3.34g CARANCAS Meteorite Fragment with Crust and Original Impact Crate

3.34g CARANCAS Meteorite Fragment with Crust and Original Impact Crater I H4-5 Chondrite Rare Crater Maker

Top Meteorite

$ 335.00

On Offer: 3.34 gram Carancas H4-5 meteorite fragment with fusion crust from the 2007 impact event in Carancas near the Peruvian Bolivian border and a piece of the impact crater from under where the fragment was recovered. As far as we know, this is the only Carancas specimen that was collected with part of the impact crater and being offered together. A rare collector opportunity for a unique display combination of a historic meteorite fall.

Description: A 3.34 gram partially crusted fragment of the Carancas H4-5 meteorite that entered the atmosphere over lake Titicaca and impacted the Earth on September 15th 2007 in Peru very near the border with Bolivia. This fragment of the Carancas meteorite is accompanied by a carefully collected piece of the impact crater under where the meteorite fragment was recovered. Both the meteorite and the piece of the crater were collected at the same time by a local villager very shortly after the impact.

Total Known Weight (TKW): Only 342 grams of the meteorite were reportedly recovered from the impact site.

Additional Information about the Carancas meteorite impact event: The Carancas meteorite fall was an exceptional event. Unlike most other meteorites, this meteor did not detonate and fragment before hitting the ground. Logic would dictate that this was because it entered the atmosphere faster and at a steeper angle than is typical for most meteorites. However, experts suggest it is more likely it was actually traveling slower than average for a meteor its size, resulting in less torsional stress. This reduced torsional stress allowed the meteor to remain in tact until it hit the ground with its large mass forming a relatively significant crater.

Despite popular misconceptions, nearly all meteorites that hit the Earth breakup during their transit of the atmosphere and shed all of their "cosmic velocity" through aerial braking (drag). After losing this cosmic velocity they essentially "fall" from the sky reaching only terminal velocity, landing with minimal force and freezing cold. Stories of large impact craters, burning hot meteorites, noxious vapors, and strange illnesses are almost never actually true. In the case of the Carancas meteorite, some or perhaps even all of the above were corroborated and did indeed happen. A truly exceptional meteorite and impact event!

We offer a 100% no questions asked 30 day return policy.

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Carancas

Basic information

Name: Carancas
This is an OFFICIAL meteorite name.
Abbreviation: There is no official abbreviation for this meteorite.
Observed fall: Yes
Year fell: 2007
Country: Peru
Mass: 342 g

Classification
history:

Meteoritical Bulletin:	MB 93	(2008)	H4-5
Recommended:			H4-5

This is 1 of 82 approved meteorites classified as H4-5.

Comments:

Approved 7 Jan 2008
Revised 4 Aug 2008: final writeup; 2008-01-17 fix error in 17O

Writeup

Writeup from MB 93

Carancas 16°39'52''S, 69°02'38''W

Carancas, Chucuito, Puno, Peru

Fall: 15 September 2007, ~16: 45 UTC

Ordinary chondrite (H4-5)

History: A large fireball was witnessed to impact near the community of Carancas, in the province of Chucuito, region of Puno in the country of Peru. It made a sizable impact crater, ~13.8 m in diameter (INGEMMET) or 11-12 m (L. Jackson, CGS). Local residents and many others have recovered numerous pieces of the impactor from the sides of the crater and the surrounding area. Mike Farmer brought several samples to the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory of the UAz for classification on October 5, 2007. The total mass is currently unknown. A preliminary report was published on the web by F. Luisa Macedo and O. José Macharé of INGIMMET, Peru.

Physical characteristics: Most specimens are without fusion crust and have a gray color with some metal and chondrules visible, although the chondrules are not easily observed. At least one specimen had two different lithologies, the second white in color, indicating it is a breccia. Numerous black shock veins, often on more than one face of a specimen, were observed. At least one large (~2 cm) metal grain was also recovered, with a thin layer of stone attached to it.

Petrography: (H. Connolly, KCCU, UAz; D. Hill, UAz, D. Schrader, UAz, K. Domanik, UAz, and D. Lauretta, UAz). One polished butt and one thin section, of two different samples, were examined. The polished butt contains some relict chondrules with well-defined margins and many textural types present. The thin section shows the rock to have experienced extensive recrystallization of the matrix with few relict chondrules present. Relict chondrules range in size from ~170 µm to 1 mm. Olivine and orthopyroxene were observed with abundant Fe, Ni-metal and Fe-rich sulfide.

Mineral compositions: Olivine (Fa_18.4±0.5) and pyroxene (Fs_16.1±0.2). Oxygen isotopes: (R. Greenwood, OU; two analyses) δ¹⁷O = 3.017, 2.942; δ¹⁸O = 4.519, 4.344; Δ¹⁷O = 0.667, 0.683 (all ‰).

Classification: Ordinary chondrite (H4-5); W0, S3.

Type specimens: A total of 22 g, including 5 thin sections, are on deposit at UAz. MFarmer holds 320 g.

Submitted by: Harold C. Connolly Jr., KCCU and UAz.

Data from:
  MB107
  Table 0
  Line 0:

State/Prov/County:	Carancas, Chucuito, Puno, Peru
Origin or pseudonym:	Village area
Date:	15-Sept-07
Latitude:	16°39'52"S
Longitude:	69°02'38"W
Mass (g):	Metric tons?
Pieces:	Many
Class:	H4-5
Type spec mass (g):	22

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