Table of Contents
Where do meteor rocks come from?
All meteorites come from inside our solar system. Most of them are fragments of asteroids that broke apart long ago in the asteroid belt, located between Mars and Jupiter. Such fragments orbit the Sun for some time–often millions of years–before colliding with Earth.
How was the meteor crater formed?
Forty-nine thousand years ago, a large 30 to 50 meter diameter iron asteroid impacted the Colorado Plateau in northern Arizona. The resulting massive explosion excavated 175 million tons of rock, forming a crater nearly a mile wide and 570 feet deep. (Click here to learn about the geology of the region).
What kinds of rock is the meteor crater composed of?
The Barringer meteorite crater — known popularly as “Meteor Crater” — near Winslow, Ariz., was formed some 50,000 years ago in the flat-lying sedimentary rocks of the Southern Colorado Plateau in Arizona. Now, scientists are using the crater to study mysteries near and far.
What are meteors made of?
Most meteoroids are made of silicon and oxygen (minerals called silicates) and heavier metals like nickel and iron. Iron and nickel-iron meteoroids are massive and dense, while stony meteoroids are lighter and more fragile.
Where does a meteor land?
Meteorites land randomly over the Earth, though most fall in the water that covers over 70\% of our planet’s surface, and are never recovered.
What state is the Meteor Crater in?
Arizona
Meteor Crater Natural Landmark/State
A popular tourist destination, the bowl-shaped Barringer Crater or “Meteor Crater” in Arizona is one of the most recognizable impact craters in North America. It was formed 50,000 years ago when a hunk of iron called the Canyon Diablo meteorite struck the earth at an estimated speed of 26,000 mph.
How do you identify a Meteor Crater?
Identifying impact craters
- A layer of shattered or “brecciated” rock under the floor of the crater.
- Shatter cones, which are chevron-shaped impressions in rocks.
- High-temperature rock types, including laminated and welded blocks of sand, spherulites and tektites, or glassy spatters of molten rock.