Abstract
M.Sc.
This dissertation deals with meteorites, but from a few different perspectives. As of
2000, there are 49 known meteorites that have been recovered from South Africa, including the
new Merweville chondrite, which is first described and classified here. This represents only about
1.5% of worldwide falls and finds. Perhaps because of the relatively small number of specimens,
and a possible resulting drop in interest amongst the scientific community, research on extant
South African meteorites has declined in recent years. In this study, new results are presented for
two South African meteorites, the Malvern howardite, and the newly recovered Merweville
chondrite. In addition, South African public knowledge and awareness of meteorites and planetary
sciences is discussed, and remedial recommendations are made. The Malvern howardite is a rare type of polymictbreccia. New petrographic, mineralogical
and geochemical studies of clasts reveal an abundance of impact-melt clasts, with lesser amounts
of cataclastic, granoblastic and metal and sulphide-rich clasts. The matrix of Malvern is dominated
by comminuted pyroxene, very likely derived from mechanical degradation of pre-existing,
pyroxene-richimpact-meltclasts. Chondritic clasts, including carbonaceous chondrites, have been
reported in similar howardites (e.g. Washougal, Jodzie and Kapoeta); such clasts were searched
for, but not found in our specimens of Malvern. To investigate the social impact of meteorite studies, a survey of Grade 11 and 12 pupils
and first year university students in South Africa was undertaken to determine their level of
literacy, interest and awareness of meteorites and planetary sciences. Students in Johannesburg
and Cape Town were chosen to represent different societal sectors, including school students from
disadvantaged and advantaged communities. The results indicate that learners with poor results
in awareness and literacy are still very keen on the subject. The advantaged learners outperformed
their disadvantaged colleagues in most categories, proving that the discrepancy between them is
still a factor and should be dealt with, but only 20% of all students asked have visited a museum
before. Based on these results, it is recommended that much more emphasis be put on science and
technology in South African schools. Taking learners to science and natural history museums or
associated institutions are also very important in generating interest.