What is the primary composition characteristic of Stony meteorites, the most common type recovered?
Answer
Silicate minerals
Stony meteorites are identified as the most frequently recovered category of space debris that successfully reaches Earth's surface. Their composition is fundamentally dominated by silicate minerals. This group is further divided into chondrites and achondrites, distinguished by their thermal history. Chondrites, the most primitive, retain original silicate spheres called chondrules, while achondrites are stony meteorites that have undergone melting and differentiation, causing them to chemically resemble terrestrial volcanic rocks. Regardless of the subdivision, the fundamental building block remains the silicate mineral component.
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