What Are the 10 Strangest Meteorites Found on Earth?

TL;DR

The 10 strangest meteorites found on Earth include iron meteorites from Mars and notable specimens linked to specific asteroids, like Vesta. Other highlights include ancient meteorites revered as religious objects, lunar meteorites available for private ownership, and impactful events showcasing how meteorites have altered Earth's landscape. Some Martian meteorites even show signs of past liquid water, hinting at possible ancient life.

Transcript

Recently, the Mars Curiosity rover found a curiosity. An iron meteorite sitting on the surface of Mars. While probably not much different than iron meteorites from the asteroid belt that also fall here on earth, the folks at JPL are taking a look anyway to see if there's anything interesting going on. In celebration, here are ten really strange and... Read More

Key Insights

• 💁 Comparing meteorite compositions to their parent asteroids can provide valuable information about asteroid compositions.
• ❓ Meteorites with religious significance were revered in ancient civilizations.
• 🙃 Lunar meteorites are rare and sought after for scientific study, but some can be privately owned.
• ❓ Impact events caused by meteorites can have devastating effects on populated areas.
• 🥳 Certain meteorites can represent windows into the early days of the solar system and contain matter from interstellar space.
• 🛟 Comet-originated meteorites can provide insights into the origins of life on Earth.
• 🤨 Meteorites from Mars show signs of alteration by liquid water and possibly organic matter, raising the possibility of past life on the planet.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the significance of the iron meteorite found on Mars by the Curiosity rover?

The iron meteorite discovered on Mars offers an opportunity to study its composition and compare it to meteorites found on Earth.

Q: What is the relationship between meteorites and asteroids?

Meteorites provide valuable information about asteroids, as their chemical compositions can be compared to known asteroid compositions.

Q: Are lunar meteorites available for purchase?

Yes, lunar meteorites that have weathered on Earth's surface for hundreds of years can be bought from reputable meteorite dealers.

Q: Can meteorites have religious significance?

In ancient times, stones that were likely meteorites were revered as religious objects, such as the Black Stone of Emesa, which was transported to Rome by the Roman Emperor Elagabalus.

Q: How do the Canyon Diablo meteorite and Meteor Crater in Arizona relate?

The Canyon Diablo meteorite, which contains iron, created the Meteor Crater in Arizona, offering a well-preserved example of the impact caused by a large meteorite.

Q: What happened during the near-miss meteorite event in 1972?

A large meteorite entered the Earth's atmosphere and skipped off back into space, altering its orbit and potentially still passing close to Earth.

Q: How does the Murchison meteorite provide insight into our early solar system?

The Murchison meteorite, observed to fall in Australia, contains unusual amounts of water, alcohol, hydrocarbons, and amino acids, suggesting the building blocks of life were delivered to Earth by primitive asteroids or comets.

Q: What is the significance of meteorites from Mars?

Meteorites from Mars, such as Yamato 000593 found in Antarctica, show signs of alteration by liquid water and potentially organic matter, hinting at the possibility of past life on the planet.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Mars Curiosity rover finds an iron meteorite on the surface of Mars, sparking interest in its composition.

• Several meteorites have been linked to their parent asteroids, providing valuable information about asteroid compositions.

• Unusual meteorites with religious significance, lunar meteorites available for purchase, and meteorites that caused significant impacts on Earth are also discussed.