New Orleans

Ordinary chondrite (H5)
Fell Sept 23rd, 2003 in New Orleans, Louisiana USA

On the afternoon of September 23rd 2003, a meteorite crashed through the two-story home of Ray and Judy Fausset, who were not at home at the time. Neighbors said that they heard a “terrific noise.”  Two observations of a fireball were recorded. The main mass of the meteorite was found in the crawl space under the house. Powdery meteorite debris and fragments were found along the penetration path throughout the house. A total mass of 19.256 kg was recovered from the Fausset house, the three largest fragments weighing 2966 g, 1292 g and 1001 g. Some additional material (~100 g) was also recovered in the surrounding neighborhood.  Description and classification (S. Nelson, Tulane University; R. Jones and A. Brearley, UNM; T. Bunch and J. Wittke, NAU): The meteorite is light grey with a black fusion crust, and very friable. Abundant metal and troilite are visible on broken surfaces, as well as some thin (mm-thick) impact melt veins. Classification and mineralogy: The meteorite is very fragmented on a sub-mm scale. Mean compositions of olivine, Fa_17.6; orthopyroxene, Fs_15.4Wo_1.4; clinopyroxene, Fs_10.4Wo_24.8; plagioclase, An_12.8Or_5.6; metal, Ni = 6.7 wt %, Co = 0.38 %. Minor chromite and phosphate are present. The meteorite broke a pipe and many fragments sat in water for several days. Because of this and the humid climate in New Orleans, light oxidation of interior metal within small fragments (<100 g) was evident within a week of the fall. Shock level, S1. Specimens: type specimens 82 g UNM and 63 g NAU; main mass with owner.