Ornans
Part of Hall of Meteorites.
Subtle differences
The two meteorites below share certain features in common—they are both carbon-rich, or carbonaceous, chondrites and their oxygen-isotope signatures overlap. Yet they are different enough in their texture and composition that scientists think they come from unrelated parent bodies. These differences are visible when the samples are examined under a microscope. Ornans (below, left) has relatively small chondrules, while Vigarano (below, right) has notably larger chondrules. (Both images have been enlarged 30 times.)
