chondrite

American  

[kon-drahyt] / ˈkɒn draɪt /

noun

1. a stony meteorite containing chondrules.

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chondrite British  

/ kɒnˈdrɪtɪk, ˈkɒndraɪt /

noun

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

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chondrite Scientific  

/ kŏn′drīt′ /

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.

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Other Word Forms

• chondritic adjective

Etymology

Origin of chondrite

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

Example Sentences

Carbonaceous chondrites arrive on Earth naturally, but they account for only about 5% of all meteorite falls.

From Science Daily

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

From Science Daily

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.

From BBC

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

From Science Magazine

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

From BBC