Meteorites
Study of Mukundpura Meteorite
- It is a carbonaceous meteorite (these are the meteorites which contain carbon compounds, including organic ones and water).
- It is one of the most primitive type of meteorite.
- It is a rare type of meteorite as carbonaceous meteorites constitute only 3%-5% of all meteorites which fall on the Earth.
- It contains grains of calcium and iron which date to a time before the sun came into existence.
- It contains the evidence of having the water-bearing minerals.
- The meteorite is believed to have the most pristine primordial matter recovered from space, which might carry important clues to the origin of early life.
Study of Natun Balijan Meteorite
- It fell in the flood plains of Lohit River.
- It has been classified as an ordinary chondrite.
Meteorites
- These are the chunks of rock and metal from asteroids and other planetary bodies that survive their journey through the atmosphere and fall to the ground.
- Most meteorites found on Earth are pebble size but some are larger than a building.
- Early Earth experienced many large meteorite impacts that caused extensive destruction.
- These may resemble Earth rocks, but these usually have a burned exterior.
- This fusion crust is formed as the meteorite is melted by friction as it passes through the atmosphere.
- These mostly originate from the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
Types of meteorites
- There are three major types of meteorites:
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- Irons
- Stones
- Stony-irons
- Although the majority of meteorites that fall to Earth are stony, most of the meteorites that are discovered long after they fall are irons.
- Iron meteorites are heavy objects and are easier to distinguish from Earth rocks than stony meteorites.
- Meteorites also fall on other solar system bodies.
Geological Survey of India (GSI)
- It was established in 1851.
- Its headquarters are at Kolkata.
- It is a government organisation of India with its office attached to the Ministry of Mines for conducting geological surveys and studies.
- Its main functions are to create and update national geo-scientific information and mineral resource assessment.
- These objectives are achieved through ground surveys, air-borne and marine surveys, mineral prospecting and investigations and multi-disciplinary geo-scientific techniques.
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