What Are Meteorites Made Out Of?

There are 3 basic types: irons (siderites), stony-irons (siderolites) and stones (aerolites).

Irons contain 4-6% nickel, within the mineral kamacite. When nickel is present in higher concentrations another mineral, taenite forms. Kamacite and taenite orient thesemlves in octahedral planes. The form characteristic Widmanstaten patterns (octahedries) if the surface is etched with acid.

Stony irons consist of a network of nickel-iron encasing crystals of olivine. Sometimes the nickel-iron alloy aggregates with silicate minerals to form meso-siderites.

Stone meteorites contain spherical particles called chondrules. These are fragments of minerals with a radiating structure. This type of meteorite makes up 85% of meteor specimens.

They are rock and iron

They are made up of rock

Iron-nickel and minerals

Irons, stone irons and stones

They are made out of irons stony irons and stone

Metal

Meteorites are made out of rocky

They are made up of metals, which are iron-nickel alloys from the center of molten asteroids