The Atacamaites were discovered in the Atacama desert in Chile.
They are black and glassy objects of about 1 cm, they were formed following an impact about 7.8 million years ago.
Their small size, heterogeneity, state of oxidation and level of contamination distinguish them from tektites, which is why a study conducted by J. Gattacceca, Bertrand Devouard, Jean-Alix J-A Barrat, Pierre Rochette, M.L. Balestrieri, G. Bigazzi, G. Ménard, F. Moustard, E. dos Santos, R. Scorzelli, proposes to name them “tektoids”.
The impactor was an iron meteorite, most probably of the IIAB group.
The Atacamaites were discovered in the Atacama desert in Chile.
They are black and glassy objects of about 1 cm, they were formed following an impact about 7.8 million years ago.
Their small size, heterogeneity, state of oxidation and level of contamination distinguish them from tektites, which is why a study conducted by J. Gattacceca, Bertrand Devouard, Jean-Alix J-A Barrat, Pierre Rochette, M.L. Balestrieri, G. Bigazzi, G. Ménard, F. Moustard, E. dos Santos, R. Scorzelli, proposes to name them “tektoids”.
The impactor was an iron meteorite, most probably of the IIAB group.
The Atacamaites were discovered in the Atacama desert in Chile.
They are black and glassy objects of about 1 cm, they were formed following an impact about 7.8 million years ago.
Their small size, heterogeneity, state of oxidation and level of contamination distinguish them from tektites, which is why a study conducted by J. Gattacceca, Bertrand Devouard, Jean-Alix J-A Barrat, Pierre Rochette, M.L. Balestrieri, G. Bigazzi, G. Ménard, F. Moustard, E. dos Santos, R. Scorzelli, proposes to name them “tektoids”.
The impactor was an iron meteorite, most probably of the IIAB group.
The reference fall is the Karoonda meteorite that fell in 1930 in Australia.
CK meteorites have inclusions called CAI’s, (calcium and aluminum rich mineral inclusions), formed 4,567 to 4,571 million years ago, they are the oldest materials in the Solar System.
Kheneg Ljouad is a 10 kg meteorite that fell in Morocco and has been classified as an LL5/6 type chondrite.
This is the only fall observed of this classification.
On Wednesday, July 12, 2017, at approximately 11:13 p.m. Moroccan summer time (GMT+1,) a bright fireball was widely seen throughout southern Morocco.
The fireball lasted several hours and was followed by a series of bangs heard throughout southern Morocco. This event was later reported by the national television channel). The site of the fall is in a militarized area of Morocco, but close to the border with Algeria. The military and nomads were the first to arrive at the site of the fall and the first piece was found within 12 hours of the fireball on July 13. A field mission was organized by H. Chennaoui Aoudjehane (FSAC), M. Aoudjehane, A. Bouferra and H. El Harbi on Saturday, July 15 to collect information on the fall and samples for classification and submission. The team obtained permission to enter the militarized zone and went to the fall site on July 16. The team encountered several hunters with fresh, black, fusion crusted stones.
