FREE SHIPPING ON ALL FINE ART ORDERS

FREE SHIPPING ON ALL FINE ART ORDERS

NOW SHIPPING TO EU, USA, CAN, NOR, NZL, AUS, CHE

NOW SHIPPING TO EU, USA, CAN, NOR, NZL, AUS, CHE

SHIPPING TO UKCOMING SOON

SHIPPING TO UK COMING SOON

ABOUT EVENTS BLOG

PROJECT STARDUST

SHOP FINE ART

FULL MENU

Micrometeorites

A bewitching green barred olivine spherule with a glassy area.

NMM 976 is a composite glass and barred olivine micrometeorite discovered and photographed by Project Stardust founder Jon Larsen and Jan Braly Kihle

January 11, 2023

Those of you with the fantastic Atlas of Micrometeorites may recognize NMM 976. This bewitching green sherule is an average sized barred olivine (BO-type) micrometeorite with a large metal bead in the front, which is in the middle of this photo by Jan Kihle and me.

Its most unique feature is the large green glassy area. What happened here? A mix between a glass (V-type) and a BO-type micrometeorite? Without any cryptocrystalline (CC-type) middle stage?

I think what may happened here is that the glass is a rest which for some odd reason, did not have time to crystallize before solidification during atmospheric deceleration and cooling. In most cases the combination of entry angle, speed, and mass results in the known micrometeorite textures. But apparently, there are exceptions. I have seen other micrometeorites with a partial glassy rim but not quite like this.

If you have comments or questions, please drop me a line on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter and I’ll get back to you asap. Meanwhile, enjoy!

Yours truly,

Jon Larsen

Keep Reading

Post Index

Back to the Blog

Next Post

The Joy of Not Knowing: New Micrometeorite Candidate NMM 4018 »

Previous Post

« Introducing the first micrometeorites from Sweden!

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

We're so glad you're here!

AS SEEN IN

AS SEEN IN

A COSMIC PERSPECTIVE for your home

Awe-inspiring images of
micrometeorites to remind you
that beauty truly is everywhere.

FRAMED PRINTS

Canvases

Panels

Framed Prints

SHOP NOW

CANVASES

SHOP NOW

Panels

SHOP NOW

Bundles

COMING SOON

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.

EXPLORE NOW

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

NEXT

PREV

Jon and Jan are
EXCEPTIONAL ARTISTS AND SCIENTISTS.

Michael Zolensky

NASA JOhnson Space Center

SEM Collection

COMING SOON

Never forget: YOU ARE SURROUNDED BY STARDUST, inside and out.

Color Collection

SHOP NOW

FIREBALL: Visitors from Darker Worlds

SEE JOn & Jan IN

From directors Werner Herzog and Clive Oppenheimer, this remarkable journey across our planet and universe explores how meteorites, shooting stars, and deep impacts have awoken our wonder about other realms-and make us rethink our destinies.

Watch on Apple TV+

Limited Edition

The Atlas

of Micrometeorites

Never before has it been possible to see stardust in such a large format with crisp details. The 500+ color images are made possible by a new photo technology developed for this project by the author and mineralogist Jan Braly Kihle.

SHOP NOW

The Atlas of Micrometeorites provides an INVALUABLE RESOURCE
for stardust hunters around the world.

Matthew Genge

Imperial College, London

SHOP THE ATLAS

SHOP NOW

SHOP NOW

SHOP NOW

SHOP NOW

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.

WORLD-RENOWNED EXPERTS ON