Ureilites

Facts for Prelims

Ureilites

News: A recent study suggests that Madhya Pradesh’s famous Dhala impact crater was created by an extraordinarily rare and ancient meteorite known as Ureilite.

What are Ureilites?
• Ureilite is a rare type of stony meteorite that has a unique mineralogical composition very different from that of other stony meteorites.
• Ureilites consist of silicate rock, mostly olivine and pyroxene, interspersed with less than 10% of carbon (diamond or graphite), metal sulphides and a few fine-grained silicates. They contain elongated cavities generally stretched in the same direction.
• Unlike many other stony meteorites, ureilites do not contain chondrules, which are small, spherical grains that formed in the early solar system.
• With this discovery, scientists hope to uncover more secrets about the rare meteorite crater and its potential role in Earth’s early history, including its impact on bringing water to the planet and the development of life.
• The Dhala crater is Asia’s largest and the world’s seventh-largest impact crater.
• Other meteor impact craters are found in Lonar (Maharashtra) and Ramgarh (Rajasthan)