chondrite

[kon-drahyt]

noun

1. a stony meteorite containing chondrules.

chondrite

/ kɒnˈdrɪtɪk, ˈkɒndraɪt /

noun

1. a stony meteorite consisting mainly of silicate minerals in the form of chondrules Compare achondrite

chondrite

1. A stony meteorite that contains chondrules embedded in a fine matrix of the silicate minerals olivine and pyroxene. About 85 percent of all meteorites are chondrites.

Other Word Forms

• chondritic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of chondrite¹

First recorded in 1880–85; chondr- + -ite ¹

Example Sentences

Using optical and electron microscopy, Harris and his team determined the rock was a chondrite - the most abundant type of stony meteorite, according to Nasa - which meant that it was approximately 4.56 billion years old.

From BBC

The chemical composition of the asteroids, gleaned by telescopes, matched a set of rare meteorites called EL enstatite chondrites, they reported in 2022.

From Science Magazine

The Winchcombe meteorite belongs to a rare class of rocks known as carbonaceous chondrites.

From BBC

Previous studies suggested that Ryugu's sample mineralogy resembled CI chondrites, the most primitive meteorites chemically.

From Science Daily

The researchers found that Phaethon's spectrum corresponds exactly to a certain type of meteorite, the so-called CY carbonaceous chondrite.

From Science Daily