Abstract
The results of thermomagnetic analyses of two nickel-rich ataxites (Tawallah Valley and Wedderburn) have been used to estimate the temperature gradients within their thermal alteration rims which formed during flight through the earth's atmosphere. Knowing these temperature gradients it is possible to calculate temperature rises within iron meteorites during ablation as well as the average rate of ablation of the surfaces of these meteorites (i.e. about 0.18 cm/sec). If the time during which ablation takes place averages 3.3 sec, then the average thickness of material ablated from the surfaces of these iron meteorites is about 0.6 cm. These data indicate that about 27 per cent of the pre-atmospheric mass of the Tawallah Valley ataxite and about 60 per cent of the smaller Wedderburn ataxite has been ablated in the atmosphere.
Published Version
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