Meteorite stone – properties, virtues & benefits

The meteorite stone is a rare and mysterious object that has fallen from the sky onto our planet. Composed of extraterrestrial materials, it has fascinated scientists and astronomy enthusiasts for centuries. Discover the fascinating history of the meteorite stone and its unique properties.

METORITE CHARACTERISTICS

• Chakra: Crown.
• Properties: Energy, protection, sPiritual connection, meditation, emotional healing.
• Astrology: Mercury, Mars.
• Zodiac: Gemini, Virgo, Aries, ScorPio.
• Elements: Iron, Nickel, Cobalt.
• Colors: Gray, black, silver.
• Hardness: 5.5 – 6.5 on the Mohs scale.
• Chemical Formula: Variable, but often composed of silicates, iron and nickel.
• Associated god: Thor (Norse mythology).

PIERRE MÉTÉORITE – ITS HISTORY

Meteorites, also known as meteoroids, are solid objects originating from other celestial bodies such as planets, moons or asteroids. Most observed meteorites come from asteroids, and are fragments that have broken off during collisions. Meteorites range in size from a few centimetres to several metres when they enter the Earth’s atmosphere. Although they lose much of their mass during their descent, they can still reach the Earth’s surface. Around 99.5% of meteorites come from asteroids, but a few hundred come from the Moon or Mars, and a few could come from comets, like the Orgueil meteorite in the Tarn-et-Garonne.

When a rock enters the Earth’s atmosphere at high speed, it creates a luminous trail visible at night as a “meteor”, or visible during the day as a “bolide” if the rock is particularly large. This trail of light generally disappears at around 20 km above ground level. If the rock is not completely vaporized as it passes through the troposphere, it may reach the surface as a “meteorite”. Meteorites can also fragment in flight or on impact with the ground, creating scattering fields of different shapes depending on where they fragment. Meteorites are classified differently by scientists depending on whether they have been observed falling or discovered by chance. The Meteoritical Society regularly publishes a list of meteorites analyzed during the year. In 2018, around 60,000 meteorites were classified, and this number increases by around 1,500 each year.

METEORIC STONE: BETWEEN THE SACRED AND SCIENCE

Over the millennia, the perception of meteorites has evolved from religious veneration to an object of scientific study. In ancient times, civilizations regarded meteorites as sacred objects, and their atmospheric crossing created an extraordinary spectacle sometimes accompanied by strange noises. Extraterrestrial rocks were considered to symbolize divine power and were used in religious ceremonies, such as the Omphalos at Delphi and the Black Stone at Mecca. Prehistoric man also used these rocks to make weapons and jewelry, as evidenced by artifacts found on every continent. The Inuit are considered the first to have exploited meteorites, with the Iron Age of their culture coinciding with the arrival of the Cape York meteorite 10,000 years ago. Meteorites were also used in ancient Egypt, as witnessed by the iron dagger found in Tutankhamen’s sarcophagus, and meteoric iron spears have also been discovered in ancient Italy. Today, meteorites are studied by scientists to learn more about the history of our solar system.

Ancient writings mention the existence of meteorites. In ancient China, authors recorded the fall of these extraterrestrial rocks without specifying their origin. In the 5th century BC, the Greek philosopher Anaxagoras was the first to hypothesize an extraterrestrial origin for these rocks, although he erred in attributing them to the sun. Over 1,500 years later, in Central Asia, the polymath Avicenna asserted that stone and iron rocks fell from the sky. He conducted fusion experiments with these elements to determine their metallic composition.

In the Middle Ages, people continued to venerate extraterrestrial rocks, but the Christian church regarded them as pagan symbols and ordered their destruction. Aristotle’s astronomical theories, which asserted that the Earth was at the center of the universe, prevailed for many centuries, and extraterrestrial ores were regarded as optical illusions, metallurgical artifacts, atmospheric or geological phenomena. The rocks had no official name and were called “thunderstone”, “aerolite”, “uranolite” and so on. European scientists long regarded these rocks with skepticism, associating them with superstitions, miracles or prophecies in ancient and medieval accounts. Until the 18th century, they refused to consider the possibility that these stones might come from outer space. Early observations of meteorites revealed that they were often fossils or common rocks, prehistoric tools or even phenomena caused by lightning. In 1676, mathematician John Wallis hypothesized that meteors could be comets. A century later, three meteorite stones were scientifically analyzed by members of the French Academy of Sciences, but they wrongly concluded that they were purely terrestrial elements. Other hypotheses on the formation of meteorite stones were proposed in the 18th and 19th centuries, including that they formed from gaseous molecules circulating in the atmosphere.

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Over the millennia, perceptions of meteorites have changed. Once revered as sacred pebbles, these extraterrestrial rocks have become an important subject of scientific study. In ancient times, civilizations adored these extraterrestrial materials and their light, accompanied by strange sounds, was an extraordinary spectacle. Extraterrestrial materials were considered sacred, symbolizing divine power, and used in religious ceremonies, such as the Omphalos in Apollo’s temple at Delphi or the Black Stone at Mecca. Since prehistoric times, humans have exploited these strange, iron-rich rocks to make weapons and jewelry. However, medieval peoples continued to venerate these stones, leading the Christian church to destroy them. Modern European scientists have long regarded these rocks with skepticism, preferring the astronomical theories of Aristotle that prevailed for many centuries. Until the 18th century, they refused to examine the possibility that these stones could have come from outer space. From 1794 onwards, Chladni introduced the idea of an extraterrestrial origin, supported by mineralogical and chemical analysis of several meteorite rocks. Physicist and astronomer Jean-Baptiste Biot’s comprehensive report on the L’Aigle meteorite in 1803 marked the beginning of the scientific study of meteorites. At the end of the 19th century, the classification of these rocks was systematized by French geologist Auguste Daubrée, but many scientists continued to support Laplace’s hypothesis that meteorite rocks originated from lunar volcanoes. More and more scientists, however, began to support the extraterrestrial hypothesis put forward by Chladni. Collections of meteorite stones have been building up since the mid-19th century, and the natural history museums of Paris, London and Washington now hold the world’s largest collections. Although Chladni’s hypothesis was well established, the interstellar or interplanetary origin of these rock elements continued to be debated until the 1950s, when it was accepted that asteroids were the main source of meteorite rocks. During the 1980s, meteorite rocks of lunar and Martian origin were discovered.

CURRENT STUDIES ON METORITE STONE

In just a few decades, scientific advances have enabled a revolution in our understanding of the solar system. Laboratories are carrying out increasingly precise analyses of meteorite rocks, while astronomical observations are becoming ever more sophisticated. Space exploration has also made it possible to visualize other stars and bring back samples for study. Radiochronology makes it possible to date meteorite rocks very accurately, thanks to secondary ionization plasma mass spectrometers (SIMS) using 207Pb-206Pb. The first successful dating took place in 1956, establishing that the age of an iron meteorite was 4.55 billion years, the age of the solar system. Since then, our knowledge of our universe has continued to advance thanks to the study of these rocks. Analysis of the various minerals contained in a stony meteorite (primitive meteorite, also known as a chondrite) has revealed that the minerals it contains are identical to those found on a telluric planet. Thus, a chondrite is made up of iron and nickel particles (as in a telluric core) and silicates identical to those found in the Earth’s crust and mantle. Cosmochemists are seeking to deepen this knowledge to better understand planetary differentiation, which explains why some large stars are made up of several layers of different densities, unlike small comets, satellites and asteroids.

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Scientific advances in recent decades have revolutionized our understanding of the solar system. Laboratories are carrying out ever more precise analyses, and astronomical observations are becoming ever sharper. Space exploration has made it possible to visualize other stars and bring back samples for study. Radiochronology made it possible to precisely date meteorite rocks using plasma and secondary ionization mass spectrometers. In 1956, Clair Cameron Patterson estimated the age of a ferrous meteorite at 4.55 billion years, corresponding to the age of the solar system. Chondrites, primitive meteorites, have enabled us to discover that the minerals they contain are identical to those found on a terrestrial planet. Chondrites are classified according to their distance from the sun. Carbonaceous chondrites have been analyzed and found to contain amino acids, reinforcing the theory of panspermia. Meteorite rocks from Mars and the Moon provide valuable information about these stars. Lunar rocks have enabled us to better understand the history of lunar formation, while Martian rocks provide information on the geology of the Red Planet. Radioactive isotopes of aluminum and iron found in meteorite inclusions dating from the early solar system have led to a better understanding of the early sun’s environment and the creation of the solar system from a gigantic molecular cloud.

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IMPACTS AND FLOWS OF METORITE STONE

According to estimates, the Earth is exposed to around 100 tonnes of interplanetary matter a day, of which around 100 million meteorites enter our atmosphere. However, most of these objects are micrometeoroids, weighing less than 0.1 mg and consumed as they pass through the atmosphere. Only 6 tonnes of meteorites reach the ground every day. Every year, around 40 tonnes of meteoric bodies weighing from 10 g to 100 kg reach the ground, as do 15,000 to 20,000 tonnes of micrometeorites (up to 50,000 to 100,000 tonnes with interstellar dust). However, the largest specimens lose 80% of their mass as they descend through the various gas layers. Interstellar dust, with a mass of less than 10^-14 kg, is volatilized without being totally destroyed, and its minerals slowly agglomerate to fall to Earth. Most of these objects disintegrate into blocks as they descend, limiting the number of major impacts. Every year, around 500 rocks reach the ground with the dimensions of a tennis ball.

The Earth suffers daily impacts from numerous small meteorite elements, mainly micrometeoroids of less than 0.1 mg, which are consumed as they pass through the atmosphere. Only around 6 tonnes of these elements reach the ground each day, which is equivalent to 40 tonnes of larger meteorite bodies weighing between 10 g and 100 kg, and 15,000 to 20,000 tonnes of micrometeorites penetrating the atmospheric envelope each year. The largest specimens lose most of their mass on their descent through the various gas layers, and only around 500 tennis-ball-sized meteorites reach the ground each year. The smallest debris falls as tiny grains, with a meteorite 1 µm in diameter falling every 30 µs and a meteorite one metre in size falling every year. Meteorite elements weighing more than 10 g reach the Earth’s surface every 6 to 30 minutes, i.e. around 18,000 to 84,000 elements per year. Although 2,000 to 5,000 meteorite rocks weighing more than a kilogram hit the ground every year, 75% of them disappear due to weather conditions or their location (ocean, desert), and few are found. On average, only 5 to 25 falls are observed each year, and 2 to 5 impacts are discovered.

Recent scientific advances have led to a better understanding of the universe thanks to precise laboratory analysis, keen astronomical observation and space exploration. Meteorites are an important element in deepening our understanding of our solar system, thanks in particular to precise dating by radiochronology. Chondrites, primitive meteorite rocks, contain minerals similar to those found on telluric planets, providing valuable information on planetary differentiation. Analyses of meteorite rocks from Mars and the Moon are also helPing to deepen our understanding of the geology of these planets. Meteorite elements are numerous, and it is estimated that 100 million meteorites reach our atmosphere every day, most of them being consumed as they pass through. The largest specimens also lose much of their mass on their descent into the atmosphere. Impacts of large rocks are very rare and can cause significant damage, particularly when they trigger tsunamis or climatic changes. Astronomers keep an eye out for extraterrestrial objects that could pose a danger to our planet, although the risk of collision is very low.

METEORITE STONE – ITS ORIGIN AND COMPOSITION

The text describes the two types of rock from outer space: meteorites and meteoroids. Meteorites are fragments of meteoroids that have reached the Earth’s surface without being destroyed as they pass through the atmosphere or on impact. Meteoroids, on the other hand, are objects smaller than an asteroid and larger than a molecule or atom, moving through the interstellar medium. These rocks are the result of fragmentations caused by collisions between two stars or the disintegration of a comet passing close to the sun. The terms “meteorite” and “meteoroid” were officially defined by the International Astronomical Union in 1958.

In 1995, the Royal Astronomical Society established the dimensions of the meteoroid. These range from 100 µm to 10 m. Particles with a mass of less than 100 µm are called “interplanetary dust”. Objects larger than 10 m are NEOs, such as minor planets or comets, which can be seen through a telescope. When the Earth is hit by a NEO, this can lead to major changes, such as an impact winter or a mass extinction of plant and animal species. However, the limits set by the Royal Astronomical Society are constantly evolving, thanks to advances in technology. Telescopes in the US GEODSS optical monitoring network can now observe stars less than 10 m across. What’s more, scientists have discovered that particles smaller than 100 µm, and sometimes even 10 µm, are capable of producing a meteor, the light trail depending on several parameters such as speed, density, structure and angle of entry. The lower and upper limits are therefore constantly being revised.

Meteorite hunters have a working definition of the fragments they collect, based on their size and mode of recovery (from 1 cm to 100 m). However, the academic definition is more precise and includes the fact that the meteorite must be of natural origin, solid, larger than 10 µm, have been transported naturally after escaPing the gravitational attraction of its parent body and intersect a larger natural or artificial body. Micrometeorites and micromeoroids measure between 100 µm and 2 mm. Extraterrestrial rocks are named after the place near which they were found, followed by a letter or number to differentiate them. The Meteoritical Society assigns official names to these rocks, which may also have abbreviations or nicknames.

METEORITE STONE – VERTIES AND PROPERTIES

Psychological Meteorism

Metallic meteorite stone is a rock ideally suited to those seeking to acquire willpower and perseverance. It possesses an energy of concretization and embodiment that supports individuals in the realization of their projects. This mineral is also useful for meditation, all its varieties being conducive to this practice. It allows us to explore the birth of the universe and the Big Bang, offering a journey through time and space in search of the divine essence. This intimate journey is made up of several stages that need to be memorized and gradually deepened. Before beginning this exploration, it’s important to anchor yourself by placing black tourmalines (large schorls) under your feet. This rock from outer space helps us realize that we are only temporary visitors to Earth, and encourages respect for the planet. Meteoritic glass, a member of the tectite family like moldavite, is also well known in lithotherapy. These stones were formed during impacts with the ground and acquired special, useful properties due to the extreme temperatures and pressures they endured on their journey to Earth.

PHYSICAL METEORITY

Meteorite stone benefits the body by promoting the assimilation and integration of iron. Ferric Meteorite, which contains iron and nickel, is particularly effective in boosting the immune system and protecting against cold snaps when placed near the heart or groin fold. It acts like magnetite, but its magnetism is much more powerful, surpassing even that of iron minerals, including magnetite.

METORITE STONE – CLEAN AND RECHARGE

Meteorite stone is a unique crystal that requires special care when cleaning and recharging. Here are a few steps to follow to clean and recharge your meteorite stone:

Cleaning:

1. Start by removing any dust or dirt from the stone surface by gently brushing it with a soft brush or clean cloth.
2. To clean thoroughly, you can immerse it in distilled water for a few minutes. Avoid tap water, which may contain impurities that damage the stone.
3. Dry the stone with a soft cloth.

Charge:

1. The meteorite stone tends to recharge naturally thanks to the cosmic energy surrounding it. However, you can help it by placing it in sunlight for several hours or leaving it in moonlight overnight.
2. You can also use the fumigation technique with sage or palo santo to clean and recharge your meteorite stone.
3. To amplify the power of your stone, you can place it on a cluster of crystals such as a quartz geode or an amethyst druse.

It’s important to note that meteorite stone may contain traces of metal that can rust or tarnish over time. To avoid this, avoid getting it wet or storing it in a damp place.

WHERE DOES THE NAME MÉTÉORITE COME FROM?

The name “meteorite” comes from the ancient Greek “meteoron”, meaning “in the air”. At the time, the term was used to describe any object that fell from the sky, including shooting stars and comets. Over time, however, the term became specifically associated with extraterrestrial rocks that survived entry into the Earth’s atmosphere and reached the Earth’s surface. Meteorites thus got their name because they originate from the sky, or more precisely from outer space, and were first observed when they passed through our atmosphere and hit the Earth’s surface.

WHICH CHAKRA DOES THE WEATHER ACT ON?

Meteorite stone is often associated with the coronal chakra, which is located at the top of the head and is considered the center of sPirituality and higher consciousness. Meteorite stone is believed to stimulate and open this chakra, helPing to access higher levels of consciousness and deeper sPiritual connection. It is also considered a protective stone, which can help release emotional blockages and promote emotional healing.

WHICH ASTROLOGICAL SIGN IS ASSOCIATED WITH METEORITE?

Meteorite stone is associated with several astrological signs, including Gemini, Virgo, Aries and ScorPio. These signs are often linked to personality traits such as intellectual curiosity, truth-seeking, passion and determination. However, it’s important to note that meteorite stone can benefit all zodiac signs, as it can help raise consciousness and strengthen sPiritual connection, which are important elements of personal growth and emotional healing.

METEORITE STONE SUMMARY

A meteorite stone is a Piece of rock or metal that originates from outer space and has passed through the Earth’s atmosphere before falling to the Earth’s surface. These stones generally come from small celestial bodies such as asteroids or comets.

Meteorite rocks are of great scientific importance, as they can provide us with information about the formation of the solar system and the geological processes taking place in space. They can also contain elements that do not occur naturally on Earth and are therefore very valuable to scientists.

Meteorite stones are often sought after by collectors and astronomy enthusiasts because of their rarity and historical value. Some meteorite stones are even considered sacred objects in certain cultures and are used for ritual purposes.