What type of meteorite

[Hook111111]

What type of meteorite
Nodium magnet attracts very little

 

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[Hook111111]

The magnet has an attractive rate of 5% or less, there is a possibility that it is Ordnier or LL

 

[galenrog]

Why do you think it is a meteorite?

Time for more coffee.

 

[Hook111111]

I know that it is a meteor because nickel stains are found in several places of the meteorite

 

[Hook111111]

Secondly, I am a buyer from a meteorite dealer from Africa and I know the shape of the fusion crust very well and it is shown in the pictures. This is a meteorite.

 

[Red-Coat]

I have to disagree with those dismissing your ‘meteorite’. Your specimen has a very typical appearance for a Saharan desert-weathered chondrite. Only some additional testing would confirm it, but from your pictures I don’t see any obvious red flags.

There is a very large strewnfield which has been yielding meteorite fragments of this type in recent years and reaching the market as generic NWA material. The location is not being disclosed by the finders but is believed to be on the border of Algeria and the meteorites are appearing on the market in Morocco (generally claimed as having been found there).

Although it’s oft-repeated here on the forum that if it ain’t magnetic then it’s not a meteorite, that of course is not true. It only applies to the commonly found types. But if what you have is a meteorite then it doesn’t look like an achondrite (which might well have little or no attraction to a magnet).

The ‘L’ group of chondrites (within which the ‘L’ stands for low iron) typically have about 20-25% total iron with only about 4-10% as free metal. Those will nevertheless still show noticeable attraction to an ordinary magnet. The ‘LL’ group of chondrites (low iron and low metal) typically have about 19-22% total iron but with only about 1-3% free metal. Certainly, the specimens at the lower end may not show significant attraction to an ordinary magnet and only weak attraction to a rare-earth magnet.

LL chondrites are the least common class of ordinary chondrite, but not especially rare in the overall scheme of things. They also tend to be brecciated (attesting to a violent history in the solar system) such that fragments can have a quite variable composition from piece to piece. Some more magnetic than others.

 

[crashbandicoot]

Why all the dissing when someone posts what he thinks is a meteorite? Seems like a simple yes it is or no its not would suffice.I really don,t see why all the discouraging remarks.

 

[Al D]

Looks like you have a real one there, it has all the visuals of a real meteorite, good score.

 

[galenrog]

Thank you for your answers Hook111111. Often people post rocks that have what we in the western US call a “desert varnish”, which can have an appearance similar to a fusion crust, so I was looking for a bit more from you. I do not own any LL meteorites, so I am a bit unfamiliar with them. Had to dig out a few books and read. From the images, a combination of the exterior crust and interior texture are very similar to NWA LL types I found in a few hours of hitting the books. Thank you for showing an example of what I hope is a genuine LL type meteorite.

Time for more coffee.

 

[Red-Coat]

Seems like the naysayer post has been deleted, although I don't know whether this was the action of one of the Moderators.

Although I frequently respond in the negative when people ask the question "is this a meteorite?" I try to say why... that is point out the contra-indicators if I can see them. That's not the case here and I remain supportive that this specimen has no red flags, has an appearance commonly seen in Saharan specimens, and has no magnetic properties inconsistent with a very low metal chondrite. That of course doesn't mean that it is a meteorite but certainly it's well worthy of next-level testing and my guess is that it will pass those tests.

 

[Fossils]

I have to disagree with those dismissing your ‘meteorite’. Your specimen has a very typical appearance for a Saharan desert-weathered chondrite. Only some additional testing would confirm it, but from your pictures I don’t see any obvious red flags.

There is a very large strewnfield which has been yielding meteorite fragments of this type in recent years and reaching the market as generic NWA material. The location is not being disclosed by the finders but is believed to be on the border of Algeria and the meteorites are appearing on the market in Morocco (generally claimed as having been found there).

Although it’s oft-repeated here on the forum that if it ain’t magnetic then it’s not a meteorite, that of course is not true. It only applies to the commonly found types. But if what you have is a meteorite then it doesn’t look like an achondrite (which might well have little or no attraction to a magnet).

The ‘L’ group of chondrites (within which the ‘L’ stands for low iron) typically have about 20-25% total iron with only about 4-10% as free metal. Those will nevertheless still show noticeable attraction to an ordinary magnet. The ‘LL’ group of chondrites (low iron and low metal) typically have about 19-22% total iron but with only about 1-3% free metal. Certainly, the specimens at the lower end may not show significant attraction to an ordinary magnet and only weak attraction to a rare-earth magnet.

LL chondrites are the least common class of ordinary chondrite, but not especially rare in the overall scheme of things. They also tend to be brecciated (attesting to a violent history in the solar system) such that fragments can have a quite variable composition from piece to piece. Some more magnetic than others.

Thank you for this. Sometimes it seems that there are members who give a blanket “not a meteorite” response to everything that is posted on this forum, regardless of the visual characteristics. This is not the first time that rocks that do potentially resemble meteorites have been quickly given negative dismissals. I am interested in learning more about meteorites, and I’m sure there are many others on this forum who think the same. Informative replies like yours are always very helpful

 

[blauer]

Seems like the naysayer post has been deleted, although I don't know whether this was the action of one of the Moderators.

Although I frequently respond in the negative when people ask the question "is this a meteorite?" I try to say why... that is point out the contra-indicators if I can see them. That's not the case here and I remain supportive that this specimen has no red flags, has an appearance commonly seen in Saharan specimens, and has no magnetic properties inconsistent with a very low metal chondrite. That of course doesn't mean that it is a meteorite but certainly it's well worthy of next-level testing and my guess is that it will pass those tests.

Oh. It was! Calling out someone is not allowed I guess.

 

[Barber..]

Why all the dissing when someone posts what he thinks is a meteorite? Seems like a simple yes it is or no its not would suffice.I really don,t see why all the discouraging remarks.

Exact reason I've never posted mine, that I know for sure is a meteorite.. How I know it is real is I was standing in the yard when it came crashing through the tree, I saw it hit and heard the thud as it hit the ground.. It was about 4 inches in, and when I dug it out it was still warm.. Most of it is crusted, has a ton of sparklies, heavier than it should be, and is about the size of a golf ball.. However it is porous, non magnetic, and I saw a picture once that looked "kinda" like it, and was said to be just a rock.. I know what I saw, and heard, I don't want to argue about it, and I don't like to be called a liar, so I just won't post it.

 

[Captainpeep]

This guy from Washington University in St. Louis has lots of great info for identifying meteorites or more often meteor wrongs, as he calls them. https://sites.wustl.edu/meteoritesite/items/what_to_do/

 

[Luciano321]

I think I found a meteorite once, long ago, when I did not know better....I threw it away....Only years later I realized my mistake....