Definition
Achondrites are differentiated stony meteorites and constitute a minority among the stony meteorites. The term literally means “without chondrules” and therefore underlines the main difference with chondrites. Achondrites are igneous rocks or breccias of igneous rock fragments and thus their parent body has experienced partial melting and recrystallization. The class of Achondrites includes the primitive Achondrites (e.g., Ureilites) and Achondrites in general (including, e.g., Aubrites, Eucrites, Howardites, Diogenites, Martian meteorites, and Lunar meteorites).
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© 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
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Sohl, F., Spohn, T. (2011). Achondrite. In: Gargaud, M., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-11274-4_19
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-11274-4_19
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