Meteorites & Asteroids Archives

The 134Xe/132Xe versus 136Xe/132Xe diagram showing the composition of Tatahouine (#13349) and Shalka (#6766 C) measured at different heating steps, including those of Michel & Eugster (1994) and Eugster & Michel (1995) for comparison. The 238U and 244Pu fission Xe data are from Porcelli et al. (2002). Q-Xe (Q phase is the main carrier of heavy noble gases in chondrites) is from Busemann et al. (2000), SW-Xe (SW stands for solar wind) is from Meshik et al. (2020), U-Xe is from Pepin & Porcelli (2002) and Air (corresponding to Earth’s atmosphere) -- astro-ph.EP

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Comets and Asteroids, Gas Giants, Meteorites & Asteroids, Status Report

Asteroids Fail To Retain Cometary Impact Signatures

by Keith CowingJuly 3, 2025July 3, 2025

A bombardment of comets is thought to have occurred in the inner solar system as a result of a dynamical instability among the giant planets after gas disk dispersal.

The site of the oldest rocks on Earth, 30 km from Inukjuak, in Nunavik, Canada. -- University Of Ottawa

Astrogeology, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Meteorites & Asteroids, Nomenclature, Systematics, Natural History, Origin & Evolution of Life, Polar / Alpine Expeditions, Press Release

New Study Confirms That The Oldest Rocks On Earth Are In Northern Canada

by Keith CowingJune 27, 2025June 27, 2025

A team of Canadian and French researchers has confirmed that northern Quebec is home to the oldest known rocks on Earth, dating back 4.16 billion years.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid, (GABA) -- Wikipedia

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Meteorites & Asteroids, Origin & Evolution of Life, Panspermia, Press Release

Meteorite-common Amino Acid Induces Formation Of Nanocavities In Clay Mineral

by Keith CowingJune 24, 2025June 24, 2025

Researchers at the universities of Amsterdam and Utrecht have observed the formation of nanocavities in montmorillonite clay under exposure to gamma-aminobutyric acid, a molecule commonly found on meteorites.

Stitched BF-STEM micrograph of sample A0461-01-FIB02 with the typical observed OM morphologies marked. a – globular OM in various sizes and textures, b – fragmented globular OM, c – irregular OM, and d – diffuse OM between the phyllosilicate layers. -- astro-ph.EP

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Comets and Asteroids, Meteorites & Asteroids, Missions & Hardware, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release, Sample Return

The Nanoscale Molecular Chemistry Of Outer Solar System Organic Matter In Asteroid Ryugu

by Keith CowingJune 23, 2025June 23, 2025

The analysis of biorelevant molecules in returned mission samples such as from the carbonaceous asteroid (162173) Ryugu is key to unravelling the role of extraterrestrial organics in the evolution of […]

Surface of Ryugu, taken at night by Hyabusa-2's Mobile Asteroid Surface Scout (MASCOT) camera MASCOT/DLR/JAXA

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Ceres, Comets and Asteroids, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Meteorites & Asteroids, Missions & Hardware, Sample Return, Status Report

Challenges and Opportunities in Using Amino Acids to Decode Carbonaceous Chondrite and Asteroid Parent Body Processes

by Keith CowingJune 10, 2025June 10, 2025

Carbonaceous chondrite (CC) meteorites are fragments of planetesimals that hold clues about the early solar system’s organic matter. Amino acids are key to life on Earth; thus their study from […]

Condensation of major rock-forming phases from a gas of solar composition at P = 10-3 bar (modified after Davis and Richter, 2007). The first phases to form upon cooling are Al-Ca-rich that are effectively observed in CAIs found in chondrites. -- astro-ph.EP

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Comets and Asteroids, Meteorites & Asteroids, Status Report

Clues For Solar System Formation From Meteorites And Their Parent Bodies

by Keith CowingJune 6, 2025June 6, 2025

Understanding the origin of comets requires knowledge of how the Solar System formed from a cloud of dust and gas 4.567 Gyr ago.

Optical microscopy image of the clastic matrix region in LAR 12252 that was studied using S-XANES. Notable phases include enstatite (examples outlined in red), sulphides (example outlined in yellow), a small chondrule fragment (outlined in orange), and fine matrix (examples highlighted in pink). b Corresponding map calculated from the S-XANES spectra of the region shown in a, showing the amplitude of the H-S peak at each point normalised to the average amplitude of point spectra measured from chondrule mesostasis (Fig. S8). Black pixels correspond to points where the SXANES spectra that did not contain a resolvable H-S peak. White pixels correspond to points where the S-XANES spectra could not be fitted due to their quality or noise in the spectra. Some grain outlines have been transferred onto Fig 2b to allow for comparison of the two figures. -- astro-ph.EP

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Habitable Zones, Impact events, Meteorites & Asteroids, Origin & Evolution of Life, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

The Source Of Hydrogen In Earth’s Building Blocks

by Keith CowingJune 2, 2025June 2, 2025

Despite being pivotal to the habitability of our planet, the process by which Earth gained its present-day hydrogen budget is unclear.

By analyzing how far material ejected from an impact crater flies, scientists can locate buried glaciers and other interesting subsurface features. On the left is an image of a fresh Martian impact crater taken by NASA's HiRISE instrument. On the right is the extent of an ejecta blanket according to computer simulations of impacts. Credit NASA/Aleksandra Sokolowska

Astrogeology, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Impact events, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Mars, Meteorites & Asteroids, Press Release

Using Rock Blasted From Craters To Probe The Martian Subsurface

by Keith CowingMay 19, 2025May 19, 2025

A team of planetary scientists has developed a promising new way to peer beneath the dusty surface of Mars and other planetary bodies.

Artist impression of solar system formation. Presolar grains are tiny, solid grains of primitive solar system material that originated before the formation of the Sun. They have been found in many places, including interplanetary dust, meteorites, and even samples from the comet Wild-2 that were returned to Earth by NASA's Stardust mission. Image credit: Gemini Observatory/AURA/Lynette Cook via NASA Astrobiology

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Meteorites & Asteroids, Status Report

Origin Of Moderately Volatile Elements In Earth

by Keith CowingMay 13, 2025May 13, 2025

The bulk silicate Earth (BSE) is depleted in moderately volatile elements, indicating Earth formed from a mixture of volatile-rich and -poor materials.

Panoramic view of the Chang’e-5 landing site. Credit: CNSA/CLEP

Analog Studies, Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Comets and Asteroids, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Impact events, Interstellar, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Meteorites & Asteroids, Moon, Status Report

Polycyclic Aromatics In The Chang’E 5 Lunar Soils

by Keith CowingMay 4, 2025May 4, 2025

Polycyclic aromatics are ubiquitous in the interstellar medium and meteorites, yet the search for lunar polycyclic aromatics remains a significant challenge.