Tafassasset meteorite, Arlit, Agadez, Nigeri
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Tafassasset meteorite | Meteorite Fall Location |
| Arlit | Department |
| Agadez | Region |
| Niger | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
20° 45' 47'' North , 10° 26' 30'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Locality type:
Meteorite Class:
Meteoritical Society Class:
Köppen climate type:
Carbonaceous Chondrite (CR-an; S1/2; W0/1)
Find, 2000; 114 kg
Over thirteen months a total of 27 stones were found by two different members of a search party in Niger. The stones share a basic lithology — dominant constituents are largely equilibrated olivine (very roughly 50 vol%), frequently accompanied by pyroxene in relic chondrules (roughly 30 vol%) with accessory Fe-Ni metal and interstial plagioclase. However, textures, relative abundances of phases, and oxygen isotope signatures vary significantly with different stones. Matrix plagioclase has a general andesine composition (~An46), but plagioclase in relic chondrules is closer to oligoclase (~An46). Larger Fe-Ni metal grains are largely kamacite while smaller grains are often taenite-rich and accompanied by sulfides. Attempts to explain these characteristics have usually attributed these features as due to incomplete metamorphism of some originally very diverse components within the region of the solar nebula where the CR original homeworld(s) originated.
As Tafassasset is by far the most massive of the meteorites classified as CR (Renazzo-like) carbonaceous chondrites, it is — of course — quite understandable that understanding the relationships between Tafassasset's different constituents and the relationships between Tafassasset and other CR chondrites has taken center stage. A frequent suggestion has been that the CB, CH, and CR carbonaceous chondrite groups constitute a subclass (or 'clan') among the larger carbonaceous chondrite class with its 8 defined groups. Tafassasset provides plenty of material which might contribute to a more definitive understanding of the origins of these relatively metal-rich groups within the overall carbonaceous chondrite class.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsMineral List
6 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: Bourot-Denise, M., Zanda, B. & M. Javoy, M. (2012) Tafassasset: An Equilibrated CR Chondrite. 33rd Annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, March 11-15, 2002, Houston, Texas, abstract no.1611. (Mar 2012).; Russell, S.S., Zipfel, J., Grossman, J.N. & Grady, M.M. (2002). The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 86, 2002 July. Meteoritics & Planetary Science 37 (7,Suppl.): pp. A157-A184. (July 2002). |
| ⓘ 'Clinopyroxene Subgroup' Reference: Russell, S.S., Zipfel, J., Grossman, J.N. & Grady, M.M. (2002). The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 86, 2002 July. Meteoritics & Planetary Science 37 (7,Suppl.): pp. A157-A184. (July 2002). |
| ⓘ 'Fayalite-Forsterite Series' Description: Olivine composition — Fa29.3. Reference: Bourot-Denise, M., Zanda, B. & M. Javoy, M. (2012) Tafassasset: An Equilibrated CR Chondrite. 33rd Annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, March 11-15, 2002, Houston, Texas, abstract no.1611. (Mar 2012).; Russell, S.S., Zipfel, J., Grossman, J.N. & Grady, M.M. (2002). The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 86, 2002 July. Meteoritics & Planetary Science 37 (7,Suppl.): pp. A157-A184. (July 2002). |
| ⓘ Iron Formula: Fe Description: Kamacite (6% Ni, 0.6% Co). Reference: Bourot-Denise, M., Zanda, B. & M. Javoy, M. (2012) Tafassasset: An Equilibrated CR Chondrite. 33rd Annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, March 11-15, 2002, Houston, Texas, abstract no.1611. (Mar 2012).; Russell, S.S., Zipfel, J., Grossman, J.N. & Grady, M.M. (2002). The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 86, 2002 July. Meteoritics & Planetary Science 37 (7,Suppl.): pp. A157-A184. (July 2002). |
| ⓘ Iron var. Kamacite Formula: (Fe,Ni) Description: Kamacite (6% Ni, 0.6% Co). Reference: Bourot-Denise, M., Zanda, B. & M. Javoy, M. (2012) Tafassasset: An Equilibrated CR Chondrite. 33rd Annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, March 11-15, 2002, Houston, Texas, abstract no.1611. (Mar 2012).; Russell, S.S., Zipfel, J., Grossman, J.N. & Grady, M.M. (2002). The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 86, 2002 July. Meteoritics & Planetary Science 37 (7,Suppl.): pp. A157-A184. (July 2002). |
| ⓘ Iron var. Martensite Formula: Fe Reference: Bourot-Denise, M., Zanda, B. & M. Javoy, M. (2012) Tafassasset: An Equilibrated CR Chondrite. 33rd Annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, March 11-15, 2002, Houston, Texas, abstract no.1611. (Mar 2012).; Russell, S.S., Zipfel, J., Grossman, J.N. & Grady, M.M. (2002). The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 86, 2002 July. Meteoritics & Planetary Science 37 (7,Suppl.): pp. A157-A184. (July 2002). |
| ⓘ Merrillite Formula: Ca9NaMg(PO4)7 Reference: Bourot-Denise, M., Zanda, B. & M. Javoy, M. (2012) Tafassasset: An Equilibrated CR Chondrite. 33rd Annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, March 11-15, 2002, Houston, Texas, abstract no.1611. (Mar 2012). |
| ⓘ 'Orthopyroxene Subgroup' Reference: Russell, S.S., Zipfel, J., Grossman, J.N. & Grady, M.M. (2002). The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 86, 2002 July. Meteoritics & Planetary Science 37 (7,Suppl.): pp. A157-A184. (July 2002). |
| ⓘ Pentlandite Formula: (NixFey)Σ9S8 Reference: Bourot-Denise, M., Zanda, B. & M. Javoy, M. (2012) Tafassasset: An Equilibrated CR Chondrite. 33rd Annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, March 11-15, 2002, Houston, Texas, abstract no.1611. (Mar 2012).; Russell, S.S., Zipfel, J., Grossman, J.N. & Grady, M.M. (2002). The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 86, 2002 July. Meteoritics & Planetary Science 37 (7,Suppl.): pp. A157-A184. (July 2002). |
| ⓘ 'Plagioclase' Formula: (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 Description: An46.4Or2.2 in matrix; An26.6Or5.2 in chondrule relics. Reference: Bourot-Denise, M., Zanda, B. & M. Javoy, M. (2012) Tafassasset: An Equilibrated CR Chondrite. 33rd Annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, March 11-15, 2002, Houston, Texas, abstract no.1611. (Mar 2012).; Russell, S.S., Zipfel, J., Grossman, J.N. & Grady, M.M. (2002). The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 86, 2002 July. Meteoritics & Planetary Science 37 (7,Suppl.): pp. A157-A184. (July 2002). |
| ⓘ 'Pyroxene Group' Formula: ADSi2O6 Description: Pyroxene composition — Fs24.3. Reference: Bourot-Denise, M., Zanda, B. & M. Javoy, M. (2012) Tafassasset: An Equilibrated CR Chondrite. 33rd Annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, March 11-15, 2002, Houston, Texas, abstract no.1611. (Mar 2012). |
| ⓘ Taenite Formula: (Fe,Ni) Description: Taenite (up to 36% Ni, 0.2% Co) with martensite cores. Reference: Russell, S.S., Zipfel, J., Grossman, J.N. & Grady, M.M. (2002). The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 86, 2002 July. Meteoritics & Planetary Science 37 (7,Suppl.): pp. A157-A184. (July 2002). |
| ⓘ Troilite Formula: FeS Reference: Bourot-Denise, M., Zanda, B. & M. Javoy, M. (2012) Tafassasset: An Equilibrated CR Chondrite. 33rd Annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, March 11-15, 2002, Houston, Texas, abstract no.1611. (Mar 2012).; Russell, S.S., Zipfel, J., Grossman, J.N. & Grady, M.M. (2002). The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 86, 2002 July. Meteoritics & Planetary Science 37 (7,Suppl.): pp. A157-A184. (July 2002). |
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 1 - Elements | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Iron | 1.AE.05 | Fe |
| ⓘ | var. Kamacite | 1.AE.05 | (Fe,Ni) |
| ⓘ | var. Martensite | 1.AE.05 | Fe |
| ⓘ | Taenite | 1.AE.10 | (Fe,Ni) |
| Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
| ⓘ | Pentlandite | 2.BB.15 | (NixFey)Σ9S8 |
| ⓘ | Troilite | 2.CC.10 | FeS |
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
| ⓘ | Chromite | 4.BB.05 | Fe2+Cr3+2O4 |
| Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates | |||
| ⓘ | Merrillite | 8.AC.45 | Ca9NaMg(PO4)7 |
| Unclassified Minerals, Rocks, etc. | |||
| ⓘ | 'Clinopyroxene Subgroup' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Fayalite-Forsterite Series' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Orthopyroxene Subgroup' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Plagioclase' | - | (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
| ⓘ | 'Pyroxene Group' | - | ADSi2O6 |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| O | Oxygen | |
|---|---|---|
| O | ⓘ Chromite | Fe2+Cr23+O4 |
| O | ⓘ Merrillite | Ca9NaMg(PO4)7 |
| O | ⓘ Pyroxene Group | ADSi2O6 |
| O | ⓘ Plagioclase | (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
| Na | Sodium | |
| Na | ⓘ Merrillite | Ca9NaMg(PO4)7 |
| Na | ⓘ Plagioclase | (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
| Mg | Magnesium | |
| Mg | ⓘ Merrillite | Ca9NaMg(PO4)7 |
| Al | Aluminium | |
| Al | ⓘ Plagioclase | (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | ⓘ Pyroxene Group | ADSi2O6 |
| Si | ⓘ Plagioclase | (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
| P | Phosphorus | |
| P | ⓘ Merrillite | Ca9NaMg(PO4)7 |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | ⓘ Pentlandite | (NixFey)Σ9S8 |
| S | ⓘ Troilite | FeS |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | ⓘ Merrillite | Ca9NaMg(PO4)7 |
| Ca | ⓘ Plagioclase | (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
| Cr | Chromium | |
| Cr | ⓘ Chromite | Fe2+Cr23+O4 |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | ⓘ Chromite | Fe2+Cr23+O4 |
| Fe | ⓘ Iron var. Kamacite | (Fe,Ni) |
| Fe | ⓘ Iron var. Martensite | Fe |
| Fe | ⓘ Pentlandite | (NixFey)Σ9S8 |
| Fe | ⓘ Troilite | FeS |
| Fe | ⓘ Taenite | (Fe,Ni) |
| Fe | ⓘ Iron | Fe |
| Ni | Nickel | |
| Ni | ⓘ Iron var. Kamacite | (Fe,Ni) |
| Ni | ⓘ Pentlandite | (NixFey)Σ9S8 |
| Ni | ⓘ Taenite | (Fe,Ni) |
References
Sort by
Year (asc) Year (desc) Author (A-Z) Author (Z-A)Bourot-Denise, M., Zanda, B. & M. Javoy, M. (2012) Tafassasset: An Equilibrated CR Chondrite. 33rd Annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, March 11-15, 2002, Houston, Texas, abstract no.1611. (Mar 2012).
Russell, S.S., Zipfel, J., Grossman, J.N. & Grady, M.M. (2002). The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 86, 2002 July. Meteoritics & Planetary Science 37(7,Suppl.): pp. A157-A184. (July 2002).
External Links
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meteor/metbull.php?sea=Tafassasset&sfor=names&ants=&falls=&valids=&stype=contains&lrec=50&map=ge&browse=&country=All&srt=name&categ=All&mblist=All&rect=&phot=&snew=0&pnt=Normal%20table&code=23779 - Tafassasset@Meteoritical Bulletin Database
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meteor/get_original_photo.php?recno=5632046 -photo
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2002/pdf/1611.pdf -Metamorphism
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meteor/get_original_photo.php?recno=5632046 -photo
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2002/pdf/1611.pdf -Metamorphism
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