Itqiy meteorite

Coordinates: 26°35′27″N 12°57′8″W / 26.59083°N 12.95222°W / 26.59083; -12.95222
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Itqiy meteorite
Observed fall
Yes[3]
Fall date1990[3]
Found date1990 + 2000-07[3]
TKW0.410 kilograms (0.90 lb)[3] + 4.310 kilograms (9.50 lb)[3]

The Itqiy meteorite is an enstatite-rich stony-iron meteorite. It is classified as an enstatite chondrite of the EH group that was nearly melted and is therefore very unusual for that group.[2][4] Other classifications have been proposed and are an ongoing scientific debate.

History

Itqiy was initially attributed to a 1990 fireball in Western Sahara. One stone was recovered by a nomad, and a second stone was recovered in July 2000 by Marc, Luc, and Jim Labenne who were searching for meteorites in the same location.[3] The meteorite was analyzed in 2001.[5] Later work showed that the meteorite had fallen nearly 6,000 years ago and was not associated with any recent fireball. [6]

Mineralogy and petrology

Itqiy is a

stony meteorite consisting of 78% enstatite and 22% meteoric iron. The meteoric iron is kamacite with 5.77% nickel. Small amounts of other minerals include troilite, Mg-Mn-Fe sulfides and Fe-Cr sulfides.[2][7]

Classification

The meteorite was described as an "ungrouped stony meteorite" in 2000, and reclassified as an "ungrouped enstatite meteorite" in 2001.

petrologic type of 7, emphasizing that it was a strongly metamorphosed EH chondrite.[2]

Itqiy represents a rock that formed through partial melting of an EH chondrite. This process removed the more volatile minerals like plagioclase.[8] In 2010-1 it was proposed that Itqiy, QUE 94204, QUE 97289, QUE 97348, NWA 2526 and possibly Yamato 793225 form a new group from the same parent body that should be called "primitive enstatite achondrites".[8] [9]

See also

References