Northwest Africa 1789 Meteorite Quick Facts
- Name: Northwest Africa 1789
- Year Discovered: 1999
- Approximate Recovery Location: Morocco
- Precise Recovery Location:
- Mass: 44.04 grams
- Classification: Eucrite-mmict
- Discovery Type: Found
- Condition: Valid
More Details About the Northwest Africa 1789 Meteorite
The Northwest Africa 1789 meteorite was discovered in 1999. It was recovered in Morocco . It has a mass of 44.04 grams.
Northwest Africa 1789 is considered a “Valid” meteorite. “Valid” meteorites are typical meteorites with average weathering, while “relict” meteorites are those that have been extremely altered, either due to weathering over time or human intervention.
Northwest Africa 1789’s official classification is Eucrite-mmict. The “Eucrite-mmict” classification designates an achondrite from the eucrite group, specifically identified as a monomict breccia, which means it is composed of fragments from a single type of rock. This classification situates the meteorite within the most abundant group of basaltic achondrites, characterized by Fe-rich pyroxene and Na-poor plagioclase, and sharing important geochemical links with diogenites and howardites in the HED meteorite family, possibly originating from asteroid 4 Vesta.
The Northwest Africa 1789 meteorite is a “Found” meteorite. Meteorites are classified as “falls” if they were observed falling and recovered, while “finds” are those discovered later, often weathered by longer exposure to Earth’s environment and without a record of being seen as they fell.
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Last Updated: 1/15/24