Science

Capturing the Mosaic of Minerals in Meteorites

  • meteorite macro art photography microscope abstract
    Photograph: Neil Buckland
    01
    Found by hunters in Algeria after a fireball event in 2013, this meteorite displays the blues and greens of pyroxene, a mineral typically found in volcanic areas.
  • meteorite macro art photography microscope abstract
    Photograph: Neil Buckland
    02
    Meteorites typically have distinct compositions that let researchers attribute them to particular impact events. This rock, determined to originate on Mars, fell on India in 1865.
  • meteorite macro art photography microscope abstract
    Photograph: Neil Buckland
    03
    The grays and whites indicate this meteorite is high in calcium. It’s most likely a shard of the moon broken off by an asteroid eons ago.
  • meteorite macro art photography microscope abstract
    Photograph: Neil Buckland
    04
    Some meteorites, such as this one found in Morocco, show signs of their fall and impact on Earth. The outer layer melts while hurtling through the atmosphere, then solidifies to glass.
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