Minas Gerais meteorite, Minas Gerais, Brazili

Regional Level Types
Minas Gerais meteorite	Meteorite Fall Location
Minas Gerais	State
Brazil	Country

Minas Gerais meteorite, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Ordinary Chondrite (L6, veined)
Find, 1888; 1224 g, single stone

The Minas Gerais meteorite, an apparently recent fall, was found in a drawer accompanied only by a note that it was from the Minas Gerais region.

The meteorite has a highly recrystallized relatively lightly colored matrix with only a few discernible rounded chondrules, often poikilitic or porphyritic. Olivine (Fa25) and low-Ca pyroxene (Fs20.9), accompanied by minor plagioclase, are the dominant silicates. Fe-Ni metal (~8.5 wt%) consists of kamacite and taenite, including some distinctly plessitic regions. Troilite appears to be somewhat sparse ( ~4 wt%), but is nevertheless accompanied by other accessory sulfides. Total iron (~22 wt%) as well as the olivine and pyroxene compositions are characteristic of the L (low iron) group of ordinary chondrites. The homogeneous (equilibrated) olivine and pyroxene, the clear plagioclase grains, and the diffuse chondrule boundaries are characteristic of petrologic type 6 ordinary chondrites. Shock veins and, presumably plessite, are indicative of moderate shock. Shock levels, however, are not quantified in the sources cited.

A Uranium-He age 3.4 Ga has been reported.

The main mass has been held at the Mus. Nac. Rio de Janeiro.

What's in a name?? The 'Minas Gerais' meteorite has now been recognized for over a century. However, 'Minas Gerais (b)', a much smaller H4 meteorite (42.6 g) was only recently recognized (2001).

References