Extraterrestrial sedimentary rocks on Earth

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential origins and identification methods of sedimentary meteorites on Earth, considering various celestial bodies and emphasizing the importance of comprehensive evidence beyond isotopic signatures.

Contribution

It introduces a multidisciplinary approach for identifying extraterrestrial sedimentary rocks, highlighting the need to consider multiple lines of evidence beyond traditional isotopic tests.

Findings

Candidate parent bodies include Earth, Mars, Enceladus, Ganymede, Europa, and hypothetical planets.

Impact structures and fusion crusts are key signs of meteoritic origin.

Terrestrial contamination affects isotopic signatures, complicating origin identification.

Abstract

This concept article discusses the possibilities for identifying sedimentary-origin meteorites. The paper concerns (i) the macroscopic candidate for sedimentary meteorite in the epicenter of the 1908 Tunguska catastrophe; (ii) potential parent bodies for sedimentary meteorites; (iii) isotopic heterogeneity of unmixed silicate reservoirs on Mars; (iv) possible terrestrial loss or contamination in the noble gas signatures in new type meteorites that spent time in extreme weather conditions; (v) cosmogenic isotopes and shielding; and (vi) pseudo meteorites. We conclude that the list of candidate parent bodies for sedimentary meteorites includes, but is not limited by the Earth, Mars, Enceladus, Ganymede, Europa, and hypothetical planets that could exist between orbits of Mars and Jupiter in the past. A parent body for extraterrestrial sedimentary rocks on the Earth should be identified based on the entire body of evidence which is not limited solely by tests of oxygen and noble gas isotopes whose signatures may undergo terrestrial contamination and may exhibit significant heterogeneity within the parent bodies. Observed fall of cosmic body, evidence of hypervelocity impact complying with the criteria of impact structures, and the presence of fusion crust on the fragments should be considered as priority signs of meteoritic origin.