Northwest Africa 5120 Meteorite Quick Facts
- Name: Northwest Africa 5120
- Year Discovered: 2001
- Approximate Recovery Location: Morocco
- Precise Recovery Location: (0.0, 0.0)
- Mass: 12 grams
- Classification: L4
- Discovery Type: Found
- Condition: Valid
More Details About the Northwest Africa 5120 Meteorite
The Northwest Africa 5120 meteorite was discovered in 2001. It was recovered in Morocco (0.0, 0.0). It has a mass of 12 grams.
Northwest Africa 5120 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 5120’s official classification is L4. The classification “L4” refers to a type of ordinary chondrite from the L group. These meteorites are characterized as petrologic type 4, which means they contain numerous chondrules and have undergone metamorphism that altered the composition of olivine and the fine-grained matrix, but they lack primary igneous chondrule glass.
The Northwest Africa 5120 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