Howardite is a rare type of meteorite that was found in the Howard Springs area of the Northern Territory in Australia in 1960. The spelling of the word is phonetically derived from the surname of the location where it was found. The IPA transcription for the word is [haʊə(r)daɪt]. It is pronounced as how-er-dite with a short "a" sound in "how" and "er" and a long "i" sound in "dite." Howardite is a fascinating object of study for space enthusiasts and meteorite collectors alike.
Howardite is a noun that refers to a type of achondritic meteorite, which is a meteorite made up of stony material that is not derived from the Earth's crust. It is specifically classified as an achondrite, as it lacks chondrules, which are small, spherical grains found in most primitive meteorites.
Howardites are part of a larger group of meteorites known as the HED meteorites, which also includes eucrites and diogenites. They are believed to originate from the asteroid 4 Vesta, one of the largest bodies in the asteroid belt.
The name "howardite" stems from its discovery in the Howard County, Texas, where the first known howardite fell in 1938. Howardites are primarily composed of various minerals such as orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, and plagioclase feldspar. They often exhibit a brecciated texture, indicating that they are composed of fragments of different rocks that were forcefully fused together following an impact event on Vesta.
Howardites are of great interest to scientists as they provide important information about the early history and geological processes on Vesta. By studying their composition and texture, scientists can gain insights into the differentiation and volcanic activity that occurred on the asteroid. Additionally, they can help determine the age of Vesta and its chronology within the solar system.
The word "howardite" is derived from the Howard County, Texas, where the first discovered meteorite of this type was found in 1938. The Howard County meteorite, also referred to as the "Big Spring" meteorite, is an achondrite, which is a stony meteorite lacking chondrules (small rounded grains). Since then, similar meteorites with similar characteristics have been found and collectively named "howardites" after their place of discovery.