METEORITE

A meteoroid is, simply put, a small chunk of space rock. When it burns up while entering the atmosphere, it is called a meteor, and if a piece of it lands on a planet or moon, it is called a meteorite; whereas, an asteroid is considered a very large space rock that orbits the Sun; whereas, a comet is a ball of ice and cosmic dust that also orbits the Sun. These larger space rocks, referring to asteroids and comets, sometimes break down into smaller space rocks and are inevitably drawn into the gravitational pull of larger celestial bodies, such as planets or moons. When the meteoroid enters the atmosphere, various factors like friction, pressure, and chemical interactions with atmospheric gasses cause it to intensely heat up, leaving traces of fusion crust on the surface of the rock itself; less frequently, intricate formations known as Widmanstätten patterns, or Thomson records, can be observed on, and also, within the specimen itself. Scientist’s estimate that roughly 96,000 pounds of meteoritic material fall to Earth each day; however, almost all of the material is vaporized within the Earth's atmosphere, occasionally leaving a bright trail that is commonly called “fireballs”, or "shooting stars". When a meteoroid hits the atmosphere of Earth, it can be travelling at an unfathomable 130,000 mph! For reference, the asteroid responsible for killing the dinosaurs is estimated to have been roughly 6 miles across, which is the size of 88 football fields in length!

There are three primary types of meteorites:

·        Iron meteorites: which are almost completely made of metal.

·        Stony-Iron meteorites: which have nearly equal amounts of metal and silicate minerals.

·        Stony meteorites: which are comprised of mostly silicate minerals.

METEORITE METAPHYSICS

Metaphysically, meteorites are considered a powerful projectile of vision, manifestation, and spiritual awakening. A stone of the Third Eye Chakra, it is said that meteorites possess the ancient powers and wisdom of our early solar system, which can help to guide the mind and spirit towards personal fulfillment and the propagation of joy. Physically, meteorites are said to assist the body with iron deficiency and the oxygenation of red blood cells. It is also said that meteorites can assist the mind with focus and memory recall.