Buseck Center for Meteorite Studies

See what Center researchers are currently working on in this special behind-the-scenes feature! Center Deputy Director Dr. Devin Schrader uses electron microprobe analysis (EPMA) to characterize primitive early Solar System material, determine its variability between meteorite groups, and understand its evolution. Read his most recent paper, here! EPMA is the quantitative detection of the electron-bombardment-induced…

Parnallee is an ordinary (LL3.6) chondrite that fell February 28th, 1857, in Tamil Nadu, India. Parnallee is a low-iron, low metal (LL) chondrite exhibiting abundant chondrules, un-equilibrated mineral assemblages, and a low degree of aqueous alteration. Over 77 kilograms of the Parnallee meteorite have been recovered to date.  The overwhelming majority of meteorites recovered in…

Alais is a carbonaceous chondrite that fell in southern France in 1806. Alais was the first recognized carbonaceous chondrite, and occurred just 3 years after the historic fall at L’Aigle convinced the scientific community that meteorites could, indeed, fall to Earth. On the late afternoon of March 15, 1806, residents of the rural communities of…

It is with great sadness that we bid a final farewell to Center founding director Professor Carleton B. Moore, who passed away February 10th. Carleton moved to ASU in 1961 at the request of George Fales (longtime meteorite enthusiast, ASU benefactor, and Center philanthropist) to head the newly formed Center for Meteorite Studies. Over the…

A new paper by Center alumna Dr. Alice Stephant, co-authored with Center Research Scientist Dr. Jemma Davidson, reports the identification of a new group of primitive achondrite meteorites, the tissemouminites. The work redefines the petrological, mineralogical, and geochemical classification criteria for primitive achondrites through investigation of a group of eight meteorites with similarities to acapulcoites…