Vermillion meteorite
| Vermillion | |
|---|---|
| Type | Achondrite, pallasite |
| Grouplet | Pyroxene pallasite grouplet |
| Composition | Meteoric iron (~86 %) silicates (~14 %) |
| Country | USA |
| Region | Kansas |
| Coordinates | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Observed fall | No |
| Found date | 1991 |
| TKW | 34.36 kilograms (75.8 lb) |
The Vermillion meteorite is a pallasite (stony-iron) meteorite and one of two members of the pyroxene pallasite grouplet.[1]
Discovery
The meteorite was found near and was named after Vermillion, Marshall County, Kansas. It was found by two farmers while planting on a grain field in 1991. It was recognized as a meteorite and first described in 1995.[2]
Mineralogy
Vermillion meteorite consists of around 86 volume-% meteoric iron and 14 % silicate minerals. The silicates include olivine (93% of silicates), orthopyroxene (5%), chromite (1.5%) and merrillite (0.5%).[3] Other accessory minerals include troilite, whitlockite,[1] and cohenite.[4]
Classification
The Vermillion meteorite is classified as a pyroxene pallasite because it contains pyroxene as an accessory mineral and shares a distinct oxygen isotope signature with Yamato 8451.[1] Some studies also object to this grouping, referring to the differences in siderophile trace elements and the occurrence of cohenite in the Vermillion meteorite.[4]
