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Recrystallized hexahedrite |
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| Meteorite: Carver, IIAB, Iron |
| Figure 1. Scale bar 100 µm. |
| Meteorite: Carver, IIAB, Iron |
| Recrystallized kamacite. |
| Iron meteorites undergo recrystallization
primarily due to shock events and reheating processes. When iron meteorites experience high-energy impacts in space or upon collision with other bodies, the intense pressure and heat can cause the metal to recrystallize. This process breaks down the original crystal structure and forms new, smaller grains of the primary minerals, such as kamacite and taenite. Reheating, a crucial part of the recrystallization process, can occur for various reasons, including proximity to a heat source like a molten core or subsequent impacts. This process allows the metal to partially melt and then cool slowly, forming new crystal structures. The formation of homogeneous 20 µm wide taenite grains with diverse orentations would have required as long as approximately 800 years at 600° C or approximately 1 hour at 1,300° C. (Goldstein, et al., 2011. MAPS) During recrystallization, there also can be changes in the chemical composition of the meteorite. A recrystallized meteorite often displays a more granular texture than its original structure. |
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