METEORITE OR METEORWRONG?
regmaglypts
Regmaglypts are thumbprint like impressions on the surface of
larger meteorites that are formed by ablation of material from the surface
as a meteor passes through the earth's atmosphere. They are probably
formed by vortices of hot gas. Here are photographs of a few examples.
Click on image for enlargement.
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lunar meteorite Northwest
Africa 482
(photo courtesy of Jim Strope) |
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MacAlpine
Hills 88108, a 15.4-lb H5 chondrite from Antarctica. |
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This large meteorite (244 lbs) has lots
of regmaglypts. |
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Even this small meteorite (on the ice
in Antarctica) has regmaglypts. |
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This meteorite, with lots of regmaglypts,
is about 25 cm wide (10 inches). |
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Regmaglypts on stony meteorites are
often very shallow. |
Remaglypts on iron meteorites can be spectacular. See Sikhote-Alin,
Henbury,
and Campo
del Cielo.
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Here are small fragments
of Sikhote-Alin, an iron meteorite. All of the biggest have regmaglypts.
Click on image for enlargement (big). |
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