Meteor - micrometeorites

• Facebook: project Stardust
• Facebook: micrometeorites

• Lab Sieves
• Lab Sieves

From Storm, 2-19-2026

I 3D printed the MM keep-case out of flat white PLA. The frame with the circles is a separate insert. On the back of this frame is a transparent Post-it note, adhesive side up. This is the preferred method of affixing these little specks. A conventional microscope slide snaps on top, providing a protective dust cover. The slide shows the results of about 2 hour of dust collection on Misfits Flats near my house, then several hours of cleaning, sieving, and picking. The Post-it note Stickum allows me to orient the frame vertically, so that I can photograph the MM's on my horizontal photo rig. I printed a receiving holder, similar to the ones I use to hold micromount boxes.

The specimen in the photo is 420um in diameter. It is classified as a Barred Olivine (BO) transitional to a CryptoCrystalline (CC). Micrometeorites are classified according to texture and amount of melting:

    Scoriaceous (ScMM) - Irregular in shape, little melting
    Porphyritic Olivine (PO) - partial melting with crystalline structure visible
    Barred Olivine (BO) - Exhibits a barred / striated texture, homogenous (most common type)
    Cryptocrystalline (CC) - Completely melted, no crystalline structure remaining
    Glassy / Vitreous (V) - Glass, translucent / transparent

The pro's mask the specimen out of the photo and place it on a gradient background often with a little color; something that would be completely taboo in the micromineral photo world. It's all done in Photoshop. I watched some videos on this technique today. Next time, perhaps I will try it.

I posted my first photo on the Micrometeorites forum on Facebook and it was positively received. Apparently, my technique baffled others. Everyone else is photographing MM's through a biological-type microscope. With the exception of a small handful of individuals, most of the photos are blurry. Between the photo and source (non-rooftop), it piqued the interest of Jon Larsen, author of "On the Trail of Stardust", and he asked me if he could interview me for his website Project Stardust (funded Patreon site). As a note to Paul, I guess a couple people producing better quality photos have started using Keyence microscopes.

I don't know how much of this I will do, the sorting is hard on my eyes. But, it is an educational diversion.

Wilcox Playa

• Wilcox Playa wildlife area
• Target on Wilcox Playa

Photos

1 - BO, 420 um
2 - MM 4, BO, Rice Grain, 430 x 540 um