Northwest Africa 6491 Meteorite Quick Facts
- Name: Northwest Africa 6491
- Year Discovered: 2004
- Approximate Recovery Location: Morocco
- Precise Recovery Location: (0.0, 0.0)
- Mass: 1100 grams
- Classification: R3-5
- Discovery Type: Found
- Condition: Valid
More Details About the Northwest Africa 6491 Meteorite
The Northwest Africa 6491 meteorite was discovered in 2004. It was recovered in Morocco (0.0, 0.0). It has a mass of 1100 grams.
Northwest Africa 6491 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 6491’s official classification is R3-5. The R3-5 classification describes a Rumuruti (R) chondrite meteorite, which is a mixed or brecciated type composed of materials that vary in their degree of metamorphism, spanning from petrologic type 3 to type 5. R chondrites, known for their unique composition and mineralogy that don’t neatly fit into the main chondrite categories, are characterized by a mix of elements like magnesium and silicon in lower proportions compared to the Sun, distinct oxygen isotopic ratios, and a highly oxidized makeup. This specific classification indicates a range in the meteorite’s texture and mineral composition, from those with abundant chondrules and limited alteration to those with minerals so altered that the original chondrules are blurred or obscured.
The Northwest Africa 6491 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