Combustion Analysis of a Meteorite Debris

Saheeb Ahmed Kayani

doi:10.1038/npre.2010.5066.2

Abstract

AbstractIn this research paper, nature and origins of a meteorite debris identified near village Lehri in district Jhelum, Pakistan have been determined. Total carbon content of a specimen of the meteorite debris is determined using combustion analysis and this abundance has been compared with values reported in literature to establish likely origins of the debris.

Highlights

A meteorite ablation debris (Figure 1) has been identified near village Lehri (33°09'09"N; 73°33'35"E) in district Jhelum, Pakistan by Kayani (2009)
As the meteorite debris has been found lying over the site in form of small stones, it seems on entry into earth’s atmosphere, the parent meteoroid succumbed to increasingly high pressure and temperature and at a certain height exploded into innumerable small pieces that came to rest on this particular site (Figure 2)
The parent body of this meteorite debris may have originated from the asteroid belt

Summary

Introduction

A meteorite ablation debris (Figure 1) has been identified near village Lehri (33°09'09"N; 73°33'35"E) in district Jhelum, Pakistan by Kayani (2009). The abundance, composition and structure of carbon can be analyzed to gather information about the initial formation process and following environmental changes to the carbonaceous matter (Murae et al 1993). In carbon rich chondrites (stony meteorites), carbonaceous matter has been identified as graphite, amorphous, kerogen-like, in some cases diamond, and mostly as a structurally unclear insoluble high molecular organic compound.

Results

Conclusion