Beenham meteorite, Union County, New Mexico, USAi
Regional Level Types | |
---|---|
Beenham meteorite | Meteorite Fall Location |
Union County | County |
New Mexico | State |
USA | Country |
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
36° 13' 0'' North , 103° 38' 59'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Locality type:
Meteorite Class:
Meteoritical Society Class:
Köppen climate type:
Nearest Settlements:
Place | Population | Distance |
---|---|---|
Clayton | 2,774 (2017) | 49.2km |
Ordinary chondrite, veined (L5,br)
Find, 1937; 44.4 kg
A number of masses and fragments were found. Remnants of fusion crust are still present in some instances. Inspections reveal chondrules and chondrule fragments of varying sizes and glass along with relatively equilibrated silicates within a brecciated, vein-rich grayish matrix. Compositionally, bulk iron contents (very roughly 15 wt% Fe), equilibrated olivine (Fa23.6), and low Ca-orthopyroxene are characteristic of the L-chondrite chemical group. Mineralogically, the meteorite consists primarily of olivine accompanied by both Ca-poor clinopyroxene and orthopyroxene plus smaller amounts of plagioclase (oligoclase). Minor troilite and Fe-Ni metal are also present in approximately equal proportions. Accessory chromite, ilmenite, merrillite, and isocubanite have also been reported. Strong mosaicism in olivine and twinned Ca-poor clinopyroxene [more abundant than orthopyroxene ('hypersthene')] and glass are due to shock effects. Multiple shock effects and movements in metal and troilite — Neumann lamellae in kamacite, twin lamellae in troilite, plessitic intergrowths — are detailed in Buseck (1967). Limonite stains are not uncommon.
A recent U-He age of ~1.59 Ga is reported. Combined with results from earlier K-Ar dating, these ages are believed to indicate a major collision involving an intermediate parent body (IPB) during the last one or two eons. Indeed, Buseck argues that the complex textures of metal-troilite interactions at the microscopic level are suggestive of several collisional events.
A single stone (original mass 4.2 kg) has been kept United States National Museum in Washington. A smaller moderate-sized mass is at Arizona State University [1.6384 kg in 2017].
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsMineral List
8 valid minerals.
Meteorite/Rock Types Recorded
Note: data is currently VERY limited. Please bear with us while we work towards adding this information!
Select Rock List Type
Alphabetical List Tree DiagramDetailed Mineral List:
ⓘ Chromite Formula: Fe2+Cr3+2O4 Reference: Ramdohr, P. (1973). The Opaque Minerals in Stony Meteorites. Elsevier Publishing Company: Amsterdam; London: New York. 245 pages. |
ⓘ 'Clinopyroxene Subgroup' Description: Ca=poor clinopyroxene was probably 'clinohypersthene' according to Buseck (1967). Reference: Buseck, P.R. (1967) The post-formational history of a hypersthene chondrite - Beenham: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 31(10): 1583-1587. (Oct 1967). |
ⓘ Copper Formula: Cu Reference: Buseck, P.R. (1967) The post-formational history of a hypersthene chondrite - Beenham: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 31(10): 1583-1587. (Oct 1967).; Ramdohr, P. (1973). The Opaque Minerals in Stony Meteorites. Elsevier Publishing Company: Amsterdam; London: New York. 245 pages. |
ⓘ 'Fayalite-Forsterite Series' Reference: Lambert, P., Lewis, C. & Moore, C.B. (1981) Comparative Shock Metamorphism Study in 12 Chondrites (Abstract.): Lunar & Planetary Science XII: 583-585. |
ⓘ 'Glass' Reference: Leard, R.M. (1930) Some properties of the Beenham, New Mexico, aërolite: Popular Astronomy 47: 385-387. |
ⓘ Ilmenite Formula: Fe2+TiO3 Reference: Buseck, P.R. (1967) The post-formational history of a hypersthene chondrite - Beenham: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 31(10): 1583-1587. (Oct 1967).; Ramdohr, P. (1973). The Opaque Minerals in Stony Meteorites. Elsevier Publishing Company: Amsterdam; London: New York. 245 pages. |
ⓘ Iron Formula: Fe Reference: Buseck, P.R. (1967) The post-formational history of a hypersthene chondrite - Beenham: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 31(10): 1583-1587. (Oct 1967). |
ⓘ Iron var. Kamacite Formula: (Fe,Ni) Reference: Buseck, P.R. (1967) The post-formational history of a hypersthene chondrite - Beenham: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 31(10): 1583-1587. (Oct 1967).; Ramdohr, P. (1973). The Opaque Minerals in Stony Meteorites. Elsevier Publishing Company: Amsterdam; London: New York. 245 pages.; Lambert, P., Lewis, C. & Moore, C.B. (1981) Comparative Shock Metamorphism Study in 12 Chondrites (Abstract.): Lunar & Planetary Science XII: 583-585. |
ⓘ Isocubanite Formula: CuFe2S3 Description: Isocubanite considered preterrestrial by Ramdohr (1973). Reference: Ramdohr, P. (1973). The Opaque Minerals in Stony Meteorites. Elsevier Publishing Company: Amsterdam; London: New York. 245 pages. |
ⓘ 'Limonite' Reference: Leard, R.M. (1930) Some properties of the Beenham, New Mexico, aërolite: Popular Astronomy 47: 385-387. |
ⓘ Merrillite Formula: Ca9NaMg(PO4)7 Reference: Fuchs, L.H. (1969) The Phosphate Mineralogy of Meteorites: IN: Meteoritic Research: Millman, P.M.-Ed.: pp. 683-695.D. Reidel Publishing Company: Dordrecht-Holland. |
ⓘ 'Orthopyroxene Subgroup' Reference: Buseck, P.R. (1967) The post-formational history of a hypersthene chondrite - Beenham: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 31(10): 1583-1587. (Oct 1967). |
ⓘ 'Plagioclase' Formula: (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 Description: Plagioclase composition [anorthite ~ 15 mol%],Buseck (1967). Reference: Buseck, P.R. (1967) The post-formational history of a hypersthene chondrite - Beenham: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 31(10): 1583-1587. (Oct 1967). |
ⓘ 'Plessite' Reference: Buseck, P.R. (1967) The post-formational history of a hypersthene chondrite - Beenham: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 31(10): 1583-1587. (Oct 1967).; Ramdohr, P. (1973). The Opaque Minerals in Stony Meteorites. Elsevier Publishing Company: Amsterdam; London: New York. 245 pages. |
ⓘ Taenite Formula: (Fe,Ni) Reference: Ramdohr, P. (1973). The Opaque Minerals in Stony Meteorites. Elsevier Publishing Company: Amsterdam; London: New York. 245 pages. |
ⓘ Troilite Formula: FeS Reference: Leard, R.M. (1930) Some properties of the Beenham, New Mexico, aërolite: Popular Astronomy 47: 385-387.; Buseck, P.R. (1967) The post-formational history of a hypersthene chondrite - Beenham: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 31(10): 1583-1587. (Oct 1967).; Ramdohr, P. (1973). The Opaque Minerals in Stony Meteorites. Elsevier Publishing Company: Amsterdam; London: New York. 245 pages. |
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
Group 1 - Elements | |||
---|---|---|---|
ⓘ | Copper | 1.AA.05 | Cu |
ⓘ | Iron | 1.AE.05 | Fe |
ⓘ | var. Kamacite | 1.AE.05 | (Fe,Ni) |
ⓘ | Taenite | 1.AE.10 | (Fe,Ni) |
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
ⓘ | Isocubanite | 2.CB.55b | CuFe2S3 |
ⓘ | Troilite | 2.CC.10 | FeS |
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
ⓘ | Chromite | 4.BB.05 | Fe2+Cr3+2O4 |
ⓘ | Ilmenite | 4.CB.05 | Fe2+TiO3 |
Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates | |||
ⓘ | Merrillite | 8.AC.45 | Ca9NaMg(PO4)7 |
Unclassified Minerals, Rocks, etc. | |||
ⓘ | 'Clinopyroxene Subgroup' | - | |
ⓘ | 'Fayalite-Forsterite Series' | - | |
ⓘ | 'Glass' | - | |
ⓘ | 'Limonite' | - | |
ⓘ | 'Orthopyroxene Subgroup' | - | |
ⓘ | 'Plagioclase' | - | (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
ⓘ | 'Plessite' | - |
List of minerals for each chemical element
O | Oxygen | |
---|---|---|
O | ⓘ Ilmenite | Fe2+TiO3 |
O | ⓘ Plagioclase | (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
O | ⓘ Merrillite | Ca9NaMg(PO4)7 |
O | ⓘ Chromite | Fe2+Cr23+O4 |
Na | Sodium | |
Na | ⓘ Plagioclase | (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
Na | ⓘ Merrillite | Ca9NaMg(PO4)7 |
Mg | Magnesium | |
Mg | ⓘ Merrillite | Ca9NaMg(PO4)7 |
Al | Aluminium | |
Al | ⓘ Plagioclase | (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
Si | Silicon | |
Si | ⓘ Plagioclase | (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
P | Phosphorus | |
P | ⓘ Merrillite | Ca9NaMg(PO4)7 |
S | Sulfur | |
S | ⓘ Troilite | FeS |
S | ⓘ Isocubanite | CuFe2S3 |
Ca | Calcium | |
Ca | ⓘ Plagioclase | (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
Ca | ⓘ Merrillite | Ca9NaMg(PO4)7 |
Ti | Titanium | |
Ti | ⓘ Ilmenite | Fe2+TiO3 |
Cr | Chromium | |
Cr | ⓘ Chromite | Fe2+Cr23+O4 |
Fe | Iron | |
Fe | ⓘ Troilite | FeS |
Fe | ⓘ Ilmenite | Fe2+TiO3 |
Fe | ⓘ Iron var. Kamacite | (Fe,Ni) |
Fe | ⓘ Iron | Fe |
Fe | ⓘ Chromite | Fe2+Cr23+O4 |
Fe | ⓘ Isocubanite | CuFe2S3 |
Fe | ⓘ Taenite | (Fe,Ni) |
Ni | Nickel | |
Ni | ⓘ Iron var. Kamacite | (Fe,Ni) |
Ni | ⓘ Taenite | (Fe,Ni) |
Cu | Copper | |
Cu | ⓘ Copper | Cu |
Cu | ⓘ Isocubanite | CuFe2S3 |
References
Sort by
Year (asc) Year (desc) Author (A-Z) Author (Z-A)Robert M. Leard (1930) Some properties of the Beenham, New Mexico, aërolite: Popular Astronomy 47: 385-387.
Nininger, H.H. & Nininger, A.D. (1950) The Nininger Collection of Meteorites: A Catalogue and a History. Winslow, Arizona. 144 pages.
Buseck, P.R. (1967) The post-formational history of a hypersthene chondrite - Beenham: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 31(10): 1583-1587. (Oct 1967).
Fuchs, L.H. (1969) The Phosphate Mineralogy of Meteorites: IN: Meteoritic Research: Millman, P.M.-Ed.: pp. 683-695.D. Reidel Publishing Company: Dordrecht-Holland.
Ramdohr, P. (1973). The Opaque Minerals in Stony Meteorites. Elsevier Publishing Company: Amsterdam; London: New York. 245 pages.
Lambert, P., Lewis, C. & Moore, C.B. (1981) Comparative Shock Metamorphism Study in 12 Chondrites (Abstract.): Lunar & Planetary Science XII: 583-585.
Graham, A. L., Bevan, A.W.R. & Hutchison, B. (1985) Catalogue of Meteorites (4/e). University of Arizona Press: Tucson.
Wasson, J.T. & Wang, S. (1991) The histories of ordinary chondrite parent bodies: U,Th-He age distributions. Meteoritics 26(2): 161-167. (June 1991).
Grady, M.M. (2000). Catalogue of Meteorites (5/e). Cambridge University Press: Cambridge; New York; Oakleigh; Madrid; Cape Town. 689 pages.
External Links
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meteor/metbull.php - MeteoriticalBulletinDatabase
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meteor/metbull.php?code=4995 - Beenham@MetBullDatabase
https://books.google.com/books?id=UnXzAAAAMAAJ&q=Beenham+meteorite&dq=Beenham+meteorite&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiL46WWlLHWAhVI7CYKHRbNBQAQ6AEIKzAF - Beenham@Mineralogical Magazine (1971)
https://meteorites.asu.edu/collection/specimen-catalogue - ASU specimens
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meteor/metbull.php?code=4995 - Beenham@MetBullDatabase
https://books.google.com/books?id=UnXzAAAAMAAJ&q=Beenham+meteorite&dq=Beenham+meteorite&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiL46WWlLHWAhVI7CYKHRbNBQAQ6AEIKzAF - Beenham@Mineralogical Magazine (1971)
https://meteorites.asu.edu/collection/specimen-catalogue - ASU specimens
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
North America PlateTectonic Plate
- Mazatzal DomainDomain
This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to
visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders
for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.