Schematic example illustration for the knowledge article “Chondrites”
Original topic-specific example imageDigitally created schematic illustration — not a product photograph or a substitute for an examined specimen.

For readers who want the full picture

Detailed explanation

Chondrites preserve early Solar System material and commonly contain chondrules, fine matrix, metal and sulphides in varying proportions.

Major families include ordinary, carbonaceous and enstatite chondrites, alongside smaller groups such as R and K chondrites.

Characteristic
commonly chondrules

Placed in context

Groups and subgroups

These cards show the next classification level. Linked groups open their own detailed explanation.

Ordinary chondrites

The H, L and LL groups differ chiefly in metal abundance and silicate composition.

Learn more →

Carbonaceous chondrites

Chemically and mineralogically diverse groups including CI, CM, CO, CV, CK, CR, CH and CB.

Learn more →

Enstatite chondrites

Highly reduced EH and EL groups dominated by enstatite and unusual sulphide minerals.

Learn more →

R chondrites

The Rumuruti group is more oxidised than ordinary chondrites and contains comparatively little metallic iron.

K chondrites

A very small Kakangari group with its own chemical and mineralogical signature.

Petrologic types

Numbers from 1 to 7 describe the degree of secondary alteration. Type 3 is considered least altered; lower numbers indicate increasing aqueous alteration and higher numbers increasing thermal metamorphism.

The components of a chondrite

A chondrite is not a uniform rock. Chondrules, CAIs, fine-grained matrix, iron-nickel metal and sulphides form a texture whose proportions are characteristic of each group.

The matrix may contain very primitive dust and presolar grains. Many chondrites also record later alteration by water, heat, shock and brecciation on their parent body.

Chemical group and petrologic type

The chemical group — for example H, L, LL, CM or CV — describes a related composition. The following number records how strongly the original material was secondarily altered.

Type 3 is closest to the original state. Types 1 and 2 show increasing aqueous alteration; types 4 to 6 increasing thermal metamorphism. Type 7 is used for very strongly metamorphosed material and requires careful treatment.

Short & simple

The essentials in 30 seconds

  • Primitive stony meteorites whose parent bodies were not completely melted.
  • Chondrites preserve early Solar System material and commonly contain chondrules, fine matrix, metal and sulphides in varying proportions.
  • Major families include ordinary, carbonaceous and enstatite chondrites, alongside smaller groups such as R and K chondrites.

Connected knowledge

Continue with related topics

Verifiable

Sources & databases

Editorially paraphrased and expanded from the linked specialist and primary sources; reviewed 24 August 2026. New classifications and database entries may require later updates.