| Term: | Carbonaceous chondrites |
| Definition: |
A rare type of stony meteorite having a higher carbon content than other classes of meteorite. They represent only ~5% of the known meteorites. Their bulk composition is mainly silicates, oxides and sulfides, whilst the minerals olivine and serpentine are characteristic. The six classes of carbonaceous chondrites are: CI chondrites, CM chondrites, CV chondrites, CO chondrites, CK chondrites, CR chondrites, CH chondrites, and CB chondrites. |