METEORITE OR METEORWRONG?

regmaglypts

Regmaglypts are thumbprint like impressions on the surface of larger meteorites that are formed by ablation of material from the surface as a meteor passes through the earth's atmosphere.  They are probably formed by vortices of hot gas. Here are photographs of a few examples.  Click on image for enlargement.

	lunar meteorite Northwest Africa 482 (photo courtesy of Jim Strope)
	MacAlpine Hills 88108, a 15.4-lb H5 chondrite from Antarctica.
	This large meteorite (244 lbs) has lots of regmaglypts.
	Even this small meteorite (on the ice in Antarctica) has regmaglypts.
	This meteorite, with lots of regmaglypts, is about 25 cm wide (10 inches).
	Regmaglypts on stony meteorites are often very shallow.

Remaglypts on iron meteorites can be spectacular. See Sikhote-Alin, Henbury, and Campo del Cielo.

Here are small fragments of Sikhote-Alin, an iron meteorite. All of the biggest have regmaglypts. Click on image for enlargement (big).