Classification: Ordinary (O) L3 (Low iron)

Observed fall: No
Year found: 2024
City, Country: Algeria

In collection

Weight #1 : 13,43 g

Certificate of authenticity: Yes (1)

An Ordinary (O) L3 chondrite is a type of stony meteorite belonging to the “L” subgroup of ordinary chondrites, characterized by having low iron (Fe) content in metal compared to H and LL chondrites. Classified as “type 3,” it has experienced only minimal thermal metamorphism, preserving its original, chondrule-rich texture. This means the chondrules—small, millimeter-sized droplets of once-molten material—remain distinct and well-defined. Studying an L3 chondrite provides valuable insights into the early solar system’s building blocks, as it captures the chemical and physical conditions that prevailed before significant heating and differentiation altered the primordial meteoritic materials.

Under a light microscope, a thin section of an Ordinary (O) L3 chondrite displays a rich tapestry of well-defined chondrules of various textures—porphyritic, barred olivine, and radial pyroxene—set in a fine-grained, dark matrix. Each chondrule often contains olivine and pyroxene crystals that show vivid interference colors under polarized light. Metallic iron-nickel grains and troilite (FeS) particles appear as opaque, reflective spots interspersed among the silicates. Because L3 chondrites have undergone minimal metamorphism, their chondrules remain sharp and distinct, preserving intricate crystallization features that offer a window into the earliest stages of solar system formation.