chondrite

[kon-drahyt]

noun

1. a stony meteorite containing chondrules.

chondrite

/ kɒnˈdrɪtɪk, ˈkɒndraɪt /

noun

1. a stony meteorite consisting mainly of silicate minerals in the form of chondrules Compare achondrite

chondrite

1. A stony meteorite that contains chondrules embedded in a fine matrix of the silicate minerals olivine and pyroxene. About 85 percent of all meteorites are chondrites.

Other Word Forms

• chondritic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of chondrite¹

First recorded in 1880–85; chondr- + -ite ¹

Example Sentences

In contrast, chondrites retain primitive solar system dust as well as small molten droplets called chondrules.

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Using optical and electron microscopy, Harris and his team determined the rock was a chondrite - the most abundant type of stony meteorite, according to Nasa - which meant that it was approximately 4.56 billion years old.

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The chemical composition of the asteroids, gleaned by telescopes, matched a set of rare meteorites called EL enstatite chondrites, they reported in 2022.

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The Winchcombe meteorite belongs to a rare class of rocks known as carbonaceous chondrites.

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Previous studies suggested that Ryugu's sample mineralogy resembled CI chondrites, the most primitive meteorites chemically.

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