Type Chondrite Group H5 Observed fall Yes | Class Ordinary chondrite Country Burkina Faso | |
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Region Sissili and Ziro provinces | ||
Gao–Guenie is a H5 ordinary chondrite meteorite that fell on Burkina Faso, West Africa, on March 5, 1960. The fall was composed of a large number of fragments and it is one of the largest observed meteorite showers in Africa to date.
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Name
The meteorites formerly known as Gao and Guenie in 1999 were officially paired and they name fused into the collective name Gao–Guenie.
History
Gao–Guenie meteorites fell in Burkina Faso on March 5, 1960 at 17:00 (local time). After three separate detonations, several thousands of stones rained down over an area of about 70 square kilometres (27 sq mi). The sound of the fall was heard as far as Ouagadougou, which is 100 kilometres (62 mi) away. Eyewitnesses said that some trees were broken and henhouses destroyed. The largest stones recovered weigh up to 10 kilograms (22 lb).
Composition and classification
Gao–Guenie is classified as H5 ordinary chondrite.