Kalpana Kalpana (Editor)

Angra dos Reis meteorite

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Type
  
Achondrite

Composition
  
Fassaite (93%)

Region
  
Angra dos Reis

Group
  
Angrite

Country
  
Brazil

Observed fall
  
Yes

The Angra dos Reis meteorite is the type specimen of the angrite group. It was observed when it fell to earth in 1869.

Contents

Discovery and namingEdit

The meteorite is named after Angra dos Reis, a municipality of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It fell on 20 January 1869 into the bay where the water was about 2 m deep. Two fragments were found by a diver the next day.

MineralogyEdit

Although it is the type specimen of the angrites, Angra dos Reis is actually very different from most angrites. It is almost completely made from a rare form of pyroxene called fassaite. This makes it more like a pyroxenite than the typical angrite, which is similar to a basalt. The only other meteorite samples that contain fassaite are the Calcium-aluminium-rich inclusions found in the Allende meteorite. The reason for this exotic composition is thought to be partial melting of a chondritic precursor under redox conditions in which meteoric iron is unstable.

References

Angra dos Reis meteorite Wikipedia