Brachina meteorite
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Brachina meteorite | |
|---|---|
| Type | Primitive achondrite |
| Class | Asteroidal achondrite |
| Group | Brachinite |
| Composition | olivine, plagioclase, clinopyroxene, iron-sulfide, chromite, chlorapatite, pentlandite, meteoric iron, melt inclusions |
| Country | Australia |
| Region | South Australia |
| Coordinates | 31°18′00″S 138°23′00″E / 31.300000°S 138.383333°E |
| Observed fall | No |
| Found date | 26 May 1974 |
| TKW | 202.85 grams (7.155 oz) (2 fragments) |
The Brachina meteorite is the type specimen of the brachinites class of the asteroidal achondrites.
The meteorite is named after Brachina in South Australia. Two fragments (total 200 g) were found by B.M. Eves at 31°18′00″S 138°23′00″E / 31.300000°S 138.383333°E on 26 May 1974.[1]
Description
The mineral composition of the Brachina meteorite is olivine (80%), plagioclase (10%), Clinopyroxene (5.5%), iron-sulfide (3%), chromite (0.5%), chlorapatite (0.5%) and pentlandite (0.3%) and traces of meteoric iron. Melt inclusions consist of glass with orthopyroxene and anorthoclase. The chemical and mineralogical composition is similar to the Chassigny meteorite, but the trace elements are fundamentally different.[2]
Parent body
Melt inclusions indicate that there were melting processes active on the brachinite parent body.[2]