Thermochronology, meteorites

Abstract

To investigate thermal histories of meteorites, a wide range of thermochronologic tools are used. Some constrain cooling rates or relative temperature changes over age differences, whereas others yield absolute timings of when the meteorites cooled down to certain temperatures. The current understanding of the thermal histories of meteorites provides crucial information of various planetary processes, internal structures and physical dimensions of the parent bodies, as well as the surface temperature evolution of the Martian crust.