Collection
Classification: CVred3 (Vigarano-like) chondrite
Observed fall: No
Year found: 2015
City, Country: Morocco
Mass: 1040 g
In collection
Weight #1 : 5 g
Certificate of authenticity: Yes (1)
NWA 13385 is classified as a CV3 (Vigarano-like) chondrite, specifically belonging to the reduced (red) subgroup. This designation indicates that it exhibits lower oxidation states compared to oxidized CV meteorites, preserving abundant metallic grains and chondrules with minimal alteration. Like other CV chondrites, NWA 13385 features notable calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions (CAIs)—refractory objects dating back to the solar system’s earliest stages—and a dark, carbon-rich matrix. Its “type 3” petrologic classification signifies limited thermal metamorphism, allowing chondrules and CAIs to remain well-defined and chemically diverse. By studying NWA 13385, scientists gain insights into the primordial materials and processes that shaped our solar system before extensive heating and differentiation took place.
Under the light microscope, a thin section of NWA 13385 – a CVred3 (Vigarano-like) chondrite reveals well-preserved chondrules set in a dark, carbon-rich matrix. These chondrules often contain olivine and pyroxene grains displaying vibrant interference colors under polarized light, with abundant metallic iron-nickel grains interspersed—reflecting the meteorite’s reduced oxidation state. Refractory CAIs (calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions) may be observed as lighter, irregularly shaped regions that stand out in the dark matrix. The limited metamorphism of this “type 3” chondrite allows chondrule boundaries, metal grains, and the primitive matrix to remain sharply defined, offering a window into early solar system conditions.
