S195 - "NWA 17596" MAIN MASS Ordinary Chondrite Type LL3 Meteorite 249g

Meteorite type & CLASS / OFFICIAL NAME or NUMBER (Meteoritical Bulletin Database): NWA 17596 - Ordinary Chondrite - Type LL3

FALL/FIND LOCATION: North West Africa

WEIGHT: 249g full main mass

Size: 7 x 6,8 x 3,2cm

Meteoritical Bulletin Database entry: NWA 17596 Ordinary Chondrite LL3

Writeup from Meteoritical Bulletin Database:

Northwest Africa 17596 (NWA 17596)

(Northwest Africa)

Purchased: 2024 Sep

Classification: Ordinary chondrite (LL3)

History: Purchased by Juan Aviles Poblador in September 2024 from a dealer in Erfoud, Morocco

Petrography: (A. Irving, UWS, and P. Carpenter, WUSL) Well-defined unequilibrated chondrules (apparent diameter 950 ± 420 µm, N = 26) containing glass or devitrified glass are set in a sparse fine grained matrix containing troilite, taenite and kamacite (altered to Fe oxides).

Geochemistry: Olivine (Fa18.1±13.3, range Fa0.5-39.3, N = 7; Cr2O3 in ferroan olivine 0.03-0.24 wt.%, mean 0.10±0.07 wt.%, N = 9), low-Ca pyroxene (Fs19.2±5.6Wo1.4±2.1, range Fs12.9-26.29Wo0.2-4.6, N = 4), pigeonite (Fs26.7Wo17.5), subcalcic augite (Fs21.4Wo33.5), augite (Fs20.3±1.0Wo37.4±1.6, range Fs19.6-21.0Wo36.2-38.5, N = 2). Magnetic susceptibility log χ (× 10-9 m3/kg) = 3.97.

Classification: Ordinary chondrite (LL3).

Specimens: 20.9 g including one polished thin section at UWB; remainder with Mr Juan Aviles Poblador.

Observations:

The authenticity of this specimen is guaranteed and certified by me, the Geologist J.A.Poblador, member of the Global Meteorite Association G0043 and International Meteorite Collectors Association IMCA 5681. 

The fresh cut observed in the specimen is from where a sample was taken for classification and deposit in UWB.

Scale cube: 1cmx1cm

Provenance chain: Im the main mass holder - Geologist Juan A. Poblador (Jurassic Dreams-Galactic Dreams Department)

The meteorite would have started its journey from the Jupiter-Mars asteroids belt, leaving it at some point and begun floating freely in space. Eventually, this mass intersected with the Earth's own orbit where its surface was flash-heated to 2,800 degrees Fahrenheit on entry, then rapidly cooled in the frigid temperatures of Earth's upper atmosphere, before slowing to approximately 200 miles per hour on its final descent. This fall would have lit the Saharan sky up before hurtling down to its site of discovery.