Dar al Gani (DaG) 521

Ordinary Chondrite, CV3
Found in Libya, 1997

Dar al Gani (DaG) 521 is a carbonaceous chondrite that belongs to the CV3 group, the same classification as the celebrated Allende meteorite that fell in Mexico in 1969. The “V” is for Vigarano, a meteorite that fell in Italy in 1910 and is the first known example of this group. CV3s show large chondrules, but little alteration, meaning they have survived, largely unchanged, since the birth of our solar system.

The DaG 521 find consisted of a single stone weighing 1,567 grams and recovered in 1997 on a limestone plateau in Libya, known as Dar al Gani. It was examined and classified by the Museo Nazionale dell’Antartide, Università di Siena in Siena, Italy. It was acquired and prepared by meteorite expert Allan Lang of R.A. Langheinrich Meteorites, shortly after its 1990s recovery and has remained in his collection until now. This rare CV3 is seldom available to collectors and we have not seen a specimen offered for sale for many years.