NWA 16000 – C3-ung – Carbonaceous (C) chondrite

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Collection

Classification: A carbonaceous chondrite of petrologic type 3 that is ungrouped.

Observed fall: No
Year found: 2023
City, Country: Northwest Africa
Mass: 225 g

Petrography & Geochemistry >>

In collection

Weight #1 : 1,27 g

Certificate of authenticity: Yes (1)

NWA 16000 is a C3-ung (ungrouped) carbonaceous chondrite, indicating it is a carbonaceous meteorite of petrologic type 3 that does not neatly fit into established C-chondrite subgroups. Discovered in Northwest Africa, this rare rock preserves much of its original, primitive material—chondrules and refractory inclusions—owing to minimal thermal alteration. Its dark, carbon-rich matrix hosts a variety of silicate minerals, metallic grains, and organic compounds, highlighting the diverse chemistry of early solar system solids. Studying NWA 16000 expands our understanding of the range and complexity of carbonaceous chondrites, shedding light on the processes that formed our solar system’s initial building blocks.

When examining a thin section of NWA 16000 – a C3-ung carbonaceous chondrite under a light microscope, you will observe an abundance of well-preserved chondrules of varying textures—porphyritic, barred, and radial—embedded within a dark, carbon-rich matrix. These chondrules, composed mainly of olivine and pyroxene, exhibit distinct crystal boundaries and interference colors under polarized light. Refractory inclusions and metal or sulfide grains may appear as lighter, more reflective spots interspersed throughout the matrix. Because this meteorite has undergone minimal thermal alteration, the original chondrule outlines and chondritic textures remain remarkably clear, providing a snapshot of the solar system’s early, primitive materials.

NWA 16000 under a light microscope