A new iron meteorite from Muonionalusta, northernmost Sweden

Abstract

A new iron meteorite find in the Muonionalusta area, northernmost Sweden, once again raises the issue of the origin of these bodies. The latest specimen, weighing c. 6 kg, appears to be only a small, unweathered remnant of an originally much larger body, which confirms the high terrestrial age of the Muonionalusta meteorites. As the find significantly extends the previous area of recovery, it has become still more evident that a considerable mass of meteoritic iron remains undiscovered in this remote part of Sweden. The abundance of unoxidized meteoritic iron in the present‐day landscape suggests that a major meteoroid broke up into a meteorite shower before striking the Muonionalusta area, some time in the distant past.

Lagerbäck, R. & Wickman, F.E., 1997: A new iron meteorite from Muonionalusta, northernmost Sweden. GFF, Vol. 119 (Pt. 3, September), pp. 193–198. Stockholm. ISSN 1103–5897.

Keywords:

• Iron meteorite
• trace elements
• troilite
• glacial geology
• Muonionalusta
• Norrbotten
• Sweden