Block Island meteorite

Block Island meteorite
Type	Iron
Parent body	Unknown
Composition	Nickel, iron, Kamacite, taenite[1][2]
Weathering grade	Large-scale, cavernous weathering[2]
Country	Mars
Region	Meridiani Planum
Coordinates	02°07′00.85″S 05°31′02.85″W[3]
Observed fall	No
Fall date	Possibly late Noachian
Found date	July 17, 2009[4]
TKW	>0.5 short tons (0.45 t)[5]
Strewn field	Possibly[6]
Alternative names	Meridiani Planum 006, MP 006
Block Island in close up.
Related media on Wikimedia Commons

Block Island meteorite, officially^[7] named Meridiani Planum 006 shortened as MP 006, was found on Mars by the Opportunity rover on July 17, 2009. It is about 67 centimetres (26 in) across.^[1]

History

Block Island was the first of three iron meteorites encountered by the rover on Meridiani Planum within a few hundred meters, the others being Shelter Island (the second meteorite found), and Mackinac Island (the third one found).^[2]

No strong evidence exists concerning when Block Island may have fallen on Mars, though atmospheric conditions would have favored its arrival in the late Noachian period. Block Island may be extensively weathered,^[2][6] or conversely the features covering it may simply be the regmaglypts formed by its passage through the atmosphere. Contrary to some claims, Block Island is not too large for the modern martian atmosphere to produce^[specify], though the denser the atmosphere the more effectively it would produce Block Island mass meteorites.^[8]

See also

• Atmospheric reentry
• Bounce Rock
• Glossary of meteoritics
• Heat Shield Rock
• List of Martian meteorites
• List of meteorites on Mars
• List of rocks on Mars
• Oileán Ruaidh meteorite

References

1. Nemiroff, R.; Bonnell, J., eds. (13 August 2009). "Block Island Meteorite on Mars". Astronomy Picture of the Day. NASA. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
2. Ashley, J. W.; et al. (July 2011). "Evidence for mechanical and chemical alteration of iron-nickel meteorites on Mars: Process insights for Meridiani Planum". Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets. 116 (E7): E00F20. Bibcode:2011JGRE..116.0F20A. doi:10.1029/2010JE003672. hdl:1893/17110.
3. Google Mars
4. Atkinson, Nancy (August 2009). "Opportunity Spies Unusual Rock — Large Meteorite?". Universe Today. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
5. Staff (September 14, 2010). "Mars' Odd 'Block Island' Meteorite - A Clue to an Ancient Atmosphere". Daily Galaxy. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
6. Beech, Martin; Ian M. Coulson (2010). "The making of Martian meteorite Block Island". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 404 (3): 1457. Bibcode:2010MNRAS.404.1457B. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2010.16350.x.
7. "Meteoritical Bulletin: Entry for Meridiani Planum 006". The Meteoritical Society. 17 May 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2020..
8. Chappelow, J. E.; Golombek M.P. (July 2011). "Event and conditions that produced the iron meteorite Block Island on Mars". Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets. 115 (E12). Bibcode:2010JGRE..115.0F07C. doi:10.1029/2010JE003666.