METEORITES, visitors from other worlds.
History is full of stories of stones falling from the sky, even when the science of the time denied that this could happen. For as long as we have records, as far back as ancient Egypt, meteorites have played a fundamental role in human history. Once admired for having fallen from the sky, and attributed with magical properties, meteorites are now objects of collection, investment and extreme scientific interest.
Meteorites are natural rock, metallic or metal-rock fragments that were once thrown off their parent bodies and reached our planet, were found, some were seen to fall, and are now important assets in our collections, our laboratories and our museums.
Fall & Found
Meteorites come into our hands after having passed through the atmosphere and having survived the violent ablation that occurs. On a few occasions, the rocks are seen falling, amidst explosions, light phenomena and the admiration of witnesses. Recovering these fragments will lead to them being considered "FALLS".
Meteorites, on the other hand, may have fallen a long time ago, and may even have had no witnesses, and so, when they are found, they are considered "FINDS".
Falls and Findings represent an impressive arsenal of cosmic materials. Likewise, they are only a very small percentage of the rocks recovered from those that manage to reach the ground.
How many types of meteorites do we know?
Although meteorites were originally classified into three types according to their Fe-Ni content (an alloy of iron and nickel known as kamacite and taenite), successive discoveries and scientific advances have allowed dozens of groups and families to be determined, as well as establishing different origins. The new types of meteorites that scientists are discovering thanks to samples donated by seekers and collectors from around the world are becoming increasingly rare. The link between scientist and collector is truly beneficial for both parties, science and collection. Below we show you some of the most significant types of meteorites.
Chondrites.
Ordinary, Enstatite, Carbonaceous or Anomalous, Chondrites are the oldest materials in existence. They are fragments of asteroids that are more than 4.5 billion years old. They are known as the building blocks of the solar system. Chondrites were formed by accretion of dust from the protosolar nebula and are now part of asteroids, both in the main belt and near-Earth asteroids.
Irons.
Their composition is predominantly iron and nickel. Although they also contain clasts of sulfides and graphite. These meteorites were part of the cores of large planetoids that no longer exist, and now orbit as M-type asteroids in the orbit of Jupiter. Siderites have been used since time immemorial as a source of primordial iron by ancient tribes. They were formed in stellar nucleosynthesis processes.
Pallasites.
The jewels of the Solar System. They are meteorites composed of olivine and metal in equal parts, revealing a beautiful texture that makes them, along with their rarity, true wonders. Pallasites have been used notably in jewelry, and have allowed scientists to suspect that they were formed in the mantle-core interface zones of ancient large protoplanets in formation.
Asteroidal Achondrites.
These materials have undergone magmatic differentiation processes, but still retain primitive properties. Asteroid achondrites retain links with primitive chondrites and planetary materials. Some are igneous, others show a different composition. Still others are left ungrouped because they cannot be incorporated into known groups. Achondrites are a collector's delight.
Lunar Achondrites.
Their origin; The Moon. They are rocks that show exactly the same composition, anomalies and textures as the rocks recovered in Space Missions to the satellite. It is the best and most economical way to get your hands on a rock from the Moon. Lunaites have shown an extraordinary diversity, allowing us to have a greater and deeper knowledge of our satellite. More, HERE.
Martian Achondrites.
We call them SNC, and more and more new types are becoming known. SNC come from the crust of the planet Mars. Data collected by rovers and orbiters have allowed us to identify this group of meteorites of extreme and vital importance for planetary scientists. Some of their specimens are among the most sought-after and expensive materials on our planet.
COLLECTING METEORITES
Unique legacy for science.
Collecting meteorites of recognized origin, classified or certified, is essential to guarantee the authenticity and prestige of the collection. Laboratories work hard to verify the findings and make them official.
In this way, your specimens will also enjoy recognized prestige. Science and collecting, finally, go hand in hand to allow the jewels of space to be available to both interested parties.
Never miss the opportunity to officially classify your meteorites. We can help you with this, as it is the maximum guarantee of authenticity of your specimens.
Tireless searches.
If there is one thing that makes collectors proud, it is showing off the meteorites that they themselves have found or have asked to be classified. The days of searching can be endlessly tiring until the first meteorite appears.
Value versus quantity.
Although it is not common, it is possible to have a small collection of high economic and scientific value. A vast field of collecting opens up before you. Let yourself be seduced by it and prepare to enjoy this wonderful cosmic hobby.
Some outstanding samples.
Since the laboratory's activity began, many outstanding samples have been received for study. Many of them have already been officially classified thanks to the generosity of the owners who have donated the appropriate type specimens, while others remain unclassified, but studied, certified and documented in the Meteorites Lab repository.
El Hassan Ould Hamed 002.
A beautiful L4 chondrite that fell on November 6, 2021 in Mauritania. This sample arrived for study and certification prior to the official classification that was carried out in the USA. Fresh meteorites are of special interest to science and this interest is the key to their perfect preservation.
Elemay 001.
Revealing Widmanstatten bands in iron is always rewarding, especially if the octahedrite is well defined. Classified as IIIAB-anomalous, it is one of only 4 known of this type. It was found on the Libya-Chad border in 2021. Almost 60 grams remain in the repository.
Chwichiya 008.
Eucrites are always beautiful meteorites. These basalts from the asteroid Vesta preserve records of the first igneous processes that occurred on a protoplanet in the Solar System. Chwichiya 008 was recovered during the 2020 pandemic and classified in 2021. The main mass is in our laboratory.
NWA 14803.
Perhaps one of the rarest types of eucrite is the non-brecciated one. Last year a sample of one of these specimens arrived at the laboratory, and it was classified for the laboratory. A fresh and very well preserved eucrite with fine grain and great aesthetic beauty.
NWA 15158, LL3.
Petrographic type 3 meteorites are the purest and least altered materials since their formation at the beginning of the Solar System. For this reason, they are highly sought-after materials by scientists and collectors. NWA 15158 was found south of Western Sahara, and acquired for our collections until it was classified in 2022.
BIR OUNANE 005.
In September 2022, a sample arrived at the laboratory that turned out to be of extreme interest. It was classified as a collection of lunar rocks and minerals, with up to 13 different lithologies, including anorthosites, norites, anorthositic norites, basalts, iron-rich clasts, spinel, fused glass spherules, etc... A real treasure for science.
The door to knowledge
Meteorites have positioned themselves as authentic samples of materials from outer space, where the threat of asteroids is a reality. Therefore, they not only reveal the secrets they have kept since the formation of the planetary system in which we live, but they also show us their weaknesses, against which we can fight in the hypothetical case that a large asteroid were to establish an orbit with an impact trajectory on our planet.
Having the privilege of holding these fragments of the building blocks of the planetary system in your hands makes scientists and collectors proud and excited. A privilege now within your reach.
Curación
Los meteoritos son valiosos activos de investigación que hacen de nuestro trabajo diario una auténtica aventura. La figura del conservador es fundamental.
Investigación
Constituyen muestras únicas, acerbos de la ciencia que nos desvelan su formación, su origen, su evolución, no solo del sistema solar, sino de más allá.
Prevención
La amenaza de los asteroides es real, y en el pasado ya se ha arrogado alguna que otra extinción masiva. Conocerlos es vital para luchar contra su amenaza global.
Contact us for more information.
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