1. Stony Meteorites: These are the most common type, made mostly of silicate minerals. They can be further divided into:
* Chondrites: Containing chondrules, small, round grains of silicate minerals.
* Achondrites: Lacking chondrules, often originating from the crust or mantle of asteroids.
2. Iron Meteorites: Primarily composed of iron-nickel alloys, they often exhibit a characteristic crystalline structure called Widmanstätten patterns when etched.
3. Stony-Iron Meteorites: A blend of both stony and metallic components. They can be further divided into:
* Pallasites: Featuring olivine crystals embedded in a nickel-iron matrix.
* Mesosiderites: A mix of silicate minerals and nickel-iron.
There are also other rarer types of meteorites, including carbonaceous chondrites, which contain organic compounds, and lunar and Martian meteorites, originating from other celestial bodies.
