Erg Chech 002 was discovered in May 2020 in Algeria at coordinates 26.032°N, 1.611°W. Numerous stones containing distinctive large greenish crystals were found near Bir Ben Takoul, southern Algeria within the Erg Chech sand sea. It has been classified as an ungrouped achondrite and has drawn much attention to scientists and collectors due to its weird-looking aspect. At the beginning many people thought it was not a meteorite but analysis has proven them wrong. Meteorite hunters in the area also noticed that it was an extremely rare type but they always knew it was a meteorite because the landscape is full of dunes and these were the only stones. The stones lack fusion crust, and have an overall relatively coarse grained, tan and beige appearance with sporadic larger green, yellow-green and less commonly yellow-brown crystals. Some minor reddish-brown staining is evident in the groundmass regions. We don’t know asteroids that look like Erg Chech 002. That indicates that almost none of these relics exist anymore. They have crashed together and formed larger planets or been smashed to bits. Analysis have determined that it is an ancient survivor from the crust of a lost cousin planet that formed 23 million years before Earth itself. It dates from just 2 million years after the formation of the solar system – making it more than a million years older than the previous record-holder. It is in fact, the oldest volcanic rock we have ever discovered. It may help us understand the building blocks of planets. This mighty individual weighs 608 grams.
Month: April 2022
SaU 001. 1390g
SaU 001 is a classic meteorite from Oman. It was discovered in 2000 and many kilos were collected. Later the Omani government banned meteorite prospection. SaU 001 is an L5 chondrite that can exhibit well conserved fusion crust.