Colony meteorite, Washita Co., Oklahoma, USA

Carbonaceous Chondrite [CO3.0; S1; W3]
Primitive; weathered

In 1975 a single odd-looking 3.91 kg stone was caught in the tines of a cotton cultivator, set aside, and later identified as a meteorite. Colony is a CO3.0 (Ornans-like) Carbonaceous Chondrite. Carbonaceous Chondrites are classified and sub-classified on the basis of their near solar bulk Mg-Si ratios and their oxygen isotope ratios. The CO class are further distinguished by their small chondrules and matrix of small minerals, comminuted fragments, and glassy components.

Colony is the largest known petrologic type CO3.0 meteorite. For the past 4.5 billion years its abundant and varied chondrules — rich in unequilibrated Olivine and/or Pyroxene — have largely escaped the mild or severe metamorphism experienced by the vast majority of chondrules in other chondrites. In a word, Colony is a very primitive meteorite. It contains, for example, a small number of ancient refractory spinel-rich and hibonite-rich inclusions from the earliest epochs of solar system formation. Within its micro-mineralogical niches there are also tiny ‘nano’ diamonds and silicon carbide grains produced in pre-solar system times.

On the other hand, since reaching the earth Colony has experienced significant weathering. The weathering, of course, further complicates our ability to understand this already complicated object.

Mineral List

16 entries listed. 12 valid minerals.

References

External Links