Optical Microscopy of Meteoritic Metal
       |
|
It is well known that most iron meteorites can be polished and etched to reveal the Widmanstatten pattern. For more than 100 years scientists have studied iron meteorite microstructures in order to learn about the histories of these meteorites and their parent asteroids. The most comprehensive study of iron meteorites was conducted by Vagn Buchwald and is recorded in the three-volumes set, "Handbook of Iron Meteorites". This monumental work presents detailed micrographs for hundreds of iron meteorites accompanied by insightful interpretations of iron meteorite evolution. The statistics of observed meteorite falls show that stony meteorites outnumber irons more than one-hundred fold. As their name suggests, stony meteorites are composed primarily of silicate minerals but they also contain variable quantities of Fe-Ni metal. In stones, metal occurs as small (often sub-millimeter) particles peppered throughout the silicate matrix. Few people realize that this metal, like that of iron meteorites, can be polished and etched to reveal complex and revealing microstructures. This oversight is unfortunate, as the metal microstructures are sensitive indicators of thermal and shock processing at temperatures below typical silicate closure temperatures. The main objective of this website is to share photomicrographs of meteoritic metal obtained by means of reflected light microscopy. A related objective is to provide a simple introduction to the science of interpreting meteorite metal microstructures. "Is it reasonable to think that one can see, by looking in a microscope, what is going on in another planet?" The Father, August Strindberg (1887).
|
Welcome to
MeteoriteMetal.com, a website devoted to
the study of Fe-Ni metal microstructures in
meteorites (especially stony meteorites).