What are the defining characteristics that distinguish a mineral from other naturally occurring substances, and how are minerals classified into different groups?
What are some of the common methods used to analyze and identify mineral compositions in meteorites, and how do these methods contribute to the study of planetary geology?
What role do specific minerals, such as olivine or pyroxene, play in classifying different types of meteorites, and what information do these minerals provide about the meteorite's parent body?
How do meteorites contribute to our understanding of the composition and formation of the early solar system, and what minerals in meteorites are most informative for this purpose?
What are the primary differences between meteoric and terrestrial minerals, and how do these differences help scientists identify the extraterrestrial origin of meteorites?
