Stony-Iron Meteorites (Parent Body: Core/Mantle Boundary of Asteroids)

Stony-iron meteorites are the rarest and most visually striking of the three main categories of meteorites. They are composed of roughly equal parts iron-nickel metal and silicate minerals, including gemstones like olivine. This unique mixture reflects their origin from the boundary zones between a planet or asteroid's core and mantle.

Within this category, there are two main types:

Pallasites: These meteorites feature large, gem-quality olivine crystals embedded within a metallic iron-nickel matrix. Their striking appearance makes them highly prized among collectors. Pallasites are believed to originate from the core-mantle boundary of differentiated planetary bodies, providing valuable clues about the internal structure of such bodies.

Mesosiderites: These are breccias—rocks made of broken, fused fragments—containing a mixture of metal and silicate materials. They are thought to form from impact processes that cause different layers of a planetary body to mix together, offering insights into the impact history and interior composition of asteroids and other planetary bodies.

Studying stony-iron meteorites helps scientists understand the processes of planetary differentiation, the internal structure of asteroids, and the history of impacts in our solar system.