The Mineralogy and Unique Widmanstatten Pattern in Iron Meteorites

This research aims to investigate iron meteorites samples, in terms of their elemental composition, distinguished structure, and their role in enhancing our understanding of the early solar system astrophysical processes. Iron meteorites represent a distinctive category of extraterrestrial materials, provide valuable insights into the formation and composition of asteroids, and the historical evolution of the early solar system around 4.6 billion years ago. Physical tests, including magnetism, fusion crust, density, and the window test, were performed on 140 samples from 2017 to 2023, with 161 analyses being carried out.  In addition to that, the study sheds light on the metallic phases of an oriented intergrowth of kamacite and taenite bands, revealing their occurrence in a unique Widmanstatten pattern. This pattern is visible on the studied samples that have been cut, polished, and etched with a weak, nitric acid. This remarkable pattern provides essential information for unraveling the thermal and cooling histories of these celestial bodies. Advanced analytical techniques such as X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and X-ray diffraction (XRD), were employed to identify the mineralogy and chemical composition of a diverse array of specimens. Iron-nickel minerals such as Kamacite are commonly found in the studied samples as well as the presence of troilite (FeS) inclusions, and traces of other elements. Of the 140 samples, three samples from different countries were identified as iron meteorites, allowing for a nuanced exploration of their unique characteristics. The chemical composition and mineralogy of the samples, revealed by the mentioned techniques, lead us to conclude that these samples formed at the core of asteroids or fragmented planets. This research contributes significantly to the UAE’s planetary science program and enriches meteoritic studies for university students and researchers in this field.