Where are Stony-iron meteorites thought to originate within their differentiated parent body?
Answer
Transition zone between the core and mantle
Stony-iron meteorites represent a mixture containing significant quantities of both silicate minerals and iron-nickel metal, reflecting a specific location within their progenitor bodies. Scientists hypothesize that these objects originate from the boundary layer—the transition zone situated between the dense, metallic core and the overlying rocky mantle of a larger, differentiated parent body. This unique positioning explains their mixed composition, as they incorporate material from both major differentiated layers, making them the rarest of the three main meteorite types recovered.
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