THE MACHINGA,MALAWI, METEORITE: A RECENT L6 FALL

The Machinga meteorite fell in the Southern Province of Malawi on January 22, 1981, at approximately 1000 hours local time. The fall site is about 7.5 km SW of Machinga and has the co-ordinates 15° 12′44″ S., 35°14′32″ E. A single crusted mass weighing 93.2 kg was recovered. The Machinga meteorite is an L6 chondrite with olivine Fa_24.5 and orthopyroxene Fs_21.1. The silicates have a granular texture and the stone has been shocked.     

The Cerro los Calvos and La Banderia chondrites

Abstract— The Cerro los Calvos meteorite is a single stone of 68.5 g found in the Nuevo Mercurio strewn field of Zacatecas, Mexico (24°20′N, 102°8′W). It is an unusual H4 chondrite. Its olivine (Fa_12.5) and orthopyroxene (Fs 11.7, Wo 0.8) are reduced relative to typical H chondrites. The La Banderia meteorite of 54.3 g from the same vicinity is an LL5 chondrite of shock classification e.     

Tabbita: An L6c chondrite from New South Wales,Australia

Abstract— A crusted stone weighing 3.10 kg was found in 1983 near Tabbita in south central New South Wales (ca. 34°03′S, 145°50′E), Australia. Compositions of the ferro-magnesian silicates (olivine Fa_24.6; orthopyroxene Fs_20.9) show that the meteorite belongs to the L-group of chondrites. Uniformity of silicate compositions and the presence of abundant crystalline plagioclase feldspar (An_10.8Ab_81.7Or_7.5) show that the meteorite belongs to petrologic type 6. Silicates that display undulose extinction, and the absence of any thermal effects induced by shock indicate that Tabbita is shock facies c. Tabbita is distinct from several other L6 chondrites found in the same general area.     

Mineral and chemical composition of the Jezersko meteorite—A new chondrite from Slovenia

The Jezersko meteorite is a newly confirmed stony meteorite found in 1992 in the Karavanke mountains, Slovenia. The meteorite is moderately weathered (W2), indicating short terrestrial residence time. Chondrules in partially recrystallized matrix are clearly discernible but often fragmented and have mean diameter of 0.73 mm. The meteorite consists of homogeneous olivine (Fa_19.4) and low‐Ca pyroxenes (Fs_16.7Wo_1.2), of which 34% are monoclinic, and minor plagioclase (Ab₈₃An₁₁Or₆) and Ca‐pyroxene (Fs₆Wo_45.8). Troilite, kamacite, zoned taenite, tetrataenite, chromite, and metallic copper comprise about 16.5 vol% of the meteorite. Phosphates are represented by merrillite and minor chlorapatite. Undulatory extinction in some olivine grains and other shock indicators suggests weak shock metamorphism between stages S2 and S3. The bulk chemical composition generally corresponds to the mean H chondrite composition. Low siderophile element contents indicate the oxidized character of the Jezersko parent body. The temperatures recorded by two‐pyroxene, olivine‐chromite, and olivine‐orthopyroxene geothermometers are 854 °C, 737–787 °C, and 750 °C, respectively. Mg concentration profiles across orthopyroxenes and clinopyroxenes indicate relatively fast cooling at temperatures above 700 °C. A low cooling rate of 10 °C Myr^?1 was obtained from metallographic data. Considering physical, chemical, and mineralogical properties, meteorite Jezersko was classified as an H4 S2(3) ordinary chondrite.     

THE GALATIA,KANSAS, CHONDRITE

The Galatia meteorite was found in August, 1971, approximately 7 km ENE of Galatia, Barton County, Kansas (98° 53′W., 38° 39.5′N). The single stone weighed 23.9 kg and is partially weathered. Olivine (Fa_24.9) and pyroxene (Fs_20.9) compositions indicate L-group classification, and textural observations indicate that the stone is of petrologic type 6. Galatia is similar in many respects to the Otis L6 chondrite (found 20 km to the west), but it does not have the brecciated structure of Otis and, thus, it is not part of the same fall.     

The Binningup H5 Chondrite: A New Fall from Western Australia

Abstract— Following a brilliant daylight fireball at 10:10 a.m. (local time) on 30 September 1984, a single stone weighing 488.1 grams was recovered from Binningup beach (33°09′23″S, 115°40′35″E), Western Australia. Data from 23 reported sightings of the fireball indicate an angle of trajectory 20–40° from the horizontal, a flight-path bearing N210°E and an end-point (ca. 32°39′S, 115°54.5′E) at a height of ～20–30 km. A recrystallized chondritic texture and the presence of olivine and low-Ca orthopyroxene with compositions of Fa_18.4 (PMD 1.1)and Fs_16.1 (PMD 1.1), respectively, show that Binningup is a typical member of the H-group of ordinary chondrites. Uniform mineral compositions and the presence of generally microcrystalline plagioclase feldspar indicate that the meteorite belongs to petrologic type 5. Pervasive fracturing of silicates suggests mild pre-terrestrial shock loading. Measurements (dpm kg^?1) of cosmogenic radionuclides including ²²Na (61 ± 5), ²⁶Al (49 ± 3) and ⁵⁴Mn (66 ± 10) indicate a normal history of irradiation.     

Maralinga,a metamorphosed carbonaceous chondrite found in Australia

Abstract— The Maralinga meteorite was found near the village of Maralinga, South Australia (30°18′S, 131°16′E) in 1974, but was not recognized as a meteorite until 1989. One weathered individual was recovered with a total mass of 3.38 kg. The bulk composition and petrography of Maralinga indicate that it is a metamorphosed (petrographic type 4) carbonaceous chondrite with major similarities to the Vigarano-subtype. However, recent trace element data from the literature suggest that Maralinga should be included with the CK (Karoonda-type) carbonaceous chondrites. We classify Maralinga as an anomalous CK4 chondrite because of its abundant chondrules and refractory inclusions relative to other known members of the CK group. Maralinga contains homogeneous silicates, including Ni-bearing olivines (Fa₃₄), high-Ca clinopyroxene, and rare orthopyroxene. Plagioclase is chemically heterogeneous and falls into two distinct compositional groups one of ～ An₂₀ and an ～ An₈₀ group. Highly oxidizing conditions during metamorphism of Maralinga are indicated by the abundance of magnetite and the paucity of Fe-Ni metal.     

THE CANYONLANDS METEORITE

The Canyonlands meteorite weighing 1,520 grams was found near the confluence of the Green and Colorado Rivers, Utah, near lat 38°11′N.; long 109°53′W. It is a shocked, brecciated H6 chondrite containing large black veins which do not differ in composition from the main chondritic mass. A black fusion crust remains on part of the meteorite.     

HAMMOND DOWNS,A NEW CHONDRITE FROM THE TENHAM AREA,QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA

Among a collection of meteorites from the area of the Tenham shower (Queensland, Australia) was a 27 kg stone which proved to be different from the other Tenham stones. It is a bronzite, H4, chondrite, the principal minerals being olivine (average composition Fa _18.8), clinobronzite and bronzite (average composition Fs_16.4), nickel-iron, and troilite; it is considerably weathered, much of the nickel-iron being converted to limonite. It has a highly chondritic structure, with devitrified glass within the chondrules, and without visible plagioclase. This meteorite was found about 1950 near the Hammond Downs station, hence the name; its coordinates are lat 25° 28′ S., long 142° 48′ E.     

The Anoka,Minnesota, Iron Meteorite*

Abstract The Anoka, Minnesota, meteorite was found on the Joe Fields Farm at location coordinates 45° 12′ N, 93° 26′ W. It is a fine octahedrite distinguished by large fields of dense plessite. The chemical analysis of the meteorite is 84.9 percent iron, 11.75 nickel and 0.51 cobalt.     

The Ardón L6 ordinary chondrite: A long‐hidden Spanish meteorite fall

We report and describe an L6 ordinary chondrite fall that occurred in Ardón, León province, Spain (longitude 5.5605°W, latitude 42.4364°N) on July 9th, 1931. The 5.5 g single stone was kept hidden for 83 yr by Rosa González Pérez, at the time an 11 yr old who had observed the fall and had recovered the meteorite. According to various newspaper reports, the event was widely observed in Northern Spain. Ardón is a very well‐preserved, fresh, strongly metamorphosed (petrologic type 6), and weakly shocked (S3) ordinary chondrite with well‐equilibrated and recrystallized minerals. The mineral compositions (olivine Fa_23.7±0.3, low‐Ca pyroxene Fs_20.4±0.2Wo_1.5±0.2, plagioclase An_10.3±0.5Ab_84.3±1.2), magnetic susceptibility (log χ = 4.95 ± 0.05 × 10^?9 m³ kg^?1), bulk density (3.49 ± 0.05 g   cm^?3), grain density (3.58 ± 0.05 g   cm^?3), and porosity (2.5 vol%) are typical for L6 chondrites. Short‐lived radionuclides confirm that the meteorite constitutes a recent fall. The ²¹Ne and ³⁸Ar cosmic ray exposure ages are both about 20–30 Ma, similar to values for many other L chondrites. The cosmogenic ²²Ne/²¹Ne ratio indicates that preatmospheric Ardón was a relatively large body. The fact that the meteorite was hidden in private hands for 83 yr makes one wonder if other meteorite falls may have experienced the same fate, thus possibly explaining the anomalously low number of falls reported in continental Spain in the 20th century.     

The Campos Sales meteorite from Brazil: A lightly shocked L5 chondrite fall

Abstract— The Campos Sales meteorite fell close to the town of Campos Sales in the northeastern Brazilian state of Ceará (7°2′ S, 40°10′ W) on 1991 January 31 at 10:00 P.M. (local time). Several fragments were recovered from an area estimated to be 1 × 3 km. The stone is an ordinary L5 chondrite (Fa_25.0 and FS_21.6) and is lightly shocked (S1). Metal phases present are kamacite, tetrataenite, and antitaenite. Noble gases He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe have been analyzed in two bulk samples of Campos Sales. All exposure ages based on determination of cosmogenic ³He, ²¹Ne, ³⁸Ar, ⁸³Kr, and ¹²⁶Xe abundances and on the cosmogenic ⁸¹Kr/⁸³Kr ratio agree well, which suggests no gas loss during cosmic-ray exposure. The cosmic-ray exposure age is 23.3 ± 1.0 Ma, which falls in the range observed for L5 chondrites (20–30 Ma). The gas-retention ages indicate He loss that must have occurred prior to or during ejection from the L-chondrite parent body.     

The orbit of the Dhajala meteorite

Observations of the trail caused by the meteorite which fell around Dhajala, Gujarat (India), on 28 January 1976 have been used to compute the probable orbit of the meteoroid in space. The cosmic ray effects in the meteorite fragments indicate high mass ablation (?90%), suggesting a high velocity (?20 km/sec) of entry into the Earth's atmosphere. The atmospheric trajectory is reasonably well documented and its deviation from the projected ground fallout can be understood in terms of the ambient wind pattern. The apparent radiant of the trail was at a point in the sky with right ascension 165°, declination +60°. Considering the errors in estimating the radiant, we get a range of orbits with a = 2.3 ± 0.8 AU, e = 0.6 ± 0.1, and i = 28 ± 4° with the constraints of a ? 1.5 AU and V_∞ < 25 km/sec (which causes nearly complete evaporation of the meteoroid). Taking V_∞ = 21.5 lm/sec as indicated by the measured mass ablation of the meteorite, the orbital elements are deduced to be $\text{a = 1.8}\text{AU}\text{, e = 0.59, i = 27°.6, ω = 109°.1, Ω = 307°.8,}\text{and}\text{q = 0.74}$.     

Lavras do Sul: A New Equilibrated Ordinary L5 Chondrite from Rio Grande do Sul,Brazil

The new Brazilian chondrite, Lavras do Sul, was found in 1985 at Lavras do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul State-Brazil (33°30′48″S; 53°54′65″W). It consists of a single mass weighing about 1 kg, covered by a black fusion crust with grayish interior. Four polished thin sections were prepared from a slice weighing 67 g on deposit at the Museu Nacional/UFRJ. It consists mostly of chondrules and chondrule fragments dispersed in a recrystallized matrix. Most chondrules are poorly defined and range in size from 300 to 2,000 μm, although some of them show distinct outlines, particularly when viewed under cross-polarized transmitted and reflected light. The texture of chondrules varies from non-porphyritic (e.g., barred-olivine, radial-pyroxene) to porphyritic ones (e.g., granular olivine as well as olivine-pyroxene). The meteorite contains mainly olivine (Fa_24.9), low-Ca pyroxene (Fs_22.6) and metal phases, with minor amounts of plagioclase, chromite and magnetite. Mössbauer Spectroscopy studies indicate that the metal phase is kamacite, tetrataenite and antitaenite. Veins of secondary iddingsite crosscut the thin section and some ferromagnesian silicates. The chemical composition indicates that Lavras do Sul is a member of the low iron L chondrite group. The poorly delineated chondritic texture with few well-defined chondrules, the occurrence of rare clinopyroxene and plagioclase (and maskelynite) with apparent diameters ranging from 5 to 123 μm led us to classify Lavras do Sul as an equilibrated petrologic type 5. The shock features of some minerals suggest a shock stage S3, and the presence of a small amount of secondary minerals such as iddingsite and goethite, a degree of weathering W₁. The meteorite name was approved by the Nomenclature Committee (Nom Com) of the Meteoritical Society (Meteoritic Bulletin Nº99).     

Al Huwaysah 010: The most reduced brachinite,so far

Al Huwaysah 010 is an ungrouped achondrite meteorite, recently referred to as a brachinite-like meteorite. This meteorite, showing a fine-grained assemblage of low-Ca pyroxene and opaque phases, is strongly reduced in comparison to other reduced brachinites. The occurrence of some tiny plates of graphite and oldhamite in this meteorite suggests that a partial melt residue has experienced a further reduction process. Olivine, the most abundant phase, is compositionally homogeneous (Fo_83.3) as well as the clinopyroxene (En_45.5Fs_10.8Wo_43.7) and the plagioclase (Ab_69.5). Orthopyroxene (En_85.4Fs_13.9Wo_0.7) also occurs but only in a fine intergrowth. Other accessory phases are Fe metal grains (Ni-free or Cr-bearing Fe-Ni alloy), troilite, chlorapatite, pentlandite (as inclusions in chromite). The sample shows two different closure temperatures: the highest (≈900°C) is determined via the olivine–chromite intercrystalline geothermometer and the lowest temperature (≈520°C) is determined via the pyroxene-based intracrystalline geothermometer. These temperatures may represent, respectively, the closure temperature associated with the formation and a subsequent impact event excavating the sample from the parental body. The visible to near-infrared (VNIR) reflectance spectra of Al Huwaysah 010 exhibit low reflectance, consistent with the presence of darkening components, and weak absorptions indicative of olivine and pyroxene. Comparing the spectral parameters of Al Huwaysah 010 to potential parent bodies characterized by olivine–pyroxene mineralogy, we find that it falls within the field previously attributed to the SIII type asteroids. These results lead us to classify the Al Huwaysah 010 meteorite as the most reduced brachinite, whose VNIR spectral features show strong affinities with those of SIII asteroids.     

The Gove relict iron meteorite from Arnhem Land,Northern Territory,Australia

On February 24, 1979, a deeply oxidized mass of iron meteorite was excavated from bauxite at an open cut mine on the Gove Peninsula, Northern Territory, Australia. The meteorite, measuring 0.75–1 m in diameter and of unknown total weight, was found at coordinates 12°15.8′S, 136°50.3′E. On removal from the ground, the meteorite is reported to have disintegrated rapidly. A preliminary analysis at the mine laboratory reportedly gave 8.5 wt% Ni. A modern analysis of oxidized material gave Ni = 32.9, Co = 3.67 (both mg g^?1), Cr = 168, Cu = 195, Ga = 22.5, Ge = <70, As = 4.16, W = 1.35, Ir = 10.5, Pt = 21.2, Au = 0.672 (all μg g^?1), Sb = <150, and Re = 844 (both ng g^?1). Competent fragments of oxidized material retain a fine to medium Widmanstätten pattern with an apparent average bandwidth of 0.5 mm (range 0.2–0.9 mm in plane section). Primary mineralogy includes rare γ–taenite and daubréelite, and secondary minerals produced by weathering include awaruite (with up to 78.5 wt% Ni) and an, as yet, unnamed Cu‐Cr‐bearing sulfide with the ideal formula CuCrS₂ that is hitherto unknown in nature. Deep weathering has masked many of the features of the meteorite; however, the analysis normalized to the analyses of fresh iron meteorites favors chemical group IIIAB. The terrestrial age of the meteorite is unknown, although it is likely to be in the Neogene (2.5–23 Ma), which is widely accepted as the major period of bauxite formation in the Northern Territory of Australia. Gove is the second authenticated relict meteorite found in Australia.     

Reclassification and thermal history of Trenzano chondrite

Abstract— We present a new single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction (XRD) study performed on a suite of six orthopyroxene grains from the low‐shocked H6 Trenzano meteorite. The quenched intracrystalline Fe²⁺‐Mg ordering state in orthopyroxene preserves the memory of the cooling rate near closure temperature T_c, thus yielding useful constraints on the last thermal event undergone by the host rock. The orthopyroxene T_c of 522 ± 13 °C, calculated using a new calibration equation obtained by Stimpfl (2005b), is higher than in previously published H chondrite data. The orthopyroxene cooling rate at this T_c is about 100 °C/kyr. This fast rate is inconsistent with the much slower cooling rate expected for H6 in the onion shell structural and thermal model of chondrite parent bodies. A petrographic study carried out at the same time indicated that the Trenzano meteorite is an H5 chondrite and not an H6 chondrite, as it is officially classified. Furthermore, the two‐pyroxene equilibrium temperature of Trenzano (824 ± 24 °C), calculated with QUILF95, is similar to the two‐pyroxene temperature of 750–840 °C obtained for the Carcote (H5) chondrite (Kleinschrot and Okrusch 1999).     

An experimental study on kinetically‐driven precipitation of calcium‐magnesium‐iron carbonates from solution: Implications for the low‐temperature formation of carbonates in martian meteorite Allan Hills 84001

Abstract— Spherical carbonate globules of similar composition, size, and radial Ca‐, Mg‐, and Fe‐zonation to those in martian meteorite Allan Hills (ALH) 84001 were precipitated from Mg‐rich, supersaturated solutions of Ca‐Mg‐Fe‐CO₂‐H₂O at 150 °C. The supersaturated solutions (pH ? 6–7) were prepared at room temperature and contained in Teflon^TM‐lined stainless steel vessels, which were sealed and heated to 150 °C for 24 h. Experiments were also conducted at 25 °C and no globules comparable to those of ALH 84001 were precipitated. Instead, amorphous Fe‐rich carbonates were formed after 24 h and Mg‐Fe calcites formed after 96 h. These experiments suggest a possible low‐temperature inorganic origin for the carbonates in martian meteorite ALH 84001.     

THE BORGO SAN DONINO METEORITE: MINERALOGY AND CHEMISTRY

The principal data are collected about the fall, April 19, 1808, and the distribution of the fragments of the Borgo San Donino, Italy, meteorite (long. 44° 52′ N.; lat. 11° 03′ E.). An Almost complete individual, weighing 447 g is described in some detail. Crust morphology, mineralogical composition, chemical composition and petrology were studied. Optical data were established by microscopic analysis of both thin and polished sections. The Borgo San Donino is an ordinary LL-group chondrite, with a fundamentally hypochondritic texture and evident features of recrystallization and metamorphism. The presence of some anomalous chondrules is discussed     

THE WILLOWBAR METEORITE*

The Willowbar, Oklahoma meteorite was found by Kendall Rhoton in December, 1971, lat 36° 44′ N.; long 102° 12′ W. It is a shocked brecciated L6 chondrite (Fa-24.3) with large black veins cutting areas of normal chondritic texture. It weighed 2.07 kg.