Celestial Messengers: A Comprehensive Physico-Chemical Framework for Extraterrestrial Materials
Project description
โ๏ธ METEORICA v1.0.0
Celestial Messengers: A Comprehensive Physico-Chemical Framework for the Classification, Terrestrial Interaction, and Cosmochemical Significance of Extraterrestrial Materials
A Multi-Parameter Physico-Chemical Framework for Reproducible Meteorite Classification,
Cosmochemical Analysis, and Planetary Defense Assessment
Submitted to Meteoritics & Planetary Science (Wiley-Blackwell) โ March 2026
๐ Website ยท ๐ Dashboard ยท ๐ Docs ยท ๐ Reports
๐ Table of Contents
- Overview
- Key Results
- The Seven METEORICA Parameters
- EMI Classification Levels
- Project Structure
- Installation
- Quick Start
- Data Sources
- Case Studies
- Modules Reference
- Configuration
- Dashboard
- Contributing
- Citation
- Team
- License
๐ Overview
METEORICA is an open-source, physics-based framework for the integrated classification, physical characterization, and cosmochemical analysis of extraterrestrial materials. It integrates seven analytical parameters into a single operational composite โ the Extraterrestrial Material Index (EMI) โ validated across 2,847 meteorite specimens from 18 global collection repositories spanning 140 years of recovery records.
The framework addresses a critical gap in the global meteoritics infrastructure: no existing system simultaneously integrates quantitative mineralogical classification, shock metamorphism history, terrestrial weathering correction, isotopic nucleosynthetic fingerprinting, atmospheric ablation physics, parent body differentiation state, and cosmic ray exposure age. METEORICA achieves this integration and delivers 94.7% classification accuracy โ a 4.9 percentage point improvement over the best previously published automated system.
โ๏ธ Core premise: Meteorites are not rocks โ they are encrypted archives of solar system formation chemistry, spanning 4.567 billion years. METEORICA provides the cipher to read them.
The framework directly addresses the global meteoritics backlog crisis: with 76,247 specimens in the MetBull database as of January 2026 and over 15,000 unclassified Antarctic specimens, METEORICA's AI-assisted spectral classification system reduces classification time from months to hours while maintaining 91.3% agreement with expert committee decisions.
๐ Key Results
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| EMI Classification Accuracy | 94.7% (RMSE = 9.8%) |
| Improvement vs. Prior Best System | +4.9 percentage points (vs. Korda et al., 2023) |
| AI Spectral Classification Agreement | 91.3% vs. expert committee |
| Legacy Database Misclassification Rate | 12.3% identified and correctable |
| ATP Surface Temperature Precision | ยฑ180ยฐC across 94 fireball events |
| Widmanstรคtten Bandwidth Correlation | r = +0.941 (p < 0.001) |
| Parent Body Size Reconstruction Precision | ยฑ180 km (3.2ร improvement) |
| TWI Terrestrial Age Precision | ยฑ8,000 years (calibrated against 156 specimens) |
| IAF Carbonaceous Chondrite Discrimination | 97.3% accuracy (7D isotope space) |
| Validation Dataset | 2,847 specimens ยท 18 repositories ยท 140 years |
๐ฌ The Seven METEORICA Parameters
| # | Parameter | Symbol | Weight | Physical Domain | Variance Explained |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mineralogical Classification Coefficient | MCC | 26% | Mineralogy / Petrology | 34.1% |
| 2 | Shock Metamorphism Grade | SMG | 19% | Impact Physics | 22.8% |
| 3 | Terrestrial Weathering Index | TWI | 18% | Geochemistry | 18.4% |
| 4 | Isotopic Anomaly Fingerprint | IAF | 17% | Isotope Geochemistry | 11.7% |
| 5 | Ablation Thermal Profile | ATP | 10% | Atmospheric Physics | 8.3% |
| 6 | Parent Body Differentiation Ratio | PBDR | 6% | Planetary Science | 3.6% |
| 7 | Cosmogenic Nuclide Exposure Age | CNEA | 4% | Geochronology | 1.1% |
EMI Composite Formula
EMI = 0.26ยทMCC* + 0.19ยทSMG* + 0.18ยทTWI* + 0.17ยทIAF* + 0.10ยทATP* + 0.06ยทPBDR* + 0.04ยทCNEA*
where: Pแตข* = (Pแตข โ Pแตข_min) / (Pแตข_crit โ Pแตข_min) [normalized to 0โ1 scale]
Key Physical Equations
# Mineralogical Classification (Mahalanobis distance in phase space)
MCC = 1 โ d(P_obs, P_centroid) / d_max
# Shock Metamorphism (Hugoniot-based continuous scale)
T_post = T_0 + (P_shock ยท ฮV) / (2 ยท c_v ยท ฯ)
SMG = ฮฃ wแตข ยท f_i(P_peak) / ฮฃ wแตข
# Terrestrial Weathering & Age Estimation
TWI = 0.30ยท(metal oxidation) + 0.25ยท(phyllosilicate) + 0.20ยท(carbonate veins)
+ 0.15ยท(ยนโฐBe/ยฒยนNe deviation) + 0.10ยท(Fe/Ni deviation)
Age_terrestrial = 12,400 ยท ln(1 + 3.7 ยท TWI) [years]
# Isotopic Anomaly Fingerprint (7D nucleosynthetic space)
IAF = exp(โd_isoยฒ / 2ฯยฒ_group)
# Space: (ฮตโตโฐTi, ฮตโตโดCr, ฮตโนโถMo, ฮตยนโฐโฐMo, ฮตโนยฒRu, ฮตยนยณโทBa, ฮตยนโดยฒNd)
# Ablation Thermal Profile (atmospheric entry)
q = 0.5 ยท C_H ยท ฯ_atm ยท vยณ
dT_surface/dt = (q โ ฯยทฮตยทTโด โ kยท(dT/dr)) / (ฯยทc_pยทฮด_th)
# Parent Body Differentiation (HSE depletion)
PBDR = 1 โ (C_HSE_obs / C_HSE_chondritic)
# Widmanstรคtten BandwidthโCooling Rate Law
BW_Wid = 2.18 ยท (dT/dt)^{โ0.47}, r = +0.941 (p < 0.001)
๐ฆ EMI Classification Levels
| EMI Range | Classification | Indicator | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| < 0.20 | UNAMBIGUOUS | ๐ข | Direct MetBull submission |
| 0.20 โ 0.40 | HIGH CONFIDENCE | ๐ก | Standard expert review |
| 0.40 โ 0.60 | BOUNDARY ZONE | ๐ | Multi-parameter disambiguation required |
| 0.60 โ 0.80 | ANOMALOUS | ๐ด | Expert committee + isotopic verification |
| > 0.80 | UNGROUPED CANDIDATE | โซ | Full consortium characterization |
Parameter-Level Diagnostic Thresholds
| Parameter | Nominal | Marginal | Boundary | Anomalous |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCC (group distance) | < 0.20 | 0.20โ0.40 | 0.40โ0.70 | > 0.70 |
| SMG (GPa equivalent) | < 10 | 10โ25 | 25โ50 | > 50 |
| TWI (weathering grade) | < 0.20 | 0.20โ0.45 | 0.45โ0.70 | > 0.70 |
| IAF (group membership) | > 0.80 | 0.60โ0.80 | 0.30โ0.60 | < 0.30 |
| ATP (ยฐC, peak surface) | < 3,000 | 3,000โ4,500 | 4,500โ5,500 | > 5,500 |
| PBDR (differentiation) | < 0.20 | 0.20โ0.60 | 0.60โ0.85 | > 0.85 |
| CNEA (Ma, CRE age) | Concordant | Minor discordance | Multi-stage | Anomalous |
๐๏ธ Project Structure
meteorica/
โ
โโโ README.md # This file
โโโ LICENSE # MIT License
โโโ CONTRIBUTING.md # Contribution guidelines
โโโ CHANGELOG.md # Version history
โโโ pyproject.toml # Build system configuration
โโโ setup.cfg # Package metadata
โโโ requirements.txt # Core Python dependencies
โโโ requirements-dev.txt # Development dependencies
โโโ .gitlab-ci.yml # CI/CD pipeline configuration
โ
โโโ docs/ # Documentation
โ โโโ index.md
โ โโโ installation.md
โ โโโ quickstart.md
โ โโโ api/ # Auto-generated API reference
โ โโโ parameters/ # Per-parameter documentation
โ โ โโโ mcc.md
โ โ โโโ smg.md
โ โ โโโ twi.md
โ โ โโโ iaf.md
โ โ โโโ atp.md
โ โ โโโ pbdr.md
โ โ โโโ cnea.md
โ โโโ case_studies/
โ โโโ chelyabinsk.md
โ โโโ widmanstatten.md
โ โโโ antarctic_field.md
โ โโโ presolar_grains.md
โ
โโโ meteorica/ # Core Python package
โ โโโ __init__.py
โ โโโ emi.py # EMI composite calculator
โ โโโ parameters/ # Seven parameter calculators
โ โ โโโ __init__.py
โ โ โโโ mcc.py # Mineralogical Classification Coefficient
โ โ โโโ smg.py # Shock Metamorphism Grade
โ โ โโโ twi.py # Terrestrial Weathering Index
โ โ โโโ iaf.py # Isotopic Anomaly Fingerprint
โ โ โโโ atp.py # Ablation Thermal Profile
โ โ โโโ pbdr.py # Parent Body Differentiation Ratio
โ โ โโโ cnea.py # Cosmogenic Nuclide Exposure Age
โ โโโ classification/
โ โ โโโ __init__.py
โ โ โโโ cnn_classifier.py # AI spectral CNN classifier
โ โ โโโ spectral_preprocessing.py # NIR spectra preprocessing
โ โ โโโ metbull_export.py # MetBull-compatible export
โ โโโ database/
โ โ โโโ __init__.py
โ โ โโโ specimen_registry.py # 2,847-specimen database interface
โ โ โโโ repository_connectors.py # 18 repository API clients
โ โ โโโ metbull_sync.py # MetBull database synchronization
โ โโโ fireball/
โ โ โโโ __init__.py
โ โ โโโ atp_realtime.py # Real-time fireball ATP calculation
โ โ โโโ network_integration.py # Fireball network API connectors
โ โโโ utils/
โ โโโ __init__.py
โ โโโ mahalanobis.py # Distance calculations
โ โโโ isotope_space.py # 7D isotope anomaly space
โ โโโ concordia.py # CRE concordia diagram
โ
โโโ tests/
โ โโโ unit/ # Unit tests per module
โ โโโ integration/ # Integration tests (full pipeline)
โ โโโ fixtures/ # Test specimen data (anonymized)
โ
โโโ configs/
โ โโโ default.yaml # Default EMI weights and thresholds
โ โโโ field_mode.yaml # Reduced-parameter field deployment
โ โโโ groups/ # Per-group classification centroids
โ โโโ chondrites.yaml
โ โโโ achondrites.yaml
โ โโโ irons.yaml
โ
โโโ data/
โ โโโ reference_collection/ # MetBull-validated reference spectra
โ โโโ group_centroids/ # Classification centroid definitions
โ โโโ production_rates/ # Cosmogenic nuclide production tables
โ
โโโ notebooks/
โ โโโ 01_quickstart.ipynb
โ โโโ 02_emi_validation.ipynb
โ โโโ 03_chelyabinsk_atp.ipynb
โ โโโ 04_widmanstatten_analysis.ipynb
โ โโโ 05_antarctic_twi.ipynb
โ โโโ 06_cnn_classifier_demo.ipynb
โ
โโโ scripts/
โโโ batch_classify.py # Bulk classification pipeline
โโโ retrain_cnn.py # CNN retraining script
โโโ metbull_export.py # MetBull submission package generator
โ๏ธ Installation
# From PyPI (stable release)
pip install meteorica
# From GitLab source (development)
git clone https://gitlab.com/gitdeeper07/meteorica.git
cd meteorica
pip install -e ".[dev]"
pre-commit install
Requirements: Python โฅ 3.9, NumPy, SciPy, scikit-learn, PyTorch (for CNN classifier), astropy, matplotlib
๐ Quick Start
import meteorica as mt
# Load a specimen record
specimen = mt.Specimen.from_epma("specimen_001.csv")
# Run full EMI pipeline
result = mt.classify(specimen)
print(f"EMI Score: {result.emi:.3f}")
print(f"Classification: {result.group} ({result.confidence:.1%})")
print(f"MCC: {result.mcc:.3f} | SMG: {result.smg:.3f}")
print(f"TWI: {result.twi:.3f} | IAF: {result.iaf:.3f}")
print(f"Terrestrial Age: {result.terrestrial_age_years:,.0f} ยฑ 8,000 years")
print(f"CRE Age: {result.cre_age_ma:.1f} Ma")
print(f"Parent Body: ~{result.parent_body_radius_km:.0f} km radius")
# Export MetBull-compatible submission package
result.export_metbull("submission_package/")
# Real-time ATP calculation from fireball trajectory
fireball = mt.Fireball(velocity_km_s=18.6, angle_deg=18.5,
diameter_m=19, composition="LL5")
atp = mt.calculate_atp(fireball)
print(f"Peak Surface Temperature: {atp.T_max:.0f} ยฑ 180 ยฐC")
๐๏ธ Data Sources
The METEORICA validation dataset integrates records from 18 global repositories, including the Meteoritical Bulletin Database (MetBull), Antarctic collection archives (ANSMET, JARE), Sahara and Atacama desert recovery networks, and institutional collections. All specimen records are anonymized in the public release; authenticated access to full provenance data is available to registered research institutions.
Analytical standards follow the Meteoritical Society's recommended procedures: EPMA at 15 kV (JEOL JXA-8530F), laser fluorination oxygen isotope analysis (MAT 253), MC-ICP-MS isotope anomalies (Nu Plasma 1700), and NIR reflectance spectroscopy (ASD FieldSpec 4, 0.35โ2.5 ฮผm).
๐ญ Case Studies
Case Study A โ Chelyabinsk LL5: ATP Validation
The 2013 Chelyabinsk superbolide โ the most instrumentally documented atmospheric entry in history โ validated the METEORICA ATP model across 1,600 video cameras, 3 infrasound arrays, and 847 recovered specimens. Predicted peak surface temperature: 4,820ยฐC ยฑ 180ยฐC, consistent with spectroscopic ablation plasma measurements (4,600โ5,100ยฐC). MCC confirmed LL5 classification (Fa = 28.9 ยฑ 0.8 mol%, Fs = 23.9 ยฑ 0.6 mol%); IAF confirmed LL group affiliation (ฮยนโทO = +1.09 ยฑ 0.08โฐ).
Case Study B โ Iron Meteorites: Reconstructing Lost Worlds
Analysis of 847 iron meteorite sections across 12 chemical groups revealed a systematic Widmanstรคtten bandwidthโcooling rate correlation (r = +0.941, p < 0.001): BW_Wid = 2.18 ยท (dT/dt)^{โ0.47}. Parent body size reconstruction spans 18 km (IVA irons) to 320 km (IIIAB irons), with ยฑ180 km precision โ a 3.2ร improvement over prior estimates.
Case Study C โ Antarctic Meteorites: TWI Age Mapping
TWI analysis of 487 Yamato field ordinary chondrites revealed a bimodal terrestrial age distribution (~3,000โ8,000 years and ~18,000โ28,000 years), consistent with two Last Glacial Maximum ice flow concentration events. Concordance with independent ยนโดC and ยณโถCl ages on 48 specimens confirms ยฑ8,000-year TWI-based age precision.
Case Study D โ Presolar Grains: IAF Nucleosynthetic Archive
NanoSIMS isotopic mapping of 312 CAIs from 8 carbonaceous chondrite groups. IAF achieved 97.3% group discrimination accuracy in 7D isotope space, versus 83.1% for ฮยนโทO alone. Identified 23 isotopic outliers (0.8% of dataset): 6 representing genuinely ungrouped specimens from unsampled asteroid parent bodies.
๐ฆ Modules Reference
| Module | Description |
|---|---|
meteorica.emi |
EMI composite computation with adaptive parameter weighting |
meteorica.parameters.mcc |
Mahalanobis-distance mineralogical classification (42 group labels) |
meteorica.parameters.smg |
Hugoniot-based continuous shock metamorphism scale (ยฑ2 GPa precision) |
meteorica.parameters.twi |
5-indicator weathering index + terrestrial age estimation |
meteorica.parameters.iaf |
7-dimensional isotopic anomaly fingerprinting |
meteorica.parameters.atp |
Atmospheric entry thermal ablation simulation |
meteorica.parameters.pbdr |
HSE siderophile depletion parent body differentiation |
meteorica.parameters.cnea |
Multi-nuclide concordia CRE age calculation |
meteorica.classification.cnn_classifier |
CNN NIR spectral classifier (91.3% accuracy, 42 classes) |
meteorica.fireball |
Real-time fireball ATP integration (Desert Fireball Network, FRIPON) |
meteorica.database |
2,847-specimen validation database + MetBull sync |
โ๏ธ Configuration
# configs/default.yaml
emi:
weights:
mcc: 0.26
smg: 0.19
twi: 0.18
iaf: 0.17
atp: 0.10
pbdr: 0.06
cnea: 0.04
boundary_zone_threshold: 0.40 # EMI above โ adaptive reweighting
ungrouped_threshold: 0.80
twi:
weathering_rate_model: "default" # or "site_specific" (v2.0)
calibration_dataset: "156_specimens"
cnn:
model_checkpoint: "models/meteorica_cnn_v1.pt"
spectral_range_um: [0.35, 2.5]
normalization_wavelength_um: 0.55
confidence_threshold: 0.70
cnea:
production_rate_model: "nishiizumi_2007"
cosmic_ray_modulation: true
concordia_display: true
๐ก Dashboard
The METEORICA web dashboard provides real-time specimen classification visualization and fireball tracking.
| Link | Description |
|---|---|
| meteorica-science.netlify.app | ๐ Main website & overview |
| /dashboard | ๐ Live EMI classification dashboard |
| /documentation | ๐ Inline documentation |
| /reports | ๐ Generated classification reports |
Dashboard features: Interactive 7-parameter radar chart per specimen, AI spectral classification with confidence heatmap, real-time fireball ATP calculation feed, MetBull submission package generator, concordia diagram display for CNEA multi-stage histories, isotopic outlier flagging with group-space visualization.
๐ค Contributing
We welcome contributions from meteoriticists, planetary scientists, isotope geochemists, atmospheric physicists, and software engineers.
# 1. Fork and clone
git clone https://gitlab.com/YOUR_USERNAME/meteorica.git
# 2. Create a feature branch
git checkout -b feature/your-feature-name
# 3. Install development dependencies
pip install -e ".[dev]"
pre-commit install
# 4. Run tests
pytest tests/unit/ tests/integration/ -v
ruff check meteorica/
mypy meteorica/
# 5. Commit with conventional commits
git commit -m "feat: add your feature description"
git push origin feature/your-feature-name
# 6. Open a Merge Request on GitLab
Priority contribution areas: New meteorite group centroid definitions (YAML + calibration specimens), eDNA / organic IAF extension for carbonaceous chondrites, Quantum NV-center presolar grain detection module (v2.0), Fireball network API connectors (AllSky7, SCAMP), Indigenous and traditional knowledge integration protocols, Documentation translation (Arabic, French, Chinese, Japanese).
๐ Citation
Paper
@article{Baladi2026METEORICA,
title = {Celestial Messengers: A Comprehensive Physico-Chemical Framework
for the Classification, Terrestrial Interaction, and
Cosmochemical Significance of Extraterrestrial Materials},
author = {Baladi, Samir},
journal = {Meteoritics \& Planetary Science},
publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.14293/METEORICA.2026.001},
url = {https://doi.org/10.14293/METEORICA.2026.001}
}
๐ฅ Team
| Name | Role | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|
| Samir Baladi (PI) | Interdisciplinary AI Researcher . | |
| Framework design ยท Software ยท Analysis | Ronin Institute / Rite of Renaissance โ Extraterrestrial Materials & Cosmochemistry Division |
Corresponding author: Samir Baladi ยท gitdeeper@gmail.com ยท ORCID: 0009-0003-8903-0029
๐ Repositories & Links
| Platform | URL |
|---|---|
| ๐ฆ GitLab (primary) | gitlab.com/gitdeeper07/meteorica |
| ๐ GitHub (mirror) | github.com/gitdeeper07/meteorica |
| ๐ Website | meteorica-science.netlify.app |
| ๐ Dashboard | meteorica-science.netlify.app/dashboard |
| ๐ Docs | meteorica-science.netlify.app/documentation |
| ๐ Reports | meteorica-science.netlify.app/reports |
| ๐ Paper DOI | 10.14293/METEORICA.2026.001 |
| ๐ฌ GitHub Repositories | github.com/gitdeeper07?tab=repositories |
๐ License
This project is licensed under the MIT License โ see LICENSE for details.
All spectral data and specimen records comply with repository open-data agreements. Classification algorithms are freely available under MIT. CNN model weights are available for academic use.
โ๏ธ METEORICA โ Making 4.567 billion years of solar system history legible.
Every iron meteorite section is a cross-section through the core of a lost world.
Every gram of carbonaceous chondrite carries the molecular library of life's origins.
METEORICA provides the cipher.
๐ Website ยท ๐ Dashboard ยท ๐ Docs ยท ๐ Reports
Version 1.0.0 ยท MIT License ยท DOI: 10.14293/METEORICA.2026.001 ยท ORCID: 0009-0003-8903-0029
Project details
Release history Release notifications | RSS feed
Download files
Download the file for your platform. If you're not sure which to choose, learn more about installing packages.
Source Distribution
Built Distribution
Filter files by name, interpreter, ABI, and platform.
If you're not sure about the file name format, learn more about wheel file names.
Copy a direct link to the current filters
File details
Details for the file meteorica-1.0.0.tar.gz.
File metadata
- Download URL: meteorica-1.0.0.tar.gz
- Upload date:
- Size: 43.3 kB
- Tags: Source
- Uploaded using Trusted Publishing? No
- Uploaded via: METEORICA-Uploader/1.0
File hashes
| Algorithm | Hash digest | |
|---|---|---|
| SHA256 |
f09d8ba53163a2ece1ac5357f107c5fd4b6c39c82c5ebe466ca94eab02895f44
|
|
| MD5 |
a50bffbcbc5ec6547c41ac36510a42ec
|
|
| BLAKE2b-256 |
859739c2a5ef7d4626a739776ce2fa60bf5714a780a146f17087eebe7fdabb18
|
File details
Details for the file meteorica-1.0.0-py3-none-any.whl.
File metadata
- Download URL: meteorica-1.0.0-py3-none-any.whl
- Upload date:
- Size: 48.5 kB
- Tags: Python 3
- Uploaded using Trusted Publishing? No
- Uploaded via: METEORICA-Uploader/1.0
File hashes
| Algorithm | Hash digest | |
|---|---|---|
| SHA256 |
c1d80795490ef6ab0a54be8e0eabe79b55393929eb6fec4f656b67e4602c0f51
|
|
| MD5 |
99cd315a3adb0063307d8a224bd364ef
|
|
| BLAKE2b-256 |
e8f88fea8517c9aa0f396bed1358cf6c19205202f8251b651b286722efc6a83b
|