<p>From an etymological point of view, aerolite/aerolith derives from Greek &quot;aéros&quot;, air, and &quot;lithos&quot;, stone, so it literally means a &quot;stone from the air&quot;. If you take this definition to the letter, you can rule out iron meteorites, as they are not stony.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-05-24T20:16:55.357Z
2023-05-24T20:16:55.357Z
Jean-Marie Prival
<p>An aerolite is, exactly, a dated term from protoscience practitioners. The term has been completely superseded by modern workers, in modern times, using modern data. The term dates back to the time when meteorites- as “rocks from the sky”- were still in doubt by many.</p>
<p>That you still encountered the term “aerolite” in 2023 is a tribute to record preservation and good curation practices, not to the word being useful or relevant in any way to us modern practitioners. You can regard the word as dutifully as you regard rule by nobility, using ships-of-the-line, to fight Barbary pirates. All date to the same period.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-05-24T16:06:59.160Z
2023-05-24T16:06:59.160Z
caInstrument
<p>I have found definitions calling it a stony metiorite, calling it a meteor of silicate, a granite meteorite, or even calling it a metallic rock from space and more. What is the actual definition?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-05-16T15:05:20.833Z
Can you please be a bit more specific or verbose?. Does the body of your question relate to the word 'aerolite' in the title of your question? Or how are the things you found related to it? How and where did you find those definitions? What ressources did you check? Show us what you know. This is the internet, links work. 'stony meteorite' and 'metallic rock' certainly don't go well together at the same time.
planetmaker
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-05-16T15:13:02.973Z
It is what is the actual definition or the word which is surprisingly unclear?
Starship
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-05-16T15:24:21.853Z
I don't know. Is that your question? What did you find? How does that not form a uniform view? Show us your search. Link your results. Honestly, I think I found an answer within 5 minutes of using the search engine of my choice. But if I ask about it, I should at least show my search and results when asking, stating why I have doubts about it, stressing the discrepancies raising the doubts, so others don't have to do the same nor do tell you what you already know.
planetmaker
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-05-16T15:40:06.993Z
Is that your question? Yes it is. What did you find? I say that in the question. How does that not form a uniform view? Read the question.
Starship
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-05-16T20:59:34.033Z
@Starshipisgoforlaunch I understand your question; "What is the actual definition of 'aerolite'?" I think, but others might not. To (greatly) improve your question and its reception, can you include specific quotes of at least two *conflicting* definitions that you've found? Basically "Source A says it's an xyz, but source B says it must be a wxy, is there a single, best definition used by the scientific community?" Make sure to include links or citations for A and B. *Thanks!*
uhoh
<terminology><meteorite><naming>
What exactly is an aerolite?
Starship
# What exactly is an aerolite?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2023-05-16)

I have found definitions calling it a stony metiorite, calling it a meteor of silicate, a granite meteorite, or even calling it a metallic rock from space and more. What is the actual definition?

**Tags:** terminology, meteorite, naming

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Can you please be a bit more specific or verbose?. Does the body of your question relate to the word 'aerolite' in the title of your question? Or how are the things you found related to it? How and where did you find those definitions? What ressources did you check? Show us what you know. This is the internet, links work. 'stony meteorite' and 'metallic rock' certainly don't go well together at the same time.  
> **username_0**: It is what is the actual definition or the word which is surprisingly unclear?  
> **username_1**: I don't know. Is that your question? What did you find? How does that not form a uniform view? Show us your search. Link your results. Honestly, I think I found an answer within 5 minutes of using the search engine of my choice. But if I ask about it, I should at least show my search and results when asking, stating why I have doubts about it, stressing the discrepancies raising the doubts, so others don't have to do the same nor do tell you what you already know.  
> **username_0**: Is that your question? Yes it is. What did you find? I say that in the question. How does that not form a uniform view? Read the question.  
> **username_2**: @username_0isgoforlaunch I understand your question; "What is the actual definition of 'aerolite'?" I think, but others might not. To (greatly) improve your question and its reception, can you include specific quotes of at least two *conflicting* definitions that you've found? Basically "Source A says it's an xyz, but source B says it must be a wxy, is there a single, best definition used by the scientific community?" Make sure to include links or citations for A and B. *Thanks!*  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2023-05-24. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

An aerolite is, exactly, a dated term from protoscience practitioners. The term has been completely superseded by modern workers, in modern times, using modern data. The term dates back to the time when meteorites- as “rocks from the sky”- were still in doubt by many.

That you still encountered the term “aerolite” in 2023 is a tribute to record preservation and good curation practices, not to the word being useful or relevant in any way to us modern practitioners. You can regard the word as dutifully as you regard rule by nobility, using ships-of-the-line, to fight Barbary pirates. All date to the same period.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2023-05-24. Score: 3

From an etymological point of view, aerolite/aerolith derives from Greek "aéros", air, and "lithos", stone, so it literally means a "stone from the air". If you take this definition to the letter, you can rule out iron meteorites, as they are not stony.


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