Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Stony-irons are a type of meteorite that contains nearly equal amounts of silicate minerals and nickel-iron metal. They are among the rarest meteorites, providing valuable insights into the early solar system.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
Stony-irons are classified into two main groups: pallasites and mesosiderites.
Pallasites consist of olivine crystals embedded in a nickel-iron matrix.
Mesosiderites are brecciated rocks containing roughly equal parts of silicate rock and metallic iron-nickel.
Stony-irons are believed to originate from differentiated parent bodies, possibly from the boundary between the core and mantle.
They provide crucial information about the processes that occurred in the early solar system, including planetary differentiation.
Review Questions
Related terms
pallasite: A type of stony-iron meteorite featuring large olivine crystals within a nickel-iron matrix
mesosiderite: A brecciated stony-iron meteorite containing mixed fragments of silicate rock and metallic iron-nickel
chondrite: A common type of stony meteorite composed mostly of silicate minerals with small amounts of metal, often containing chondrules