Stone Meteorites For Sale

Ordinary chondrite, L3 Witnessed fall in Oyo, Nigeria on April 19, 2018 Aba Panu is a witnessed fall that occurred at 14:02:27 on April 19, 2018. Numerous stones landed between the Nigerian villages of Ipapo and Tede. An astonishing entry velocity of almost 13 miles per second was recorded for the incoming mass. That is around 45,000 miles per hour! Aba Panu is an L3 chondrite, meaning it is a stone meteorite comparatively low in metal (nickel-iron) while its chondrules are as close to pristine as we can expect to see. L3 meteorites are particularly interesting to researchers and collectors alike, as they underwent a very low degree of alteration on the parent bodies. Their 4.67-billion-year-old chondrules give us perhaps our best look back at the earliest moments of our own solar system. Aba Panu is delightfully rich in them: white, grey, and cream- colored chondrules and chondrule fragments, varying greatly in size from about 0.1 to several mm across. Densely packed together, their abundance is marvelous, in fact, the meteorite seems to be made up almost entirely of these tiny, ancient intriguing spheres. Also visible are a few nickel-iron flecks and occasional armored chondrules. Combine that with the fact that in all of meteorite history there have only been seven L3 witnessed falls (none of the other six are readily available to collectors) and you have a highly desirable and rarely-offered space rock collectible.

Carbonaceous chondrite (CM2) Found in Bechar Algeria, 2021 Abadla 002 was found in 2022 in Algeria, in Bechar, the capital. Bechar was annexed to French Algeria and subsequently thrived in the coal mining industry. The economy there now is centered around agriculture, producing dates, vegetables, figs, cereals, and almonds. The climate in the region is hot, with temperatures reaching upwards of 115 degrees Fahrenheit in the summers. A CM2, Abadla 002 is a rare type of carbonaceous chondrite—only about 0.8% of known meteorites fall under that classification. The total mass of the find is a minuscule 800 grams. The parent body of CM-type meteorites is not known, though they are assumed to have originated from carbonaceous asteroids, of which there are many. The 2 designation indicates this meteorite was altered by water while in space! Abadla 002 pieces sport a handsome black fusion crust on their exterior and a smattering of small chondrules suspended in a dark grey matrix in their interior, some small CAIs may be present.

Carbonaceous chondrite (CM2) Alajuela, Costa Rica on April 23, 2019 at 21:07 local time A significant fireball traveling from the northwest to the southeast, shortly after 9 pm was observed by many witnesses and recorded on cameras belonging to the National Seismological Network. Fireballs that produce new meteorites on Earth are always big news, but not since 1969 had there been a comparable event. It was not the size of the fireball that generated almost unprecedented excitement, but rather the type of meteorite — an extremely rare carbonaceous chondrite known as a CM2 — which represents only 0.8% of all known meteorites. Witnessed falls produce meteorites that display rich jet black fusion crust, which occurs when the surface of incoming meteorites is superheated in our atmosphere. This rind is fragile and affected by terrestrial weathering when meteorites sit on Earth’s surface for several years. The Aguas Zarca fall produced primarily small stones, the majority of which were unbroken; a rare occurrence due to the violent effects experienced by most meteorites as they blast through Earth’s atmosphere. Meteoriticists noted the stone’s high degree of brecciation. Some stones exhibit clasts with abundant chondrules. Some specimens are rich in nickel-iron and will adhere to a magnet, while others show no attraction. The variation in these specimens is a reflection of the heterogeneity of the parent body, caused by the pummeling and re-accretion of other asteroidal material as it hurtled through space.

Estatite chondrite, EL-melt rock Found in Western Sahara, 2006 Al Haggounia 001 was first discovered in Western Sahara in 2006 near Al Haggounia. Portions of the meteorite were excavated from beneath a sabkha lake and several pieces were found embedded in terrestrial rock. Scientists estimate the meteorite fell in the Late Quaternary period, which makes it a “fossil” or “paleo” meteorite. There’s been some debate over the classification of Al Haggounia 001; in 2016, the meteorite was reclassified by Dr. Alan Rubin of the University of California, Los Angeles as " "vesicular, incompletely melted, EL chondrite impact melt rock[s]". Al Haggounia is an now classified as an enstatite chondrite, EL-melt, a rare type of meteorite that, according to spectral analysis, could have come from asteroid 16 Psyche. They lack significant oxygen content, which suggests enstatites could have formed near the center of the solar nebula that created our solar system. Low in iron, these specimens are distinguished by their large chondrules and variety of weathering stages. Some Al Haggounia pieces are dark brown in color and sport beige veins of clay, while specimens that have experienced less weathering are bluish-grey in color.

Carbonaceous chondrite, CV3.2 Witnessed fall in Chihuahua, Mexico on February 8, 1969 Allende is a rare witnessed fall CV3 carbonaceous chondrite. Allende’s nighttime fireball spread over 50 square kilometers was witnessed by hundreds of people in rural Mexico on February 8, 1969 and numerous specimens were picked up by locals the next morning. Often described as “the most studied meteorite in history,” Allende is one of the most fascinating and desirable space rocks available to collectors. It’s availability for study and commerce is due in large part to Dr. Elbert King, a meteorite specialist who designed NASA’s Lunar Receiving Lab during the Apollo era. As soon as he heard the news, Dr. King traveled from Houston to Chihuahua, in the hope of recovering some samples. He had no idea that Allende would turn out to be a particularly rare type and of great interest to science. The enterprising Dr. King studied Allende for many years and traded specimens with researchers the world over which is, in part, why this meteorite has been so very widely studied. Dr. King’s thrilling Allende adventure is recorded in his enjoyable memoir, Moon Trip. Allende is rich in carbon and the calcium-rich inclusions (CAIs) in the Allende meteorite are about 4.6 billion years old. Allende also contains microscopic diamonds which are believed to be the last remnants of an exploding sun that predates our own solar system by billions of years! As such, at an estimated 12 billion years, they are by far the oldest things any human has ever touched.

Carbonaceous chondrite, CBa Found in Australia, 1930 The strangest space rock! Bencubbin, found in Australia in 1930, gives its name to the ultra-rare bencubbin class. Appearing in every way like an iron (or at least a stony-iron) meteorite, it is, bizarrely, actually a stone carbonaceous chondrite. Showing unique features, this odd bird of the space lanes is as strange as they come, and almost, never available on the collectors’ market.

Ordinary chondrite, H4-5 Carancas, Chucuito, Puno, Peru, Fell: 15 September 2007, ~16: 45 UTC The Carancas meteorite event occurred September 15, 2007 in Peru, near Lake Titicaca and the Bolivian border. Eyewitnesses reported saying ""boiling water started coming out of the crater, and particles of rock and cinders were found nearby"", and that ""fetid, noxious"" gases were escaping from the crater. The meteorite’s impact created a small crater in the soft clay soil, and approximately 600 villagers became ill after the event. Experts believed that the vaporization of troilite present in large quantities in Carancas, might have been the cause for the villagers’ illness. Villagers who visited the site after the impact also reported illness, though all who were affected reportedly recovered a few days later. Carancas was classified by a team of scientists working at the University of Arizona. Found to be an H chondrite breccia, most Carancas pieces are without fusion crust and are light grey in color, with some visible chondrules and dark shock veins.

Ordinary chondrite, LL5 Witnessed fall in Chelyabinskaya oblast’, Russia on February 15, 2013 at 9:22 a.m. Every meteorite enthusiast will forever remember the astonishing news of the truly massive fireball and explosions over the Russian city of Chelyabinsk in February of 2013. It was easily the largest meteoritic event since the Sikhote-Alin fall of 1947. Many of these pieces show impact melt features and a dark grey to nearly black interior. This superbolide was traveling at an astonishing speed of 42,900 mph and generated light brighter than sun. The shock wave from the fireball caused damage to over 7,000 buildings spreading across six cities.

Ordinary chondrite, L4 Found on April 6, 2015 in Clarendon, Texas Clarendon (c) is perhaps the only meteorite to be discovered by a horse. In addition, it happens to be one of the largest chondrites ever found in the United States. Frank and DeeDee Hommel, owners of the Bar H Working Dude Ranch in Clarendon, Texas, went out on horseback the morning of April 6, 2015. Sometime along their ride, their horses “went crazy” when they encountered and sniffed a rather bizarre 760-pound rock a few acres away from the ranch. They, along with Aerolite Meteorites CEO Geoff Notkin and colleague Ruben Garcia, uncovered several more kilograms of fragments from the site. The main mass now resides at the Texas Christian University in Fort Worth where it will be displayed to thousands of visitors.

Ordinary chondrite, L4 Found in Western Australia, 1941 South of Dalgety Downs, Australia in 1941, 217 kilograms of broken fragments — which came from a single large mass — were found. Several additional masses were recovered in subsequent decades. Totaling an impressive total find weight of nearly 500 kilograms, making Dalgety Downs the largest L4 meteorite on record to date. The exteriors of this marvelous meteorite have been weathered as it sat on the surface of our planet in a hot desert climate for potentially thousands of years, being affected by the elements. The interiors display chondrules and are a gorgeous pale blue color — beautiful in contrast to the metal flakes.

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.

Ordinary chondrite, H3.7 Found in Texas, United States, 1942 This ruddy chondrite fell in prehistoric times near what is now Dimmitt, Texas. Dimmitt is classified as a rare H3.7, joined in this classification by many Antarctic meteorites that are virtually unattainable. The strewn field has yielded an impressive amount of Dimmitt meteorites, and it’s now one of the largest meteorites known from North America. Dimmit H-chondrites are regolith breccia, meaning they’re composed of angular rock fragments that have been cemented together. “Regolith” refers to the upper surface of the parent body. As such, Dimmitt meteorites have been and have been known to contain clasts of other types of rock, such as LL5 and carbonaceous clasts. Regolith breccias also contain solar-wind gases and solar-flare tracks.

Ordinary chondrite, H5 Found in Tamaulipas, Mexico, 2013 Numerous fragments and several whole stones, totaling 19.62 kg, were found by an American prospector and his hunting partners in 2013 in Sonora, Mexico, while metal detecting for gold nuggets. The first piece (and the largest), a complete individual weighing 2,396 grams was found on the surface in a sandy area on the eastern side of a large dry wash, a few kilometers northwest of the town of El Boludo. A search with metal detectors of the surrounding area produced numerous additional fragments and a few smaller whole stones. We met with the prospector, purchased all known pieces, and proceeded with the classification process. El Boludo is an Aerolite exclusive.

The Erg Chech 002 (EC) is a remarkable meteorite that was discovered in the Erg Chech region of the Sahara Desert in Algeria. This meteorite is believed to be a fragment of a chondritic protoplanet, a type of celestial body that formed during the early stages of our solar system's evolution. It has garnered significant attention and interest due to its exceptional age, as it is estimated to be over 4.566 billion years old, dating back to the very early days of our solar system. One of the most intriguing aspects of the Erg Chech 002 meteorite is its composition. After analysis, the Erg Chech meteorite were determined to be the oldest volcanic rocks in the solar system — roughly 20 million years older than Earth. This designation is particularly significant because volcanic rocks provide valuable insights into the geological processes and conditions that existed during the early history of our planet. Scientists have extensively studied the Erg Chech 002 meteorite to unravel its unique characteristics. Through various analytical techniques, they have examined its mineralogy, isotopic compositions, and geochemical properties. These investigations aim to shed light on the formation and evolution of the chondritic protoplanet from which the meteorite originated. The discovery of the Erg Chech 002 meteorite has contributed significantly to our understanding of the early solar system and Earth's geological history. Its age and volcanic nature make it a rare and invaluable sample for scientific research. Ongoing studies and analyses of this meteorite are likely to provide further insights into the processes that shaped our planet and the celestial bodies that preceded it.

Ordinary chondrite, H5 Witnessed fall in Burkina Faso, March 5, 1960 A large number of meteorites fell about 1700 hours on March 5, 1960 over the African nations of Burkina Faso (previously the Republic or Upper Volat) and the resulting thunderous sound was heard over 100 kilometers away! Many pieces were later found by farmers working in their fields. Originally named Gao, its was later determined by scientists to be identical to another African meteorite, Guenie, and the two names were fused into one. Specimens show fusion crust and an attractive ochre-patina. Many also show classic features of orientation, including rollover lips.

Ordinary chondrite, L4 Found in United States, 1995 An Arizona gold prospector, Jim Kriegh, discovered ancient stone meteorites in an area of arroyos in Mohave County, Arizona. His friend and fellow metal detectorist, Twink Monrad, joined him in the hunt and they spent years carefully documenting their finds. Gold Basin has been described as “one of best mapped strewnfields in history.” We filmed a first season episode of Meteorite Men at this famous site in 2009.

Carbonaceous chondrite, CBa Found Mohave County, Arizona, United States on February 6, 2021 Grapevine Mesa is home to the Grapevine Mesa Joshua Tree forest in Mohave County, Arizona. The natural landmark consists of 3,206 acres and countless mysterious Joshua trees, also called “desert daggers.” The name “Joshua tree” apparently comes from Mormon settlers who crossed the Mojave in the mid-19th century—the trees, used as guides to traverse the desert, reminded settlers the biblical story of Joshua and the Israelites’ conquest of Canaan. The Grapevine Mesa meteorite is classified as a carbonaceous chondrite of the CB group, described as Bencubbin-like chondrites distinguished by objects that appear similar to chondrules and abundant metal. The space rocks were discovered on February 6, 2021 by metal detectorists who had originally set out looking for gold. The stones are fusion-crusted and appear oxidized, owing to their iron-rich composition. Cba meteorites are incredibly rare, and its serendipitous arrival on the meteorite market was met with great intrigue and excitement.

Ordinary chondrite, L6 Found in Australia, 1966 Hamilton is a stone, veined olivine – hypersthene chondrite meteorite found near Hamilton Station in Queensland, Australia. We are pleased to present Hamilton, as we have not seen them in quite some time. These coffee colored chondrite part slices came out of an old collection and were purchased by Geoffrey in the back of an old train car where they have been stored. They are sliced thick and stand up naturally on their own. Marvelous!

Ordinary chondrite, L6 Gharyan, Libya, Find, possible fall: 2018 Hammadah al Hamra 346 “Ghadamis” is recorded as a possible witnessed fall in Libya on August 26, 2018. Note the rich black fusion crust and large well-formed regmaglypts on these excellent whole stones. The freshness of the crust indicates they were picked shortly after the fall and has experienced little, if any, weathering. Chips in the crust, likely acquired during flight or upon impact, show a light interior with a few relict chondrules. Given the absence of weathering of the stones, it is speculated Ghadamis originated from the 2018 meteor seen over this region. In 2019, Mr. Marcin Cimala purchased 30 kilograms of stones from a Mauritanian meteorite dealer. Stones of this possible fall are currently being traded under the name of Hammadah al Hamra 346 and Ghadamis.

Ordinary chondrite, H4-5 Found in Al Wusta, Oman, 2005 Jiddat al Harasis 264 is named after the desert where it was found in Oman. The desert is the largest strewnfield of meteorites in the country and home to many endangered species, including the Arabian oryx and the Arabian gazelle. Classified as a stone H4-5, JaH 264 comes from the high-iron chemical group of ordinary chondrites and contains abundant chondrules. Science indicates that the H chondrite parent body could be asteroid 6 Hebe, the fifth-brightest object in the asteroid belt. Discovered by Karl Ludwig Hencke, Hebe was named after the Greek goddess of youth.

During the mid-to-late 1990s the French meteorite hunting family Labenne started finding stone meteorites in the arid deserts of Northwest Africa. These finds were made years before the NWA classification system was adopted, and were some of the very first Sahara finds. Each carries a unique hand painted field number. For example “99053” was the 53rd meteorite found during the 1999 expedition. Several have nice polished windows. Luc Labenne continues to be an active member of the meteorite community and Aerolite values its long friendship and professional association with this extraordinary and adventurous European family. This beautiful Labenne Sahara meteorite is an unclassified ordinary chondrite. Its hand-painted field number, “Sahara 99955,” indicates that it was recovered during the Labenne family’s 1999 Sahara expedition. Precursors to the NWA (Northwest Africa) influx of meteorites, Labenne Saharas are desirable and attractive historic pieces.

The Murchison meteorite is a carbonaceous chondrite which fell to Earth September 28, 1969 at 11:00 am, near the town of Murchison, Victoria, Australia. Witnesses described it as breaking into three pieces before it hit the ground and hearing an audible tremor. It is one of the most studied meteorites due to its large size (over 100 kg) and its diverse composition, which includes organic compounds such as amino acids, nucleobases, and hydrocarbons. The Murchison meteorite is of particular interest to scientists studying the origins of life on Earth because it provides valuable insight into the chemical building blocks that may have been present on the early Earth and contributed to the emergence of life. When studied, Murchison was found to contain a microscopic grain that formed before our own planet and sun. This ‘pre-solar’ grain is estimated at 7 billion years old!

At 3:37 A.M. on January 20, 2023 a fireball was reported to be seen streaking the sky over Muskogee, Oklahoma. Meteorite hunters descended upon the area immediately. The Muscogee Nation’s homeland was originally in what is now Tennessee, Alabama, western Georgia, and parts of northern Florida. Their people were forcibly removed to Indian Territory, now Oklahoma, in the 1830s during the Trail of Tears. Muskogee is typically cold and overcast in January, and meteorite hunters, including Loren Miller, Steve Arnold, Pat Branch, Terry Scott, Roberto Vargas, found that to be true as they scrutinized Doppler radar data to triangulate the meteorite’s strewnfield. They collectively recovered five stones. Several days after the initial hunting team left the area, a local discovered a hammerstone that struck a barn roof weighing 388 grams, that was broken in two pieces. The six total recovered stones weigh 1,418.7 grams. The five specimens collected by the initial team are 309.8 grams, 260.3 grams (recovered by a land owner), 262.7 grams, 127.5 grams and 70.6 grams. The 309.8-gram stone was prepared into slices, to be sold into private collections. The 127.5-gram specimen is in its finder’s collection, where it will remain indefinitely. The 260.3-gram, the 262.7-gram, and the 70.6-gram stones were acquired by Aerolite Meteorites; subsequently, the 260.3-gram was purchased by the University of Oklahoma for public display. Aerolite is honored to have donated for the classification and study to the Buseck Center for Meteorite Studies Arizona State University and to the Muscogee Nation. 

Nagjir 001 is a CV3 found in Rio de Oro, Western Sahara. Meaning “River of Gold” in Spanish, Rio de Oro was one of the two territories that made up the Spanish Sahara in the 19th century. Its name comes from a legendary River of Gold that was thought to be in Western Africa—the Portuguese dispatched explorers there with hopes of finding it in the 15th century. Although no gold was discovered, the name stuck. What was found there, however, were four pieces of rock that fit together like a puzzle. That rock was found to be a meteorite, and not just any kind—a rare CV3. The CV3 group comprises some of the most sought-after meteorites, and for good reason. They’re fascinating to study because they’re rich in carbon and calcium-rich inclusions (CAIs), which are about 4.6 billion years old. CV3s also show large chondrules, but little alteration, meaning they have survived, largely unchanged, since the birth of our solar system.

HED achondrite, Eucrite, monomict Found in Northwest Africa, 2015 Eucrites are rare achondrite (without chondrules) meteorites that belong to the HED class. HED meteorites are thought to have originated within the large asteroid Vesta, making them part of only a tiny handful of meteorites with a specific known origin point — lunar and Martian meteorites being the others. Eucrites are particularly difficult to find in the field as — unlike the vast majority of other meteorites — they contain little or no iron, so will not attract strongly to a magnet. The eucrite NWA 10514 is a marvelous stone with a ton of character. There are only 12 kilograms of this meteorite available in the world.

Ordinary chondrite, H5 Found in Eastern Morocco, 2010 NWA 11174 was found by nomads in Eastern Morocco. Only 21 stones were recovered, they were purchased by a dealer in Morocco, and then purchased by Aerolite. They are 51.4 to 1289 g, with a total recovered weight of 7411.1 grams.

Diogenites are a fascinating rock type -- they are thought to be of plutonic origin. In both terrestrial and extraterrestrial geology, plutonic rocks are intrusive igneous rocks. That means they were once lava, but instead of being thrown out by a volcano and cooling on the surface, they cooled slowly underground. Slow cooling means they had time to grow large crystals which are often green in color. The other Vesta meteorite types — howardites and eucrites — journeyed to Earth from a giant asteroid’s surface, but diogenites are different. They originated deep underground and were delivered here on because of the catastrophic meteorite impacts that occurred on Vesta (or a Vesta-like asteroid known as a vestoid) in the distant past. Diogenites are cooled crystalline magma (or lava), excavated from deep inside the asteroid by a meteorite impact so tremendous, it blasted right through the crust to the interior. The excavated material was expelled into space and some of it eventually landed on Earth as diogenite meteorites. Only a single stone of NWA 11342 was found in Morocco in 2017, and these complete laboratory-prepared slices were taken from it. NWA 11342 was classified by Aerolite Meteorites through the Institute of Meteoritics in Albuquerque, NM and the type specimen remains in their permanent collection.

Ordinary chondrite, H4 Found in Temara, Morocco, 2017 NWA 11700 was purchased in the coastal city of Temara, Morocco and exhibits tightly packed, small chondrules set in a recrystallized matrix. An H4, 11700 is an ordinary chondrite; H type chondrites likely originate from asteroid 6 Hebe, or from small near-Earth asteroids that had, in the past, broken off from 6 Hebe. Other, less likely parent body candidates include 3 Juno and 7 Iris.

NWA 12217 Purchased in 2015, Northwest Africa 12217 is an ungrouped achondrite. Some stones exhibit partial fusion crust and a fragmental breccia interior. The meteorite is rich in olivine (the interior of the meteorite reveals large olivine fragments) and studies show that its composition is consistent with an origin of a highly differential body—meaning the parent body had a crust, mantle, and core. NWA 12217 is a cumulate dunite breccia. Dunite is almost entirely composed of olivine and was formed deep in the mantle of the parent body. Finds like these are significant because they bring us a step closer to understanding the differentiation process that took planetismals to planets in the earliest days of the Solar System.

Carbonaceous chondrite, CV3 Found in Niger, 2018 These impressive carbonaceous chondrite meteorite slices are packed with abundant multi-colored chondrules. Containing organic compounds and divided into five subclasses, there is little in the world of meteorites that fascinates like carbonaceous chondrites. Rare and very ancient, some have been shown to contain water, carbon, and even amino acids, suggesting they may have brought the building blocks of life to Earth. As in this specimen, the CV3 sub-group often displays beautiful chondrules (small, glassy spheres) that formed 4.6 billion years ago, at the very dawn of the solar system.

Carbonaceous chondrite, CK5 Morocco, 2018 Found in 2018, NWA 12925 was purchased in Morocco before being submitted for classification. The stone displays a delicate, fusion-crusted exterior and a grey interior sporting some scattered visible CAIs and large chondrules. Though the parent body of these space rocks has yet to be identified, scientists think the anomalies found in the meteorite’s rare earth element abundances are property these rare rocks inherited from the refractory precursors the early solar nebula produced. NWA 12925 is a carbonaceous chondrite, meaning that they contain organic compounds, even water, and amino acids. It’s important to note that while they contain compounds essential to life, the presence of these compounds in these meteorites does not imply that life was present in them or on the parent body from which the meteorite originated. The CK group, which takes its name from the Karoonda meteorite that fell in Australia, is described as being “distinguished by abundant fine-grained matrix (~75 vol%), mm-sized chondrules that lack igneous rims, relatively few refractory inclusions, and a high degree of oxidation,” by the Meteoritical Society.

Carbonaceous chondrite, CV3 Found in Morocco, 2019 NWA 13279 was purchased in 2019 from a Moroccan dealer and classified as an exciting CV3. The CV3s are a subgroup of carbonaceous chondrites that take their name from the Vigarano meteorite, a witnessed fall that fell in 1910 in Italy. Carbonaceous chondrites are rare and very ancient; they contain organic compounds like carbon, water, and even amino acids. The CV3s, a special group of carbonaceous chondrites, exhibit large chondrules, some of which are surrounded by igneous rims, and large inclusions. These chondrules are believed to have formed 4.6 billion years ago, at the very dawn of the solar system. CV3s in particular are unequilibrated chondrites, meaning that the minerals they contain (like olivine and pyroxene) show a wide range of compositions. This suggests that these minerals formed in the solar nebula under volatile conditions. The solar nebula was a flat, rotating disk of gas and dust which condensed to form the solar system.

Winonaite, a primitive achondrite Purchased in 2020 in Morocco NWA 13917 proved to be a remarkable find. The stone was classified as a Winonaite, a primitive achondrite. Primitive achondrites are “non-chondrites,” in that they are pieces of differentiated planetary bodies, like the Moon or Mars, which are defined as having distinct layers, like a core, mantle, and crust. Planetary differentiation occurs on planets, dwarf planets, asteroids, and moons. They are deemed primitive because scientists have observed that some have relic chondrules and compositions that closely resemble those of chondrites, meaning that the stones have retained much of their original chondritic features. The interior of NWA 13917 reveals fine-grained metal veins, resembling lightning bolts, set in a mosaic of minerals. Forsterite, also known as “white olivine,” was also detected in NWA 13917; in 2005, data returned by NASA’s Stardust probe indicated that forsterite is present in cometary dust. In 2011, NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope observed tiny crystals of forsterite in clouds of gas surrounding a forming star. NWA 13917 exhibits a low shock stage, meaning that the matrix has not been extensively fractured.

Ordinary chondrite (H5) Northwest Africa, 2018 Purchased by the Aerolite Meteorites team in 2018 from a Moroccan dealer, NWA 14613 is classified as an H5 chondrite. A dark exterior offsets light grey chondrules revealed in its interior when cut and polished. The parent body of H chondrites is yet unknown, but scientists have pinpointed S-type asteroid 6 Hebe as a possible candidate, with less likely candidates being 3 June and 7 Iris. Of particular note is that H chondrites overall have similar trace element abundances and oxygen isotope ratios to IIE iron meteorites, indicating that they may have originated from the same parent body. Specimens: 25 g including a probe mount on deposit at UNM, Aerolite holds the main mass.

Ordinary Chondrite, LL3 Found in Northwest Africa, 2022 Forty matching stones were purchased from an Algerian meteorite dealer. They have a reddish brown weathered exterior. Some display patches of smooth fusion crust while others lack fusion crust entirely. When prepared in the lab, the saw-cut surface reveals densely packed large chondrules some up to 4 mm in diameter! Some research indicates that L chondrite meteorites may have had their origin in the Ordovician meteor event, which occurred about 467.5 million years ago. Scientists theorize that during this event, fragments from the L chondrite parent body -- believed to have been destroyed about 468 million years ago -- that had made it into Earth-crossing orbits, rained down on Earth. Some sources theorize that this event may have contributed to, or even instigated, the Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event, one of the greatest evolutionary events in the history of life on Earth; it spanned the entire globe and saw vast increases in the variety of types of creatures that inhabited this planet.

HED achondrite (Diogenite) Found in Northwest Africa, 2022 Beautiful rock from Asteroid Vesta, or as recently thought a Vestoid (asteroid similar to Vesta). Diogenites are thought to be of plutonic origin. In both terrestrial and extraterrestrial geology, plutonic rocks are intrusive igneous rocks. That means they were once lava, but instead of being thrown out by a volcano and cooling on the surface, they cooled slowly underground. Slow cooling means they had time to grow large crystals which are often green in color. Only a single 6.2 kilogram stone of NWA 15953 was found by an Algerian dealer in 2022, and these complete laboratory-prepared slices were taken from it. It has been classified by Diogenite (annealed monomict breccia) by A. Irving of UWS and J. Boesenberg, Brown University. They describe it as having, "Annealed breccia composed of larger angular grains (up to 5mm) of orthopyroxene within a finer grained matrix of interlocking orthopyroxene grains accompanied by small grains (~50 µm) of olivine, chromite, troilite and Ni-poor kamacite inclusions. All orthopyroxene exhibits undulose extinction."

A singular stone was purchased from a Moroccan dealer in Errachidia, Morocco by Aerolite’s president, Elizabeth. Upon inspection, the meteorite was classified as an LL3. These chondrites are the rarest of the ordinary chondrites; the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) sent a spacecraft, the Hayabusa, on a return sample mission to an asteroid, called Itokawa, that turned out to be of the LL chondrite type. Scientists theorize that during this event, fragments from the L chondrite parent body — believed to have been destroyed about 468 million years ago — that had made it into Earth-crossing orbits rained down on Earth. This event may have contributed to, or even instigated, the Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event, one of the greatest evolutionary events in the history of life on Earth; it spanned the entire globe and saw vast increases in the variety of types of creatures that inhabited this planet.

The NWA 16242 meteorite is a single stone, broken in two. Fitting together like a puzzle, the interior of this rare CV3 shows large and abundant calcium-aluminum-inclusions, or CAIs, distinctive to this type of space rock. Rare and very ancient, some CV3 meteorites have been shown to contain water, carbon, and even amino acids, suggesting they may have brought the building blocks of life to Earth. As in this specimen, the CV3 sub-group often displays beautiful chondrules (small, glassy spheres) that formed 4.6 billion years ago. CV3s also show large chondrules, but little alteration, meaning they have survived, largely unchanged, since the birth of our solar system.

Carbonaceous chondrite, CV3 Found in Algeria, 2005 With its shiny black exterior and dark brown interior, punctuated by large orange chondrules, this interesting carbonaceous chondrite looks very atypical from most members of its group. Classified by T. Bunch and J. Wittke it is officially described in the Meteoritical Bulletin has having “well-defined chondrules, chondrule fragments, and refractory inclusions set in a slightly weathered matrix.” Our full slices, half stones, and end cuts have been highly polished on a diamond lap to show 4502’s intriguing interior features in the best possible light. With its colorful undifferentiated chondrules, 4502 is a glimpse back to the formation of our solar system, over 4.6 billion years ago.

Carbonaceous chondrite, CV3 Found in Northwest Africa, 2012 A kaleidoscope of chondrules! The colorful, rounded grains clearly visible in NWA 7454 are chondrules that formed in the solar nebula 4.6 billion years ago, as our solar system was being built. These tiny glass spheres hold within them a key to understanding how the rocky bodies of the solar system — including our very own home planet Earth — were born.

Ordinary Chondrite, L5-melt breccia Found in Northwest Africa 2011 Described by A. Irving and S. Kuehner, at the University of Washington as clasts of L5 chondrite material containing sparse chondrules are present within a shock-darkened matrix containing ragged, variably-sized grains of Fe-Ni metal. Olivine, orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, sodic plagioclase, chromite, altered kamacite and troilite. And containing: Olivine (Fa25.3-25.4), orthopyroxene (Fs20.2-20.6Wo1.3-1.4), clinopyroxene (Fs7.4-8.1Wo45.1-43.7).

HED Achondrite, Diogenite Found in Western Sahara, 2013 Vesta is the largest and brightest asteroid in the asteroid belt and the second largest body overall (after the dwarf planet Ceres), with an average diameter of about 525 km (326 miles). That is pretty close to the size of the State of Colorado. Vesta was discovered by the German astronomer Heinrich Wilhelm Olbers in 1807. A couple of billion years ago two massive impacts ejected part of Vesta’s mass and some of that material landed here on Earth as HED (howardite, eucrite, and diogenite) meteorites. It’s astonishing to consider that when you look at photographs of Vesta, or even through a powerful telescope, the actual craters from which the HED meteorites were blasted out can easily be seen, such as Rheasilvia which is over 300 miles wide. So, you could hold one of these HED meteorites in your hand, look at a photo of Vesta, and say to yourself: This came from right there! The other Vesta meteorite types — howardites and eucrites — journeyed to Earth from that giant asteroid’s surface, but diogenites are different. They originated deep underground and were delivered here on because of the catastrophic meteorite impacts that occurred on Vesta in the distant past. Diogenites are cooled crystalline magma (or lava), excavated from deep inside Vesta by a meteorite impact so tremendous, it blasted right through the crust to the interior of our largest asteroid. The excavated material was expelled into space and some of it eventually landed on Earth as diogenite meteorites.

Ordinary chondrite, L3–6 Found in Northwest Africa, 2000 The enigmatic Northwest Africa (NWA) 869 meteorite, found in the year 2000 is, geologically one of the more interesting stone meteorites available to collectors and has been described as a “meteorite science classroom in a single rock.” NWA 869 comes with a highly unusual classification, L 3–6, meaning it exhibits characteristics of different meteorite types (L3 through L6) within a single mass. It is almost as if dissimilar materials were crushed together into a new form. And, in fact, that may be exactly what happened. NWA 869 is a regolith breccia. A regolith is a loose deposit that lies on top of solid rock. Regoliths are seen here on Earth, on the moon, and also on some asteroids. A terrestrial Earth regolith might form as a result of several different actions working together: the weathering of rock by freeze/thaw process, or wind abrasion, for example, and often in combination with plant roots expanding cracks in the rock. There is no wind on the moon, and — we assume — no plants on the asteroids, so extraterrestrial regoliths must be generated by very different processes: likely the repeated impact of meteorites upon the surface of an asteroid, or the collision of asteroids. This regolith breccia is, therefore, believed to be a mix of materials from many sources (meteorites / asteroids) that formed in space and later landed here on Earth, bringing its apocalyptic history with it. In other words, meteorites landing on the surface of NWA 869s parent body (its original “home” asteroid) created a new mixture of materials. So, the meteorite NWA 869 may actually be a collection of many different meteorites in one!

Stone meteorites (H and L chondrites) Found in Northwest Africa Official numbers and names are assigned only to meteorites that have gone through the complex and time-consuming process of classification by an accredited laboratory. There are only a small number of labs in the world authorized to do this type of specialized work. As resources are limited, finders / owners sometimes elect not to go through the classification process and, instead, assign an unofficial designation, like “NWA XXX” to a particular meteorite. Such is the case with these attractive stones.

Achondrite, Aubrite Witnessed Fall in Norton County, Kansas United States, 1948 Norton County, a rare aubrite meteorite with a white interior, crashed to Earth in Kansas in 1948. The 2,300-lb main mass is now the centerpiece of the Institute of Meteoritics museum at UNM Albuquerque. These unusual historic specimens come directly from IOM/UNM and display original collection numbers from the institute. They are still listed in the UNM catalog. You can verify this by visiting the UNM collection page and searching for “Achondrite”, “Achondrite Groupings”, “All Achondrite Groups”, and “All Brecciation Types” for Norton County. THE INSTITUTE OF METEORITICS COLLECTION FROM UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO

Olivine-bronzite, H5 Witnessed fall in Zacatecas, Mexico, on December 15, 1978 The sound of the tempest, bone-shattering roars of a bolide thundered over the cold skies above north-central Mexico at 1850 hrs. on December 15, 1978. The brilliant spectacle could be seen as far as 200 kilometers away as it rained several meteorites in a large 10-kilometer ellipsis a little ways north of the (no-longer-sleeping) village of Nuevo Mercurio. Today, the Nuevo Mercurio strewnfield has produced over 300 individual stones totaling up to about 50 kilograms. This olivine-bronzite chondrite boasts a lasting bold fusion crust and carries with it a reminder of the New Year's gift of a jolting clap from the cosmos.

A rare aubrite, Sebkha el Melah 001 was found by Sahrawi meteorite hunters—the Sahrawi people are native to the western parts of the Sahara desert and are of Hassani Arab and Sanhaji Berber descent. The hunters came across approximately 17 kilograms of the stones in the region of “Wad Alhath” in Mali in March 2022. This region is known for its agricultural actives, which include the production of crops like millet, sorghum, and cotton. Aubrites are achondrites (named after the type specimen, Aubres, which fell in France in 1836) known for their unique petrography. It’s believed that aubrites formed in the early stages of the solar system’s evolution, when asteroids were undergoing differentiation. Sebkha el Melah 001 in particular exhibits enstatite crystals, some of which are milky-white in color, or translucent. Remarkable!

Tank Mountains is a serendipitous find by a gold prospector near the Gold Harp Mine in the remote White Tank Mountains region. This meteorite is estimated to be around 4.5 billion years old, originating from the early stages of our solar system's formation. Individuals are orange-stained and are coated with delicate remnant fusion crust and broad regmaglypts. It exhibits a unique composition, rich in rare minerals and organic compounds, providing invaluable insights into the processes that shaped our cosmic neighborhood.

Carbonaceous chondrite, C2, ungrouped Witnessed fall in Morocco, 2020 An extremely rare witnessed fall, Tarda met Planet Earth at 2:30 pm Moroccan time (GMT+1) Tuesday August 25, 2020 in southern Morocco. The fireball was seen by many observers and created an African sensation, with thousand of people traveling to the fall site. Some pieces were found the very next day, explaining the pristine fusion crust. There are only thirty C2s known in all meteorite history and of those, only four are witnessed falls. Tarda is ungrouped, meaning it is different from other known C2 meteorites. It “likely formed on a hydrated parent body beyond the orbit of Jupiter’ (A. King, et al). In Earth’s ancient history, did meteorites like Tarda bring the water needed for life as we know it to our young and developing world?

Ordinary chondrite, H5, melt breccia Found in Niger, 2016 Tassédet 004 also known as Tchifaddine is the seventh classified H-impact melt breccia! It is a fascinating, newly-discovered impact melt that was found near Agadez in the African nation of Niger. Whole specimens often show an unusual near-spherical shape and a rich, dark remnant fusion crust. Prepared specimens display extraordinary amounts of nickel-iron flecks, and larger slices sometimes contain metal and/or shock viens, and blebs. A unique and visually intriguing newer find that is sure to delight collectors.

Olivine-hypersthene chondrite, L5 Witnessed Fall Near Tsarev village, Volgograd district, USSR. 48°42’N., 45°42’E. December 6, 1922, 0700 hrs, found 1968, recognized 1979. 1968 was a year marked by a worldwide escalation of conflict; however, in a small village in Volgograd Oblast–the primary site of the Battle of Stalingrad during World War II, one of the largest and bloodiest battles in history–a remarkable discovery was made in the quiet fields near the rural village of Tsarev. “Tsarev,” which translates to czar, is a stone meteorite that resulted in one of the largest meteorite showers in Russian history. The meteorite shower happened on December 6, 1922, though the stones were not found until 1968. The mineral composition of Tsarev is consistent with that of ordinary chondrites: olivine, orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, maskelynite, calcium phosphates, nickel-iron, troilite, chromite, ilmenite, and rutile. Academic samples of the Tsarev meteorite reveal large grains of nickel-iron, light grey areas with a well-preserved chondritic texture, and dark areas containing a matrix with olivine grains and a relics of chondrules. Though its parent body remains unknown, experts suspect the meteorite may have originated on or near the surface of the body.

Ordinary chondrite, L6 Witnessed fall in Cuba, February 2019 Viñales is a witnessed meteorite fall, one of the rarest natural phenomena that human beings experience. A bolide – a large meteor or a fireball – was seen falling across the sky over the province of Pinar Del Rió in Cuba on February 1, 2019 at approximately 1:17 pm local time. The meteorite’s fiery entry into Earth’s atmosphere came with several sonic booms and caused the ground to rumble, which led local residents to believe a plane had crashed. The resulting meteor shower fell on Viñales Valley, a forested area and a UNESCO world heritage site. Traditional methods of agriculture have survived there for hundreds of years, along with rich cultural elements like architecture, crafts, and music. Here, local residents and meteorite hunters recovered meteorite individuals that had penetrated the ground, broken through asphalt roads, or landed on rooftops. Viñales individuals are notable for their deep black fusion crust; the stones’ light grey interior can be seen where the crust has broken in the meteorites’ traverse through the atmosphere to Earth. Some individuals display reddish smears of laterite clay, which is rich in iron and aluminum. When sliced, Viñales exhibits striking, dark shock veins and visible chondrules, melt rock inclusions, and grains of troilite, kamacite, and other minerals. Several specimens were collected for scientific research, leaving plenty of stone individuals available for collectors and enthusiasts who hope to share in the discoveries that are sure to be made about this exquisite space rock.

Ordinary chondrite, H3-6 Witnessed fall in Western Sahara, August 1998 The Zag meteorite has a remarkable history. The fireball which produced it was witnessed by nomads in the Western Sahara. There was some debate as to the actual date, which is why the fall is described as ”August 4 or 5.” The nomads found the fall site, and packed the stone meteorites out of the desert on the backs of their camels. Nomads broke one of the large pieces up to see what was inside, hence the fragments. Zag is interesting for other reasons that its colorful recovery story. It is believed to have originated on the asteroid 6 Hebe, is one of the very few meteorites to exhibit slickenside and recent research has also shown that it contains water! Only a tiny handful of meteorite specimens boast such a colorful and fascinating history. The Zag meteorite gives us a distance glimpse of the forces and processes at work in our solar system. (Please note that Zag includes comparatively small amounts of water that were measured by sophisticated lab equipment. Water is not visible to the naked eye.) A witnessed fall is a meteorite whose arrival on our planet was seen and documented by credible observers. Witnessed falls are very rare, and are highly prized by collectors. Slickenside is a geological term used to describe a polished face on a rock, created when two adjacent masses move against each other for a prolonged period of time. While fairly commonplace on earth, slickenside is extremely rare in meteorites, and shows us that some of the processes at work on astral bodies such as large asteroids, are very similar to those which occur on our home planet Earth. Zag and Carancas are two of the very few meteorites which show slickenside, and the dark surfaces are sometimes mistaken for fusion crust.

Ordinary Chondrite, H3-4 Witnessed fall in Baluchistan, Pakistan, January 2020, 31°22’N, 69°34’E A rare witnessed fall out of Baluchistan, Pakistan, a province known for its unique culture and extremely dry desert climate. It’s also home to the Princess of Hope, a natural rock formation resembling a woman looking out beyond the horizon, named by actress Angelina Jolie when she visited the area in 2002. On the evening of February 23, 2020, a fireball was seen streaking over the northern part of the province, followed by several sonic booms. The falling stones showered a local village in the Zhob district, with one stone striking and falling through a house located in the area. Goat herders would find the largest stone collected; most Zhob stones, of which there have been four to date, display shallow regmaglypts and a rich, matte black fusion crust. The interior of Zhob reveals a light-grey matrix sporting a breccia of light-colored clasts.