Nuevo Mercurio meteorite, Nuevo Mercurio, Zacatecas, Mexico

Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):	24° 18' 0'' North , 102° 7' 59'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):	24.30000,-102.13333
Non-native locality type:	Meteorite
Meteorite Class:	H5 chondrite meteorite
Meteoritical Society Class:	H5
Metbull:	View entry in Meteoritical Bulletin Database
Köppen climate type:	BSh : Hot semi-arid (steppe) climate

Ordinary chondrite (high iron) (H5; S1)
Fall, 15 Dec 1978; ~50 kg

Early in the evening a bolide visible over a radius of at least 200 km exploded with thunderous detonations over north-central Mexico, scattering meteorites over an elliptical area more than 10 km in length just north of the village of Nuevo Mercurio. Over 300 specimens were found, most with at least a partially retained fusion crust. The largest mass in early reports was 1.4 kg, but most stones were very small. The meteorite is itself a largely equilibrated H5 chondrite with olivine (Fa17.3) and pyroxene (Fs15.8) values within the normal H chondrite range. While most of the pyroxene is orthopyroxene, several varieties of pyroxene have been revealed by detailed studies of the chondrules. Other phases include plagioclase, chromite, merrillite, and chlorapatite. Opaques (metal: troilite ratio ~3) account for approximately one quarter of the mass. Fe-Ni metal phases include kamacite, taenite, and tetrataenite. Vugs are also present.

A number of Nuevo Mercurio's chondrules have been dated with the surprising result that some of the K-Ar ages of individual chondrules appear to be significantly older than best estimates of the overall gas retention ages. H5 chondrites are among the very most abundant petrological type of ordinary chondrites. By August 2015, 8006 H5 recoveries had been listed as 'approved meteorites' at the Meteoritical Bulletin Database. [However, the list includes an unknown number of possible/probable unrecognized 'paired' meteorites from single falls].)

What's in a name? An additional very small meteorite, the H5-6 16.8 g 'Nuevo Mercurio ( c )' meteorite, was found a few km from the center of the Nuevo Mercurio strewn field.

Mineral List

9 valid minerals.

Meteorite/Rock Types Recorded

References

External Links