chondrite

[kon-drahyt] /ˈkɒn draɪt/
noun
1.
a stony meteorite containing chondrules.
Origin
1880-85; chondr- + -ite1
Related forms
chondritic
[kon-drit-ik] /kɒnˈdrɪt ɪk/ (Show IPA),
adjective
Examples from the web for chondrite
  • Description of chemical research on meteorites to understand the formation processes of chondrite meteorites and chondrules.
  • The find is small and appears to be an ordinary chondrite.
British Dictionary definitions for chondrite

chondrite

/ˈkɒndraɪt/
noun
1.
a stony meteorite consisting mainly of silicate minerals in the form of chondrules Compare achondrite
Derived Forms
chondritic (kɒnˈdrɪtɪk) adjective
chondrite in Science
chondrite
  (kŏn'drīt')   
A stony meteorite that contains chondrules embedded in a fine matrix of the silicate minerals olivine and pyroxene. About 85 percent of all meteorites are chondrites.
Encyclopedia Article for chondrite

in general, any stony meteorite characterized by the presence of chondrules. The only meteorites classified as chondrites that do not contain chondrules are the CI group. These meteorites are so heavily altered by water that it is unclear whether they once contained chondrules. All other aspects of these objects, however, indicate that they belong with the chondrites.Chondrules are roughly spherical inclusions, typically hundreds of micrometres to a few millimetres in size. They are made up of silicates, metal, and sulfide, and they appear to have formed as molten droplets at high temperatures in the early solar nebula. The chondrules are set in a fine-grained matrix that binds them together. Chondrites are divided into three main classes based on their bulk chemical compositions, oxygen isotopic compositions, and petrology. These are carbonaceous chondrites, ordinary chondrites, and enstatite chondrites.

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