Identification of Fe-rich meteoric dust

Cryo-mineralogy in coagulated ice particles nucleated onto meteoric iron species in noctilucent clouds could be a critical step in the formation of meteoric dust at the mesopause. Meteoric dust of the hydrated iron species α-FeOOH (goethite) is dehydrated via kinetically controlled reactions during descent in the mesosphere and stratosphere to hematite or maghémite. This thesis must await experimental and observational verification before it can be accepted.