroid, or deep inside a ~1.0 m meteoroid, less than 300 yr ago. Accounts exist of a fireball seen at 13:15 UT on March 2, 1895, that are consistent with the find location of Misfits Flat 002.     

Striated Surfaces on Meteorites: Shock Fractures,Not Slickensides

Abstract Veined and brecciated chondrites commonly display striated fractures which have been interpreted as slickensides (fault dislocations). Observations on several such fractures in various collections suggest they are not true slickensides but, instead, are probably shock features related to shatter coning.     

Identification of Meteorites,or What on Earth is a Meteorite?

Abstract. Examples of the problems encountered in the tracing, recovery and identification of meteorites from witnessed fireballs, indicate the failure of museum collections to be truly representative of the known increment from space and of our lack of knowledge of the varieties of material coming to earth from space. The history of the development of criteria for the recognition of meteorites is traced and some of the witnessed but rejected falls of history are listed. Objection is raised to the almost total dependence upon chemistry—particularly upon the presence of nickel—in meteoritic identification. Stress is laid upon the importance of fusion crust as an identifying characteristic of meteorites.