Which meteorite category is the rarest, containing roughly equal parts silicate minerals and iron-nickel metal?
Answer
Stony-iron meteorites
Stony-iron meteorites constitute the least common grouping among meteorite falls, accounting for only about 1% of specimens recovered. These specimens are unique because they present a mixture, generally containing approximately equal fractions of non-metallic silicate minerals and metallic iron-nickel components. This combination suggests they likely formed in the boundary regions, perhaps the core-mantle interface, of larger, differentiated parent bodies before being ejected into space.
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