Nickel-free iron particles in sediments

The results provided by the microprobe and thermomagnetic studies of native iron in sediments are generalized. It is found that the sediments are abundant in Ni-free iron particles. These particles are shown to have extraterrestrial origin and likely to be parts of cosmic dust. It is suggested that these particles were formed from the mantle and crustal rocks as a result of their fragmentation and melting of the silicates (such as olivine and pyroxene) contained in these rocks.