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Micrometeorites

New micrometeorite with ochtahedral shaped magnetite

Happy Stardust Friday, my friend! I’m happy to present a new micrometeorite recently photographed by myself and Jan Braly Kihle.

NMM 3451 is a smooth combined type micrometeorite with both scoriaceous (SC-type) and porphyritic olivine (PO-type) features. Measuring approximately 0.4 mm, NMM 3451 also has a partial chrome-bearing magnetite rim. It was collected outside Biorama Projekt in Joachimsthal, Germany this past August.

To me, this micrometeorite brings up very special memories, as our exhibition, “Space Rocks”, was on display at Biorama Projekt when I collected this lovely micrometeorite. Imagine! Beautiful space rocks on display in the gallery as yours truly was collecting more stardust outside!

I hope you enjoy seeing the beautiful new color picture and scanning electron microscope (SEM) images by Siri Simonsen and myself. The full SEM image shows the delightfully irregular magnetite rim and the detail SEM image reveals a rather unusual texture, as the chrome bearing magnetite has an ochtahedral arrangement, rather than the typical dendritic arrangement (Christmas tree).

As usual, if you have questions, please leave a reach out on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter; I’m always happy to chat with a fellow micrometeorite enthusiast!

If you’d like to learn more about stardust, please visit our new website! We developed a full page that shares fascinating information about micrometeorites and another about our methodologies so you can try out star hunting yourself. Both of these pages are free to access!

Have an extraterrestrial weekend!

Yours truly,

Jon Larsen

Full SEM image of Project Stardust scoriaceous and porphyritic olivine micrometeorite NMM 3451 discovered and photographed by Jon Larsen and Siri Simonsen
SEM image of the same stone, by Siri Simonsen and Jon Larsen (UiO). Note the irregular magnetite rim. © Project Stardust, 2022.
Detail SEM image of Project Stardust scoriaceous and porphyritic olivine micrometeorite NMM 3451 discovered and photographed by Jon Larsen and Siri Simonsen
Detail image of the same stone from the electron microscope, by Siri Simonsen and Jon Larsen (both UiO). This is a rather unusual texture, as the chrome bearing magnetite is ochtahedral rather than dendritic (Christmas tree xls). On the other hand, this is typical for this rare type of micrometeorites. © Project Stardust, 2022.

Just in case you're new here!

Together we have amassed the world's most expansive collection of micrometeorites and we can't wait to share it with you.

Whether you're an expert in the field, an art collector with an appetite for treasures from space, or a budding stardust enthusiast, we hope you'll enjoy learning about our work.

Connect with us on social media to share the excitement of seeing new micrometeorites for the first time!

Jon Larsen & Jan Braly Kihle

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WINTER 2022 COLLECTION

Meet this season's micrometeorites

This season's collection features a variety of stunning micrometeorites. From mountainous cryptocrystalline turtlebacks and bewitching glass spherules to ultra rare giants. Available for a limited time only.

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NMM 1448: V-TYPE

NMM 1448:  V-TYPE

Glass / Vitreous

Glass or vitreous type (V-type) micrometeorites each a temperature of up to 2000°C (3600°F) as they descend through the atmosphere..

These delicate, translucent spherules are difficult to find due to their lack of magnetism, since most of their metals evaporated during descent. 

NMM 1359:  CC-TYPE

Crypto-crystalline

Cryptocrystalline (CC-type) micrometeorites are composed of glassy particles with fine-grained crystallites that are too small to recognize as individual grains.

Many of these magnificent spherules feature metal beads and aerodynamic forms, while others have a "turtleback" shape with humps distributed evenly around the spherule.

NMM 1359:  CC-TYPE

NMM 500:  BO-TYPE

Barred Olivine

Barred olivine (BO-type) spherules are coarse-grained  micrometeorites made of the magnesium variety of the mineral olivine, forsterite, which is punctuated with small particles of magnetite.

The surface features striations that are formed when iron reacts with oxygen in the atmosphere. 

NMM 500:  BO-TYPE

NMM 1149:  PO-TYPE

Porphyritic Olivine

Porphyritic olivine (PO-type) micrometeorites are also made of forsterite, a type of olivine that is made of magnesium.

There are many morphological varieties of this type of micrometeorite; From evenly distributed small crystals, to crystals that increase in side, to extremely large or even possibly a single olivine crystal.

NMM 1149:  PO-TYPE

NMM 1271:  Sc-TYPE

Scoriaceous

When stardust does not reach a peak temperature of at least 1350°C (2500°F) during entry and deceleration, it barely melts. Volatile elements expand and escape in the form of gas bubbles, which results in a scoriaceous (SC-type) or vesicular micrometeorite.

Micrometeorites of this type are extremely difficult to find.

NMM 1271:  SC-TYPE

NMM 1271: G-, I-, CAT-typeS

Other Types

From G-types with dark silicate glass, I-types dominated by iron, and milky CAT spherules  enriched with calcium, aluminum, and titanium, to fossil, unmelted, and un-categorized micrometeorites.

There is no question that Jon Larsen and Jan Braly Kihle's contributions have had a dramatic effect on the field.

NMM 1271:  G-/I-/CAT-TYPES

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The Atlas of Micrometeorites provides an INVALUABLE RESOURCE
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ORIGIN STORIES

Jon Larsen revolutionized the study of micrometeorites when he became the first person to discover a micrometeorite from an urban environment. Then a new form of art emerged when he and Jan Braly Kihle created the world's first high resolution photographs of micrometeorites in colour.

Learn about the singular moment that led to Jon's groundbreaking discovery
and the phone call that kickstarted a truly epic friendship.

Jon Larsen revolutionized the study of micrometeorites when he became the first person to discover a micrometeorite from an urban environment. Then a new form of art emerged when he and Jan Braly Kihle created the world's first high resolution photographs of micrometeorites in colour.

Learn about the singular moment that led to Jon's groundbreaking discovery and the phone call that kickstarted a truly epic friendship.

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Micrometeorites

Jon Larsen and Jan Braly Kihle have amassed the world's most expansive collection of urban micrometeorites and they want you to follow in their footsteps.

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HALLO and welcome!

We're Jon Larsen & Jan Braly Kihle

We are world renowned micrometeorite experts here to share our cosmic art and inspire the world to become star hunters.

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