Book about Meteorites by Alain Carion
Author: Alain Carion
3rd edition - revised version
A great book that provides a complete and comprehensive introduction to the world of meteorites. It is translated from the French original into English and is full of excellent photographs. An essential part of every collection of books about meteorites and at the same time one of our recommended books for beginning meteorite collectors.
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| Publisher: Alain Carion | Number of pages: 72 | Binding: softcover |
| Publication year: 2009 | Language: English | ISBN: 978-2-9506786-2-1 |
Meteorites are by definition extraterrestrial objects that have fallen to Earth. Every year, approximately 100,000 tons of these objects fall on our planet, but 90% of them weigh less than one gram. Although meteorites were kept in mineral collections as early as the beginning of the nineteenth century, they were considered ordinary stones until 1980. Only then did scientists realize their fundamental significance. Meteorites that formed about 4.57 billion years ago represent the memory of the Solar System.
Impacts (collisions of cosmic bodies) are the most significant geological phenomenon in the Solar System. On Earth, 95% of all species that ever existed have already become extinct, and five of these mass extinctions are today linked to large meteorite impacts. Dinosaurs are not the only ones who disappeared after the fall of a giant meteorite.
Water on Earth was delivered by meteorites. And even life on Earth was most likely brought by carbonaceous meteorites. In this book, you will learn how to identify meteorites and distinguish them from terrestrial rocks. You will find out where they come from, how old they are, and where you can search for them. Finally, we will introduce you to some of the most famous meteorites.