Geological: A Fascinating Specimen of the NWA 869 L-Chondrite Meteorite

Origin: Found, North West Africa
Period: N/A
Provenance: Tindouf, Algeria, North West Africa in 2000
Date: c. 4.5 billion years old
Width: 5 cms
Weight: 100 grams

Probably falling to Earth less than 10,000 years ago, here we have one of the most interesting ordinary Chondrites found in North West Africa, this particular example seems to be an L4/5 and shows some regmaglypting and primary fusion crust.

A much-studied meteorite, classified variously as L3 to L6: some examples show brecciation and higher metal content than others but this chondrite is classified as NWA 869, published in Meteoritical Bulletin #90 as an L4-6 fragmental breccia with a shock rating of S3 and a weathering level of W1.

Chondritea are a type of meteorite containing mineral spheres called chondrules. Most chondrites are believed to originate in the asteroids that orbit the sun between Jupiter and Mars and have not been modified due to melting or differentiation of the parent body. They are formed when various types of dust and small grains that were present in the early solar system accreted to form primitive asteroids.

Very fine and attractive, this example is of a desirable size and shape, displaying fantastic attributes.