Northwest Africa 4869 Meteorite Quick Facts
- Name: Northwest Africa 4869
- Year Discovered: 2006
- Approximate Recovery Location: Morocco
- Precise Recovery Location:
- Mass: 191 grams
- Classification: Howardite
- Discovery Type: Found
- Condition: Valid
More Details About the Northwest Africa 4869 Meteorite
The Northwest Africa 4869 meteorite was discovered in 2006. It was recovered in Morocco . It has a mass of 191 grams.
Northwest Africa 4869 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 4869’s official classification is Howardite. The classification “Howardite” refers to a type of stony meteorite known as an achondrite, which lacks chondrules and is believed to have originated from a differentiated parent body. Howardites, in particular, are a common type of achondrite that are thought to be mixtures of eucrites and diogenites, and they often contain minerals like pyroxene and plagioclase, with some of them being rich in solar-wind noble gases, indicating that they may be regolith breccias possibly originating from the asteroid 4 Vesta.
The Northwest Africa 4869 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