Collection
Classification: Ordinary (O) L6 (Low iron) chondrite
Observed fall: Yes
Year: 2019 Feb 01
City, Country: Pinar del Rio, Cuba
Mass: 50 kg
In collection
Weight #1 : 3,49 g
Certificate of authenticity: Yes (1)
Viñales is an L6 ordinary chondrite, a low-iron, stony meteorite that fell near Viñales in western Cuba on February 1, 2019. As an L6 type, it has experienced extensive thermal metamorphism on its parent asteroid, homogenizing its minerals and largely obliterating the original chondrule boundaries. This results in a more uniform, granular texture dominated by well-equilibrated olivine, pyroxene, and sparse metallic iron-nickel and sulfides. Studying the Viñales meteorite provides insights into the processes of heating, chemical equilibration, and impact histories that shaped the early solar system’s building blocks.
When examining a thin section of the Viñales – an Ordinary L6 chondrite under a light microscope, the originally distinct chondrules are mostly erased, replaced by a more uniform, recrystallized texture. Instead of well-defined spherical droplets, you see a granular mosaic of equilibrated olivine and pyroxene grains, each displaying stable interference colors and straight extinction under polarized light. Metallic iron-nickel and sulfide grains appear as opaque, reflective spots, now more evenly distributed. Fractures or subtle deformation features may be present, reflecting the asteroid’s impact history. Overall, the microscopic view reveals a thoroughly metamorphosed rock, with its primitive chondritic textures largely overprinted by thermal equilibration.
