The Flickr Regmaglypts Image Generatr

Wold Cottage meteorite

Classification: L6 chondrite.
Fell: 13 December 1795, Yorkshire, England.
TKW: 25 kg.

Natural History Museum, London, UK.
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The Wold Cottage meteorite was witnessed to fall near Wold Cottage farm, a few miles from the village of Wold Newton, in Yorkshire, England at around 3 p.m. on 13 December 1795.

It was one of a few witnessed and well documented falls of stones from the sky around that time that eventually led to the scientific conclusion in the early 1800's of their cosmic origin and that meteorites really did came from space.

The single Wold Cottage stone was originally 56 lb (25 kg) in weight. It is classified as an L6 chondrite.

The main mass of the Wold Cottage meteorite is displayed in the Treasures Gallery at the Natural History Museum, London, UK. This close-up photograph, taken at the NHM in 2023, shows a fusion-crusted surface at the top of the meteorite with numerous regmaglypts. Regmaglypts - (less technically known as 'thumbprints') - are rounded indentations caused by uneven melting during the ablation part of the stone's flight through the atmosphere.

Fusion crust forms at the very end of the ablation, or
incandescent part of the stone's atmospheric flight. When its speed has been slowed to the point that melting of the surface ceases, the surface cools rapidly and a thin crust or rind forms.
A very close-up look in the photograph at the fusion crust reveals that there are areas with cracks, appearing like crazing on glazed pottery. These are known as 'contraction cracks'.

The lighter face at lower left is a sawn surface where the meteorite has been cut. This shows the interior of the stone. The small brown blebs are areas of iron oxide and metallic iron.

Wold Cottage meteorite

Classification: L6 chondrite.
Fell: 13 December 1795, Yorkshire, England.
TKW: 25 kg.

Natural History Museum, London, UK.
.............................

The Wold Cottage meteorite was witnessed to fall near Wold Cottage farm, a few miles from the village of Wold Newton, in Yorkshire, England at around 3 p.m. on 13 December 1795.

It was one of a few witnessed and well documented falls of stones from the sky around that time that eventually led to the scientific conclusion in the early 1800's of their cosmic origin and that meteorites really did came from space.

The single Wold Cottage stone was originally 56 lb (25 kg) in weight. It is classified as an L6 chondrite.

The main mass of the Wold Cottage meteorite is displayed in the Treasures Gallery at the Natural History Museum, London, UK. This photograph, taken at the NHM in 2023, shows a fusion-crusted surface of the meteorite with numerous regmaglypts. Regmaglypts - (less technically known as 'thumbprints') - are rounded indentations caused by uneven melting during the ablation part of the stone's flight through the atmosphere.

Fusion crust forms at the very end of the ablation, or
incandescent part of the stone's atmospheric flight. When its speed has been slowed to the point that melting of the surface ceases, the surface cools rapidly and a thin crust or rind forms.
A very close-up look in the photograph at the fusion crust reveals that there are some areas with cracks, appearing like crazing on glazed pottery - (see, for example, at the top left of the stone). These are known as 'contraction cracks'.

Wold Cottage meteorite

Classification: L6 chondrite.
Fell: 13 December 1795, Yorkshire, England.
TKW: 25 kg.

Natural History Museum, London, UK.
.............................

The Wold Cottage meteorite was witnessed to fall near Wold Cottage farm, a few miles from the village of Wold Newton, in Yorkshire, England at around 3 p.m. on 13 December 1795.

It was one of a few witnessed and well documented falls of stones from the sky around that time that eventually led to the scientific conclusion in the early 1800's of their cosmic origin and that meteorites really did came from space.

The single Wold Cottage stone was originally 56 lb (25 kg) in weight. It is classified as an L6 chondrite.

The main mass of the Wold Cottage meteorite is displayed in the Treasures Gallery at the Natural History Museum, London, UK. This photograph, taken at the NHM in 2023, shows a fusion-crusted surface of the meteorite on the right, with numerous regmaglypts at upper right. Regmaglypts - (less technically known as 'thumbprints') - are rounded indentations caused by uneven melting during the ablation part of the stone's flight through the atmosphere.

Fusion crust forms at the very end of the ablation, or
incandescent part of the stone's atmospheric flight. When its speed has been slowed to the point that melting of the surface ceases, the surface cools rapidly and a thin crust or rind forms.

The lighter coloured side on the left of the meteorite is a sawn surface where the stone has been cut. This provides a view of the interior of the stone.

Iron meteorite displayed in the Red Zone of the Natural History Museum, London, UK. This photo was taken in May 2024.
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During their flight through the Earth's atmosphere, most meteoroids tumble randomly. Irregularly-shaped masses, and masses that fragment, are smoothed somewhat by the ablation process but the resulting meteorites may still be rather lumpy. Superimposed on this there are sometimes rounded pits and depressions where turbulent flow of superheated gas has ablated specific areas more than others, or where there is differential melting of softer minerals. Shallow, rounded depressions - regmaglypts - (like thumb prints) - can be seen on this iron meteorite.

Iron meteorite displayed in the Red Zone of the Natural History Museum, London, UK. This photo was taken in May 2024.
..........................

During their flight through the Earth's atmosphere, most meteoroids tumble randomly. Irregularly-shaped masses, and masses that fragment, are smoothed somewhat by the ablation process but the resulting meteorites may still be rather lumpy. Superimposed on this there are sometimes rounded pits and depressions where turbulent flow of superheated gas has ablated specific areas more than others, or where there is differential melting of softer minerals. Shallow, rounded depressions - regmaglypts - (like thumb prints) - can be seen on this iron meteorite.

Wold Cottage meteorite

Classification: L6 chondrite.
Fell: 13 December 1795, Yorkshire, England.
TKW: 25 kg.

Natural History Museum, London, UK.
.............................

The Wold Cottage meteorite was witnessed to fall near Wold Cottage farm, a few miles from the village of Wold Newton, in Yorkshire, England at around 3 p.m. on 13 December 1795.

It was one of a few witnessed and well documented falls of stones from the sky around that time that eventually led to the scientific conclusion in the early 1800's of their cosmic origin and that meteorites really did came from space.

The single Wold Cottage stone was originally 56 lb (25 kg) in weight. It is classified as an L6 chondrite.

The main mass of the Wold Cottage meteorite is displayed in the Treasures Gallery at the Natural History Museum, London, UK. This photograph, taken at the NHM in May 2024, shows a fusion-crusted surface of the meteorite with numerous regmaglypts. Regmaglypts - (less technically known as 'thumbprints') - are rounded indentations caused by uneven melting during the ablation part of the stone's flight through the atmosphere.

Fusion crust forms at the very end of the ablation, or
incandescent part of the stone's atmospheric flight. When its speed has been slowed to the point that melting of the surface ceases, the surface cools rapidly and a thin crust or rind forms.
A very close-up look in the photograph at the fusion crust reveals that there are areas with cracks, appearing like crazing on glazed pottery. These are known as 'contraction cracks'.

A fragment of the crater-making Henbury iron meteorite, found in the Northern Territory, Australia, in 1931.

The Henbury iron meteorites are classified as a type IIIAB medium octahedrite and are estimated to have fallen some 4700 years ago. 13 craters have been identified; the largest around 180 metres wide.

This specimen, its surface sculpted by many regmaglypts, was photographed in the Minerals Gallery of the Natural History Museum, London, UK, in May 2024.

The surface of this iron meteorite displays a fine set of regmaglypts. Regmaglypts - (less technically, also known as 'thumbprints') - are rounded indentations caused by uneven melting of the meteorite's surface during the ablation part of its flight through the Earth's atmosphere.

The photograph was taken at the Natural History Museum, London, UK, in May 2024.

The surface of this iron meteorite displays a fine set of regmaglypts. Regmaglypts - (less technically, also known as 'thumbprints') - are rounded indentations caused by uneven melting of the meteorite's surface during the ablation part of its flight through the Earth's atmosphere.

The photograph was taken at the Natural History Museum, London, UK, in May 2024.

The surface of this iron meteorite displays a fine set of regmaglypts. Regmaglypts - (less technically, also known as 'thumbprints') - are rounded indentations caused by uneven melting of the meteorite's surface during the ablation part of its flight through the Earth's atmosphere.

The photograph was taken at the Natural History Museum, London, UK, in May 2024.

Tenham, L6 chondrite, fell Queensland, Australia, 1879.
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A close-up view of regmaglypts (aka 'thumbprints') on the surface of a Tenham meteorite, displayed in the Minerals Gallery of the Natural History Museum in London, UK. It is one of some 300 stones (total weight over 160 kg) recovered from a 12 x 3 mile (20 x 5 km) strewn field at Tenham station, South Gregory, in western Queensland, Australia. The meteorites fell around 2 or 3 a.m. local time sometime in early part (probably February) of 1879.

The surface of this individual displays a fine set of regmaglypts. Regmaglypts - (less technically known as 'thumbprints') - are rounded indentations caused by uneven melting during the ablation part of the stone's flight through the atmosphere.

The photograph was taken at the Natural History Museum, London, UK, in May 2024.

Tenham, L6 chondrite, fell Queensland, Australia, 1879.
..............................

This Tenham meteorite, displayed in the Minerals Gallery of the Natural History Museum in London, UK, is one of some 300 stones (total weight over 160 kg) recovered from a 12 x 3 mile (20 x 5 km) strewn field at Tenham station, South Gregory, in western Queensland, Australia. The meteorites fell around 2 or 3 a.m. local time sometime in early part (probably February) of 1879.

The surface of this individual displays a fine set of regmaglypts. Regmaglypts - (less technically known as 'thumbprints') - are rounded indentations caused by uneven melting during the ablation part of the stone's flight through the atmosphere.

The photograph was taken at the Natural History Museum, London, UK, in May 2024.

Tenham, L6 chondrite, fell Queensland, Australia, 1879.
..............................

This Tenham meteorite, displayed in the Minerals Gallery of the Natural History Museum in London, UK, is one of some 300 stones (total weight over 160 kg) recovered from a 12 x 3 mile (20 x 5 km) strewn field at Tenham station, South Gregory, in western Queensland, Australia. The meteorites fell around 2 or 3 a.m. local time sometime in early part (probably February) of 1879.

The surface of this individual displays a fine set of regmaglypts. Regmaglypts - (less technically known as 'thumbprints') - are rounded indentations caused by uneven melting during the ablation part of the stone's flight through the atmosphere.

The photograph was taken at the Natural History Museum, London, UK, in May 2024.

Tenham, L6 chondrite, fell Queensland, Australia, 1879.
..............................

This Tenham meteorite, displayed in the Minerals Gallery of the Natural History Museum in London, UK, is one of some 300 stones (total weight over 160 kg) recovered from a 12 x 3 mile (20 x 5 km) strewn field at Tenham station, South Gregory, in western Queensland, Australia. The meteorites fell around 2 or 3 a.m. local time sometime in early part (probably February) of 1879.

The surface of this individual displays a fine set of regmaglypts. Regmaglypts - (less technically known as 'thumbprints') - are rounded indentations caused by uneven melting during the ablation part of the stone's flight through the atmosphere.

The photograph was taken at the Natural History Museum, London, UK, in May 2024.

Tenham, L6 chondrite, fell Queensland, Australia, 1879.
..............................

This Tenham meteorite, displayed in the Minerals Gallery of the Natural History Museum in London, UK, is one of some 300 stones (total weight over 160 kg) recovered from a 12 x 3 mile (20 x 5 km) strewn field at Tenham station, South Gregory, in western Queensland, Australia. The meteorites fell around 2 or 3 a.m. local time sometime in early part (probably February) of 1879.

The surface of this individual displays a fine set of regmaglypts. Regmaglypts - (less technically known as 'thumbprints') - are rounded indentations caused by uneven melting during the ablation part of the stone's flight through the atmosphere.

The photograph was taken at the Natural History Museum, London, UK, in May 2024.

Octahedrite from the Asteroid Belt between Mars and Jupiter. (USNM 1492, National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian Institution), Washington D.C., USA) (public domain image provided by the USNM)

Meteorites are rocks from space. Three basic categories exist: 1) stony meteorites; 2) iron meteorites; and 3) stony-iron meteorites. As the name suggests, iron meteorites are dominated by iron metal (elemental Fe). They also include some metallic nickel (Ni), plus minor minerals. They represent metallic core samples from differentiated asteroids/dwarf planets in the Solar System that have been disrupted by one or more large impact events.

Iron meteorites come in three textural varieties: octahedrites, hexahedrites, and ataxites. Octahedrites are the most common type of Fe-Ni meteorites. The textural classification of iron meteorites has been augmented with information on trace element content.

Mineralogically, all octahedrites are dominated by two minerals having very similar chemistries: kamacite (FeNi) and taenite (FeNi). Kamacite is a silvery-colored iron-nickel metal alloy rich in iron, with about 5.5 weight-percent nickel. Taenite is a silvery-colored iron-nickel metal alloy rich in nickel, with about 27-65 weight-percent nickel. Octahedrites have much more kamacite than taenite. They also contain minor amounts of troilite (FeS - iron monosulfide), silicate minerals, and others.

The physical crystalline structure of octahedrites is distinctive. On cut, polished, and nitric acid-etched surfaces, a criss-crossing pattern of silvery-gray blades is evident. This is called Widmanstätten structure, formed when kamacite and taenite slowly crystallized from cooling magma. The two minerals form interlocking plates with octahedral (double pyramid) geometries.

The octahedrite seen here is an oriented individual of the Henbury Meteorite, which was found west-southwest of the "town" of Henbury, Northern Territory, central Australia. Many samples were collected in the 1930s from a crater field consisting of 14 small to moderately small impact craters. The impact event occurred during the Holocene, at about 4.2 ka. The target rocks are Precambrian fine-grained siliciclastic sedimentary rocks. The meteorite itself is a medium octahedrite. This specimen has a fusion crust and abundant regmaglypts. Henbury is classified as a group IIIAB iron meteorite.

Octahedrite from the Asteroid Belt between Mars and Jupiter. (USNM 7080, National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian Institution), Washington D.C., USA) (public domain image provided by the USNM)

Meteorites are rocks from space. Three basic categories exist: 1) stony meteorites; 2) iron meteorites; and 3) stony-iron meteorites. As the name suggests, iron meteorites are dominated by iron metal (elemental Fe). They also include some metallic nickel (Ni), plus minor minerals. They represent metallic core samples from differentiated asteroids/dwarf planets in the Solar System that have been disrupted by one or more large impact events.

Iron meteorites come in three textural varieties: octahedrites, hexahedrites, and ataxites. Octahedrites are the most common type of Fe-Ni meteorites. The textural classification of iron meteorites has been augmented with information on trace element content.

Mineralogically, all octahedrites are dominated by two minerals having very similar chemistries: kamacite (FeNi) and taenite (FeNi). Kamacite is a silvery-colored iron-nickel metal alloy rich in iron, with about 5.5 weight-percent nickel. Taenite is a silvery-colored iron-nickel metal alloy rich in nickel, with about 27-65 weight-percent nickel. Octahedrites have much more kamacite than taenite. They also contain minor amounts of troilite (FeS - iron monosulfide), silicate minerals, and others.

The physical crystalline structure of octahedrites is distinctive. On cut, polished, and nitric acid-etched surfaces, a criss-crossing pattern of silvery-gray blades is evident. This is called Widmanstätten structure, formed when kamacite and taenite slowly crystallized from cooling magma. The two minerals form interlocking plates with octahedral (double pyramid) geometries.

The octahedrite seen here is the Meteorite Hills 00400 Meteorite. It's one of 23 iron masses found in 2000 along an almost six kilometer-long line in the Transantarctic Mountains, ~between the Nimrod Glacier and Mount Lister, near the western edge of the Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica. The rock is a heat-altered medium octahedrite dominated by recrystallized kamacite. The surface is regmaglypted and fusion crusted.

55mm x 25mm x 20mm-sized fragment of Canyon Diablo meteorite.
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The Canyon Diablo meteorite refers to the many fragments of the asteroid that created Meteor Crater (also called Barringer Crater), Arizona, United States. Meteorites have been found around the crater rim, and are named for nearby Canyon Diablo, which lies about three to four miles west of the crater.
[Wikipedia contributors. (2024, February 22). Canyon Diablo (meteorite). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 20:06, March 11, 2024, from en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Canyon_Diablo_(meteorite)&oldid=1209595759]
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Focus stacking composed of 28 exposures.

(public domain image of an old glass negative provided by the United States National Museum - Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C.; the original specimen is held in a Vienna museum)
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This is the main mass of the Mazapil Meteorite, which fell to Earth in the evening of 27 November 1885 in Mexico's Zacatecas State. Mazapil is an iron meteorite with abundant surface cavities called regmaglypts. Smaller rounded to subrounded features on the surface are nodules composed of graphite (carbon, C) and troilite (iron monosulfide, FeS). This rock is an octahedrite, dominated by the minerals kamacite & taenite, both of which are iron-nickel alloys. Kamacite is an iron-rich FeNi mineral and taenite is a nickel-rich FeNi mineral. Kamacite and taenite have a metallic luster, silvery-gray color, are heavy for their size, and are moderately soft to moderately hard (H = 4 to 5.5 on the Mohs Hardness Scale). A magnet will stick to both minerals. On cut-polished-etched surfaces, octahedrites are seen to have criss-crossing blades of kamacite and taenite - this is called Widmanstätten structure.

Octahedrite meteorites represent chunks of iron-rich core from now-disrupted, differentiated bodies located in the Asteroid Belt between Mars and Jupiter. They date to ~4.5 billion years old.

Locality: Concepcion del Oro Ranch, east of the town of Mazapil, northeastern Zacatecas State, central Mexico
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Some info. derived from:

Buchwald (1975) - Handbook of Iron Meteorites. University of California Press. 1418 pp. (evols.library.manoa.hawaii.edu/bitstream/handle/10524/35692/vol2-Maj-Maz(LO).pdf#page=12)
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More info. at:
www.lpi.usra.edu/meteor/metbull.php?sea=Mazapil&sfor=...

The surface of this iron meteorite is covered with beautiful regmaglypts.

Iron (III AB)
found 1931
Northern Territory, Australia