earth science

Meteorite weathering

Meteorite weathering is a earth science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Meteorite weathering rather than just read about it. In short: Meteorite weathering is the terrestrial alteration of a meteorite. Most meteorites date from the oldest times in the Solar System and are by far the oldest material available on our planet.

Key takeaways

Meteorite weathering belongs to earth science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Meteorite weathering to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Meteorite weathering from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Meteorite weathering is the terrestrial alteration of a meteorite. Most meteorites date from the oldest times in the Solar System and are by far the oldest material available on our planet. Despite their age, they are vulnerable to the terrestrial environment. Water, chlorine and oxygen attack meteorites as soon as they reach the ground.

Weathering scales In order to quantify the degree of alteration that a meteorite experienced, several qualitative weathering indices have been applied to antarctic and desert samples. The most known weathering scale is based upon the effects seen in polished thin sections of chondritic meteorites and it ranges from W0 (pristine) to W6 (heavy alteration). It was proposed by Jull A. J. T. et al. (1991) and updated by Wlotzka(1993) and Al-Kathiri et al.(2005).

W0: no visible oxidation of metal or troilite, but may be noticeable in transmitted light a limonitic staining. Usually recently fallen meteorites are of this grade, although some are already W1. W1: small oxide rims around metal and troilite, small oxide veins. W2: moderate oxidation of metal (about 20-60% replaced). W3: heavy oxidation of metal and troilite (60-95% replaced). W4: complete oxidation of metal and troilite (>95% replaced), but no alteration of silicates. W5: beginning alteration of mafic silicates, mainly along cracks. W6: heavy replacement of silicates by clay minerals and oxides. The Meteorite Working Group at the Johnson Space Center uses weathering categories A B, C and E to denote the alteration of antarctic meteorites. Their official definitions are:

A: Minor rustiness; rust haloes on metal particles and rust stains along fractures are minor. B: Moderate rustiness; large rust haloes occur on metal particles and rust stains on internal fractures are extensive. C: Severe rustiness; metal particles have been mostly stained by rust throughout. E: Evaporite minerals visible to the naked eye.

See also Glossary of meteoritics Meteorite classification Weathering

References

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Meteorite weathering

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Meteorite weathering claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In earth science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Meteorite weathering before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Meteorite weathering ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Meteorite weathering

In research: Meteorite weathering appears in earth science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Meteorite weathering in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Meteorite weathering is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Meteorite mineralogy and petrology, Weathering, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Meteorite weathering outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Meteorite weathering in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Meteorite weathering means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Meteorite weathering out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Meteorite weathering in simple terms?

Meteorite weathering is the terrestrial alteration of a meteorite. Most meteorites date from the oldest times in the Solar System and are by far the oldest material available on our planet.

Why does Meteorite weathering matter?

Because it connects several earth science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Meteorite weathering?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Meteorite weathering.