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MukundPura Meteorite

  • 11 Jan 2021
  • 3 min read

Why in News

A recent study has shed light on the mineralogy of the meteorite named Mukundpura CM2 which fell in Mukundpura village near Jaipur in 2017.

  • A meteorite is a solid piece of debris from an object, such as a comet, asteroid, or meteoroid, that originates in outer space and survives its passage through the atmosphere to reach the surface of a planet or moon.

Key Points

  • About:
    • The meteorite named Mukundpura CM2 was classified to be a carbonaceous chondrite. The composition of carbonaceous chondrites are also similar to the Sun.
    • Chondrites are silicate ­droplet ­bearing meteorites, and this Mukundpura chondrite is the 5th carbonaceous meteorite known to fall in India.
  • Classification Of Meteorite:
    • Meteorites are classified into three groups: Stony (silicaterich), Iron (Fe–Ni alloy), and Stony Iron (mixed silicate iron alloy).
    • Mukundpura CM2 is a type of stony meteorite, considered the most primitive meteorite and a remnant of the first solid bodies to accrete in the solar system.
  • Components of Meteorite:
    • Detailed spectroscopic studies revealed that the meteorite had very high (about 90%) phyllosilicate minerals comprising both magnesium and iron.
    • Forsterite and FeO olivine, calcium aluminium rich inclusion (CAI) minerals.
    • Few magnetites, sulphides, aluminium complexes and calcites were also found.
  • Importance of studying Asteroid:
    • Understanding of Solar system's history.
    • How the solar system evolved into the Sun and planets of today.
    • The effects of impact of meteorites.
    • They are often rich in volatiles and other minerals and can be exploited for future planetary exploration.

Difference between Meteor, Meteorite and Meteoroid

  • When meteoroids enter Earth's atmosphere (or that of another planet, like Mars) at high speed and burn up, the fireballs or “shooting stars” are called meteors.
  • When a meteoroid survives a trip through the atmosphere and hits the ground, it's called a meteorite.

Source:TH

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