The significance of meteorite density and porosity

    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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