Regmaglypts

back to “Some Meteorite Realities”

Regmaglypts are shallow depressions or dimples that form on the surface of some meteorites as they pass through Earth’s atmosphere. They are probably formed by small vortices of hot gas carrying small droplets of molten meteorite that locally erode the surface.

If a rock has “dimples” but does not have a fusion crust, then the “dimples” are not regmaglypts.

Two sides of lunar meteorite Northwest Africa 482. Regmaglypts are present on the left but not on the right. Image credit: Jim Strope

MacAlpine Hills 88108, a 15.4-lb ordinary chondrite (H5), from Antarctica. The stone is broken on the right side. Several shallow regmaglypts are evident. Fusion crust has flaked off portions of the top.

This large meteorite, Lewis Cliff 85320 (H5 chondrite, (110 kg) has lots of regmaglypts.

Even this small, unnamed meteorite (on the ice in Antarctica) has regmaglypts.

One of the Camel Donga stones from Australia. Photo credit: Jim Strope

Unidentified meteorite found in Nevada with regmaglypts and a grasshopper. Photo credit: I’ve forgotten. Let me know if this great photo is yours.

This is a pretty one. Image credit: ?

Unidentified meteorite with regmaglypts: Photo credit: ?

Regmaglypts on iron meteorites can be spectacular. Here are small fragments of Sikhote-Alin, an iron meteorite. All of the biggest have regmaglypts. Photo credit: Randy Korotev

If a rock has features like dimples, depressions, or pits but it does not have a fusion crust, then the features are not regmaglypts. Many terrestrial rocks have features that resemble regmaglypts but are not.

back to “Some Meteorite Realities”