Title

The significance of meteorite density and porosity

Authors

Authors

G. J. Consolmagno; D. T. Britt;R. J. Macke

Comments

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Abbreviated Journal Title

Chem Erde-Geochem.

Keywords

asteroids; density; meteorites; porosity; solar nebula; trans-neptunian; objects; LOW-ALBEDO ASTEROIDS; KUIPER-BELT; ORDINARY CHONDRITES; SOLAR-SYSTEM; INTERNAL STRUCTURE; CV3 CHONDRITES; SIZED OBJECT; BULK-DENSITY; DEEP; IMPACT; MAIN-BELT; Geochemistry & Geophysics

Abstract

Non-destructive, non-contaminating, and relatively simple procedures can be used to measure the bulk density, grain density, and porosity of meteorites. Most stony meteorites show a relatively narrow range of densities, but differences within this range can be useful indicators of the abundance and oxidation state of iron and the presence or absence of volatiles. Typically, ordinary chondrites have a porosity of just under 10%, while most carbonaceous chondrites (with notable exceptions) are more than 20% porous. Such measurements provide important clues to the nature of the physical processes that formed and evolved both the meteorites themselves and their parent bodies. When compared with the densities of small solar system bodies, one can deduce the nature of asteroid and comet interiors, which in turn reflect the accretional and collisional environment of the early solar system. (C) 2008 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Journal Title

Chemie Der Erde-Geochemistry

Volume

68

Issue/Number

1

Publication Date

1-1-2008

Document Type

Review

Language

English

First Page

1

Last Page

29

WOS Identifier

WOS:000256139300001

ISSN

0009-2819

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