Collection
Classification: Ureilite
Observed fall: No
Year found: 2018
City, Country: Northwest Africa
Mass: 751 g
In collection
Weight #1 : 1,36 g
Certificate of authenticity: Yes (1)
NWA 12471 is classified as a Ureilite (URE)—a rare type of achondritic meteorite derived from a carbon-rich, partially differentiated parent body. Ureilites typically contain coarse-grained olivine and pyroxene set in a carbon-bearing matrix, and may include graphite or even diamond formed under high-pressure shock events. In NWA 12471, the olivine and pyroxene show varying degrees of chemical zoning, reflecting partial melting and complex metamorphic processes on its parent asteroid. Studying this meteorite aids in understanding the interplay between magmatism, shock metamorphism, and the role of carbon in early planetesimals.
When examining a thin section of NWA 12471 – a Ureilite (URE) under a light microscope, you typically see coarse-grained olivine and pyroxene dominating the view, with each mineral grain displaying relatively sharp boundaries and high relief. Minor shock-induced fractures may be visible, and carbon-bearing inclusions—occasionally appearing as opaque specks or streaks—reflect the meteorite’s high carbon content. In some areas, the olivine and pyroxene grains may exhibit subtle zoning or partial melt textures, pointing to complex magmatic and shock processes on the ureilite parent body. The overall appearance is that of a partially differentiated rock, shaped by both melting and collisional events in the early solar system.
