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Micrometeorites

Micrometeorite eye candy, or a Minion from space?

Barred olivine micrometeorite NMM 3177 discovered and photographed by Project Stardust founder Jon Larsen and Jan Braly Kihle

December 13, 2022

NMM 3177 is a barred olivine (BO-type) micrometeorite measuring approximately 0.3 mm. This beautiful gem features a large nickel-iron bead surrounded by a sulfide rim. The presence of the mostly intact sulfide indicates a low terrestrial age, meaning this little rock is fresh from space.

The most striking feature is the position of the metal bead. It is not in the front as with most micrometeorites, but in the middle, which indicates rapid spin during atmospheric entry.

This feature is extraordinarily rare, especially among barred olivine micrometeorites, so it brings me great joy to share this epic micrometeorite with you today. I hope you enjoy this new photo by Jan Braly Kihle and me.

If you want to learn more about micrometeorites, I recommend to check out, I invite you to go to our new website. We have a wonderful page dedicated to sharing free information about micrometeorites and a blog with dozens of articles about micrometeorites.

I love reading your comments and responding to your questions on social media. If you share my affinity for curiosity and my sense of wonder, please come over to Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to say “Hallo!”

Yours truly,

Jon Larsen

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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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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.

I HAVE TO KNOW

I'm ready. TEACH ME.

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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