Collection
Classification: L6 (Low iron) chondrite
Hammadah al Hamra 346, HaH 346, Ghadamis
Observed fall: Yes, possible
Year found: 26 August 2018
City, Country: Jabal al Gharbi district, Libya
Mass: 100 (500) kg
In collection
Weight #1 : 59,1 g
Certificate of authenticity: Yes (1)
HaH 346 (Ghandamis) is an L6 ordinary chondrite, part of the low-iron (L) subgroup of ordinary chondrites. Discovered in the Hammadah al Hamra region of Libya, it represents a well-equilibrated meteorite that has undergone significant thermal metamorphism on its parent asteroid. The original chondrules, once distinct spherical droplets of molten rock in the early solar nebula, have been largely obscured by recrystallization, resulting in a more uniform, granular texture. Studying HaH 346 provides insights into the heating and chemical homogenization processes that transformed the mineralogy of early planetary building blocks.
Under a light microscope, a thin section of HaH 346 (Ghandamis) – an L6 ordinary chondrite appears as a predominantly granular, recrystallized mosaic of silicate minerals, mostly olivine and pyroxene, with few recognizable chondrules remaining. The intense thermal metamorphism that this meteorite underwent has blurred the once-distinct chondrules into a uniform, medium- to coarse-grained texture. Plagioclase can be present as small, clear grains interspersed between the larger silicates. Opaque metallic iron-nickel and sulfide (troilite) grains appear as dark, opaque spots under transmitted light and reflect brightly under reflected light microscopy. Under polarized light, these minerals exhibit relatively uniform interference colors and extinction angles, reflecting the chemical and structural equilibration of the rock’s mineral phases.
