The Caterpillar mimetolith outcrop in Louisiana

What's the term for when a meteorite resembles an object? (Mimetoliths)

Wednesday, April 7, 2010 9:03 PM

Yinan Wang asked:

"Whats the term for when a meteorite resembles an object?"

The term that you are looking for is "mimetolith." A web page about
mimetoliths by Dr. R. V. Dietrich can be found at:

http://www.cst.cmich.edu/USERS/DIETR1RV/mimetoliths/

"mimetolith - 1.
a. a natural topographic feature, rock outcrop, rock specimen,
mineral specimen, or loose stone the shape of which resembles something else
-- e.g., a real or fancied animal, plant, manufactured item, or part(s) thereof.

b. a topographic feature, rock outcrop, rock specimen, mineral specimen, or
loose stone, the surface pattern of which resembles a real or fancied animal, ... .

c. a topographic feature (et alia) with any combination of shape and pattern
that resembles a real or fancied animal, . . . . [Greek mimetes (an imitator)
and lithos (stone); term coined by Thomas Orzo MacAdoo, first appeared in
(Dietrich, 1989).]"

Dietrich, R.V., 1989, Imagine: Another mimetolith. Rocks & Minerals.
vol. 64, pp. 149-152.

Yours,

Paul H.