Buseck Center for Meteorite Studies

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Vinai Rai has joined the Center for Meteorite Studies! Dr. Rai has extensive experience with a variety of mass spectrometry techniques for addressing cosmochemical and geochemical questions. He has previously worked on such diverse topics as the nitrogen and noble gas systematics in ureilites, mass independent sulfur isotope…

Mayo Belwa is an aubrite (achondrite) that fell August 3, 1974, in the Adamawa district of Nigeria. According to the Meteoritical Bulletin (MB 55): A fireball was seen by herdsmen and sounds were heard over an area extending to 25 km from the impact site. The stone was sent to the Geological Survey of Nigeria…

Center for Meteorite Studies Research Scientist Amy Jurewicz has established a new meteorite outreach program in collaboration with the Montshire Museum of Science, in Norwich, Vermont.  Using touchable meteorites and hands-on activities, school-aged children are taught the physical properties of meteorites, as well as their origins, and importance to science here on Earth. Learn more…

Kilabo is an ordinary (LL6) chondrite that fell the evening of July 21, 2002 in Nigeria. According to the Meteoritical Bulletin (MB 87): Mr. Mallam Yahava Muhammad of Hadejia, Nigeria, observed a brilliant fireball moving south to north. Two loud detonations were heard several minutes later. Mr. Mallam Audu and several neighbours in Kilabo heard…

After 132 hours of searching, ASU team — in partnership with White Mountain Apaches — locates meteorites on tribal land. On June 2, a chunk of rock the size of a Volkswagen Beetle hurtled into the atmosphere over the desert Southwest at 40,000 miles per hour and broke apart over the White Mountains of eastern…