Handbook of iron meteorites. Their history, distribution, composition and structure. Volume 1. Iron meteorites in general / Справочник по железным метеоритам. Их история, распространение, состав и структура. Том 1. Железные метеориты

The science of meteoritics comprises the study of meteors, meteorites and extraterrestrial dust. The study of meteors is mainly concerned with the recording and interpretation of high altitude objects that never fully penetrate our atmosphere, while the study of dust is a highly specialized branch that requires sophisticated sampling techniques for the collection and identification of the minute and controversial dust particles. The present work, on the other hand , deals mainly with the massive, tangible material. We will study the meteorite falls and finds and we will limit ourselves largely to the examination of such objects generally known as iron meteorites.
Individual iron meteorites have an importance comparable to that of individual botanical or zoological species. The phenomena of fall, shape , size , composition and structure are largely peculiar to each meteorite and for purposes of future reference should be carefully recorded. Only a small number of iron meteorites have been observed to fall and not very many of these attracted sufficient attention at the time of the fall to be fully described. An outstanding exception is Sikhote-Alin, which shed tons of fragments over Eastern Siberia in 1947 and resulted in a wealth of pertinent studies. However, many other falls and finds have received only scant attention , and the relevant publications are often to be found in rather inaccessible journals. Moreover, many iron meteorites were analyzed and described when they were found, perhaps a hundred years ago; and no later examinations have been carried out. Many meteorites have never been previously photographed. In my opinion, no meteorite has been adequately described until good photomacrographs and photomicrographs have also been published. Therefore, the figures and the explanations of the figures are an essential part of this handbook. <...>