6 replies to this topic

[patindaytona]

Just purchase a Sikote-Alin meteorite. I understand that it is not a fragment. If it's not a fragment (shrapnel from the explosion),  does it mean it came through space right along side the main mass of the meteor? Or did it actually break off from it before exploding?

[lee14]

It is a fragment, of a larger mass, because it broke apart during its path through the atmosphere. The difference between shrapnel and more smoothly surfaced Sikhotes is the height at which separation occurred. Smoothed surfaced Sikhotes broke apart high enough in the atmosphere to allow sufficient time for heating to form regmaglypts and/or fusion crust, and occasionally showing orientation. So called shrapnel pieces broke apart too late for this level of heating to occur.

 

Lee

[patindaytona]

It is a fragment, of a larger mass, because it broke apart during its path through the atmosphere. The difference between shrapnel and more smoothly surfaced Sikhotes is the height at which separation occurred. Smoothed surfaced Sikhotes broke apart high enough in the atmosphere to allow sufficient time for heating to form regmaglypts and/or fusion crust, and occasionally showing orientation. So called shrapnel pieces broke apart too late for this level of heating to occur.

 

Lee

So it is really shrapnel during the explosion of the meteor mass, but had sufficient time to create ablation etc? Or did it break off before the explosion?
 

Edited by patindaytona, 27 August 2024 - 09:33 AM.

[lee14]

So it is really shrapnel during the explosion of the meteor mass, but had sufficient time to create ablation etc? Or did it break off before the explosion?
 

Insufficient time for ablation, yes.

 

It's possible there was more than a single [atmospheric] explosive event, regmaglypted specimens forming earlier and the shrapnel ones later, Nevertheless, it is the differences in time spent during which pieces were subject to heating that resulted in the varied shapes and features. Also, there are specimens which contain both elements of 'shrapnel' as well as regmaglypts, which would seem to indicate separation later than completely ablated individuals, but earlier than the pure 'shrapnel' specimens.

 

Lee

[patindaytona]

Insufficient time for ablation, yes.

 

It's possible there was more than a single [atmospheric] explosive event, regmaglypted specimens forming earlier and the shrapnel ones later, Nevertheless, it is the differences in time spent during which pieces were subject to heating that resulted in the varied shapes and features. Also, there are specimens which contain both elements of 'shrapnel' as well as regmaglypts, which would seem to indicate separation later than completely ablated individuals, but earlier than the pure 'shrapnel' specimens.

 

Lee

Yes. Perhaps the first explosive event is bit more gentle. The heating of the outside surface of the main body making it easier to break up. I'm recalling some of those meteor videos that were news and how you can see it breaking up in the sky without really exploding..yet, anyway.

[lee14]

Of course 'shrapnel' was likely also formed at the actual impact. The pieces with both regmaglypts and shrapnel-like features indicate that at least some specimens were also formed during flight.

 

Lee

[leonardovaller]

An individual is a meteorite recovered separately from all other fragments. It's still part of the original mass but was found on its own. It hasn't been cut or broken by human hands. It doesn't have a specific size; it can weigh just a few grams or several kilograms.