Which category of meteorites, composed primarily of silicate minerals, is the most common type encountered?
Answer
Stony meteorites
Stony meteorites represent the overwhelming majority of specimens that are recovered after falling to Earth, constituting approximately 94% of falls reported. Their composition centers around silicate minerals, similar in fundamental structure to terrestrial rocks, although their specific mineralogy and history are extraterrestrial. While chondrites are an important subgroup within the stony meteorites—being primitive, undifferentiated materials—the broader classification of stony meteorites covers the most frequently found type.
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