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Discovery of a 25-cm asteroid clast in the giant Morokweng impact crater, South Africa

Author

Listed:
  • W. D. Maier

    (Sciences de la Terre, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi
    University of Pretoria)

  • M. A. G. Andreoli

    (South African Nuclear Energy Corporation
    School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Wits)

  • I. McDonald

    (School of Earth, Ocean & Planetary Sciences, Cardiff University
    Planetary Sciences, Cardiff University)

  • M. D. Higgins

    (Sciences de la Terre, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi)

  • A. J. Boyce

    (Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre)

  • A. Shukolyukov

    (University of California)

  • G. W. Lugmair

    (University of California)

  • L. D. Ashwal

    (School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Wits)

  • P. Gräser

    (University of Pretoria)

  • E. M. Ripley

    (Indiana University)

  • R. J. Hart

    (Ithemba LABS - Gauteng, Wits)

Abstract

Meteorites after the fall When a large meteorite falls to Earth, not much of it is left. It is normally completely melted or vaporized, the thinking goes, so the identification of fragments of impactors depends on the use of indirect chemical tracers. But with the discovery of a remarkably unaltered, boulder-sized piece of a meteorite in the Morokweng impact crater in South Africa, the thinking about meteorite survivability may have to change. A 25-cm fossil meteorite and several smaller fragments were found within the impact melt of the giant Morokweng crater. The meteorite is of an unusual composition that reveals unexpected replacement of metal by sulphides, probably in the interior of the parent asteroid. This suggests that the Morokweng impact event involved a type of asteroid not reflected in the known population that has reached Earth in recent times.

Suggested Citation

  • W. D. Maier & M. A. G. Andreoli & I. McDonald & M. D. Higgins & A. J. Boyce & A. Shukolyukov & G. W. Lugmair & L. D. Ashwal & P. Gräser & E. M. Ripley & R. J. Hart, 2006. "Discovery of a 25-cm asteroid clast in the giant Morokweng impact crater, South Africa," Nature, Nature, vol. 441(7090), pages 203-206, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:441:y:2006:i:7090:d:10.1038_nature04751
    DOI: 10.1038/nature04751
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