Collection
Classification: LL3.8-6 (Low iron low metal)
Observed fall: No
Year found: 2004
City, Country: Morocco
Mass: 1800 g
In collection
Weight #1 : 12,55 g
Weight #2 : 13,87 g
Weight #3 :
Certificate of authenticity: Yes (3)
NWA 2874 is classified as an LL3.8-6 ordinary chondrite, indicating that it is a low-iron, low-metal meteorite with varying degrees of thermal metamorphism—ranging from type 3.8 (relatively unequilibrated) to type 6 (fully equilibrated). This unusual spread in metamorphic grades within the same specimen suggests a complex heating history on its parent asteroid, possibly involving partial metamorphism in different regions of the rock. Despite the range in metamorphic states, NWA 2874 retains characteristic chondritic features, including remnants of chondrules, limited free metal, and silicate minerals like olivine and pyroxene that record the early solar system’s chemical and thermal environment.
When examining a thin section of NWA 2874 – an LL3.8–6 chondrite under a light microscope, you can observe distinct chondrules with varying degrees of metamorphic overprint. In regions corresponding to the lower metamorphic grade (around type 3.8), chondrules remain well-defined—often displaying porphyritic, barred olivine, or radial pyroxene textures under polarized light. As you move to areas reflecting higher grades (up to type 6), chondrules appear increasingly blurred or indistinct, and the matrix adopts a more granular, recrystallized texture. Metallic iron-nickel grains are sparse, consistent with the “low iron, low metal” classification, and appear as small, opaque specks under reflected light. Overall, this patchwork of unequilibrated and equilibrated textures within a single thin section provides a fascinating glimpse into the asteroid’s complex thermal and chemical history.
