Meteorite Fall - Importance

Importance

The quality to be an "observed fall", makes these meteorites relevant for several reasons.

First of all these meteorites can be used to make statistics about the abundance of the different kinds of meteorites that fall on the Earth without any bias from weathering and from easiness of identification. For example iron meteorites last longer to weathering and are easier to identify as "strange" stones: for this reason the ratio of iron meteorites among (approved, non Antarctic) finds (6.7%) is different from the ratio among observed falls (4.4%).

Falls are also fresher (low weathered, well preserved material) and are therefore more interesting to scientists. Historically they were also the most important proof to understand and accept the extraterrestrial origin of meteorites.

Read more about this topic:  Meteorite Fall

Famous quotes containing the word importance:

    I can never bring you to realize the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace.
    Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930)

    The importance to the writer of first writing must be out of all proportion of the actual value of what is written.
    Elizabeth Bowen (1899–1973)

    The awareness of the all-surpassing importance of social groups is now general property in America.
    Johan Huizinga (1872–1945)