Systematics: Chondrites & Metachondrites Classification
PART II: PRIMITIVE ACHONDRITES, ACHONDRITES, STONY-IRONS, IRONS
PART III: MARTIAN METEORITES—GEOCHEMICAL CLASSIFICATION
PART IV: DIOGENITES—IUGS TAXONOMY
PART V: ENSTATITE CHONDRITES—SUBGROUP CLASSIFICATIONE, F, O, AND R CHONDRITEChondrites are the most common meteorites accounting for ~84% of falls. Chondrites are comprised mostly of Fe- and Mg-bearing silicate minerals (found in both chondrules and fine grained matrix), reduced Fe/Ni metal (found in various states like large blebs, small grains and/or even chondrule rims), and various refractory inclusions (such Click on Term to Read More SUPERCLAN (Kallemeyn et al., 1996) ENSTATITE (E) CHONDRITES
CARBONACEOUS CHONDRITECarbonaceous chondrites represent the most primitive rock samples of our solar system. This rare (less than 5% of all meteorite falls) class of meteorites are a time capsule from the earliest days in the formation of our solar system. They are divided into the following compositional groups that, other than Click on Term to Read More SUPERCLAN
Daniel J. Boorstin – Librarian of Congress
PART III: MARTIAN METEORITES—GEOCHEMICAL CLASSIFICATION
PART IV: DIOGENITES—IUGS TAXONOMY
PART V: ENSTATITE CHONDRITES—SUBGROUP CLASSIFICATION
CHONDRITES
E, F, O, AND R CHONDRITEChondrites are the most common meteorites accounting for ~84% of falls. Chondrites are comprised mostly of Fe- and Mg-bearing silicate minerals (found in both chondrules and fine grained matrix), reduced Fe/Ni metal (found in various states like large blebs, small grains and/or even chondrule rims), and various refractory inclusions (such Click on Term to Read More SUPERCLAN (Kallemeyn et al., 1996) ENSTATITE (E) CHONDRITES
See new subgroup classification by Weyrauch et al., 2018
| EH GROUP |
| EH3 (e.g. Sah 97096 [EHa3.1–3.4], MAC 88136 [ELa3.8/3.9], Hadley RilleLong narrow depression on the surface of the Moon; also called "sinuous rilles". Lunar rilles usually flow away from small pit structures and probably mark lava channels or collapsed lava tubes that formed during mare volcanism. In some cases, the lunar flows may have melted their way downwards into older Click on Term to Read More [IM], Qingzhen [EHa]) |
| EH4 (e.g. Bethune, Indarch [EHa]) |
| EH5 (e.g. Kaidun-III, LEW 88180 [EHb], QUE 93372 [EHa], Saint-Sauveur [EHb5/IMB], St. Mark’s [EHa]) |
| EH6 (e.g. MIL 090846, NWA 6363, NWA 7976, Y-980211 [EHb6/IMB], Y-980223 [EHb6/IMB]) |
| EH7 (e.g. Itqiy [Meta-EH-anom or partial melt residue], NWA 2526 [similar to Itqiy]) |
| EH impact melt phase (e.g. Abee [EHbIMB], Adhi Kot [EHbIMB], Galim (b) [IMB], LAP 02225 [IM], NWA 7324 [MR], NWA 10237 [MR], Y-82189 [IM], Y-8404 and pairings [EHbIMB/MR], Y-86760 [IM]) |
| EL GROUP |
| EL3 (e.g. AhS MS-MU-002 [ELb3/4], NWA 2965 and pairings [3/6], AhS MS-177, Kaidun IV, MAC 88136 and pairings [ELa], NWA 305, NWA 3132, PCA 91020, QUE 93351) |
| EL4 (e.g. DaG 734 [ELa], DaG 1031, FRO 03005, Grein 002 [4/5], HaH 317, QUE 94368) |
| EL5 (e.g. Adrar Bous, NWA 1222, Tanezrouft 031, TIL 91714 [ELa]) |
| EL6 (e.g. Atlanta [ELa], Eagle, Forrest 033, Hvittis [ELa], LEW 87119, Pillistfer [ELa], Yilmia [ELa] |
| EL7/impact-melt phase (e.g. Happy Canyon [MR], Ilafegh 009 [ELa7/MR], Y-980524 [IMB]) |
| UNGROUPEDModifying term used to describe meteorites that are mineralogically and/or chemically unique and defy classification into the group or sub-group they most closely resemble. Some examples include Ungrouped Achondrite (achondrite-ung), Ungrouped Chondrite (chondrite-ung), Ungrouped Iron (iron-ung), and Ungrouped Carbonaceous (C-ung). Click on Term to Read More E CHONDRITESChondrites are the most common meteorites accounting for ~84% of falls. Chondrites are comprised mostly of Fe- and Mg-bearing silicate minerals (found in both chondrules and fine grained matrix), reduced Fe/Ni metal (found in various states like large blebs, small grains and/or even chondrule rims), and various refractory inclusions (such Click on Term to Read More |
| E-ung (e.g. LAP 031220 [4], LEW 87223 [3-anom], NWA 974 [6], NWA 2526 [7], PCA 91020 [3-anom; poss. rel. to LEW 87223], QUE 94204 [7], Y-793225 [6-anom; Rubin and Wasson, 2011]) |
G CHONDRITES (Weisberg et al., 2015)
Highly reducedOxidation and reduction together are called redox (reduction and oxidation) and generally characterized by the transfer of electrons between chemical species, like molecules, atoms or ions, where one species undergoes oxidation, a loss of electrons, while another species undergoes reduction, a gain of electrons. This transfer of electrons between reactants Click on Term to Read More, metal-rich
| G3 (e.g. GRO 95551, NWA 5492, Sierra Gorda 009) |
KAKANGARI (K) CHONDRITES
Highly reduced (A–L parent bodyThe body from which a meteorite or meteoroid was derived prior to its ejection. Some parent bodies were destroyed early in the formation of our Solar System, while others like the asteroid 4-Vesta and Mars are still observable today. Click on Term to Read More?)
| K3 (e.g. Kakangari [3.6], Lea County 002, LEW 87232) |
| K4 (e.g. NWA 10085) |
FORSTERITE (F) CHONDRITES
Highly reduced
| F3–6 (e.g. Acfer 370, ALHA78113, Cumberland Falls inclusions [3, 4, 6], El Médano 301 [4; see photo], NWA 7135 [3/4]) |
| H GROUP |
| H3.0–3.9 (e.g. Roosevelt Co. 075 [3.1], ERO 93050 [3.2], WSG 95300 [3.3], DaG 475 [3.4], LEW 88315 [3.5], Clovis no.1 [3.6], Grady (1937) [3.7], Lost Creek [3.8], DaG 225 [3.9], Abbott [3–6]) |
| H4 (e.g. Correo, Eustis, Selma) |
| H5 (e.g. Bonita Springs, Juancheng, Monahans (1998), NWA 2488, Sah 98034) |
| H6 (e.g. Peekskill) |
| H7 [or Meta-H] (e.g. ALH 88119, NWA 2898, Y-75008, Y-790120, Y-790960) |
| H melt phase (e.g. DaG 896 [IM], Dho 010 [IMB], Gao-Guenie [IMB], GSS 020 [MR], Portales Valley [IMB], NWA 2058 [MR], Smyer [IMB]) |
| TRANSITIONAL H/L |
| H/L3 (e.g. MET 00526 [3.05], Tieschitz [3.6], Bremervörde [3.7], Famenin [3.8–3.9], NWA 1955 [3–4]) |
| H/L4 (e.g. Cali, Haxtun) |
| H/L5 (e.g. Dhofar 428, LAP 031047, NWA 3330) |
| H/L6 (e.g. DaG 591, NWA 4152 and pairings, SaU 324) |
| L GROUP |
| L3.0–3.9 (e.g. NWA 7731 [3.00], NWA 8276 [3.00], LEW 86134 [3.0], JaH 026 [3.1], NWA 2798 [3.2], Dho 008 [3.2/3.3], ALH 83010 [3.3], EET 96015 [3.4], Felt (b) [3.5], MET 96503 [3.6], NWA 092 [3.7], NWA 2797 [3.8], Sah 97193 [3.9]) |
| L4 (e.g. Bluff (b), Okechobee) |
| L5 (e.g. Beenham, Mt. Tazerzait [anom], Park Forest) |
| L6 (e.g. Brewster, Bruderheim, Katol [6–7], Seagraves (c) [6/7]) |
| L7 [or Meta-L] (e.g. Dho 1275, Forrest 028, FRO 90058 and pairings, LEW 88663) |
| L melt phase (e.g. Cat Mountain [IMB], NWA 722, NWA 2085, NWA 4150 [IMR], NWA 6486 [IMR], PAT 91501, Shaw) |
| TRANSITIONAL L/LL |
| L/LL3 (e.g. Inman [3.4], NWA 487 [<3.5], SaU 089 [3.6/3.7], Esperance [3], NWA 4020 [3]) |
| L/LL4 (e.g. Bjurböle, Cynthiana, Seemore Downs) |
| L/LL5 (e.g. Chelyabinsk, Knyahinya, Qidong, Sah 97021 [5/6]) |
| L/LL6 (e.g. Acfer 041, Holbrook, Naryilco) |
| LL GROUP |
| LL3.00–3.9 (e.g. NWA 8576 [LL3.00], NWA 10061 [LL3.00], Semarkona [3.01], MET 00526 [3.05], NWA 1756 [3.10], NWA 3127 [3.10, metal-poor], NWA 4290 [3.10], Bishunpur [3.15], Y-74660 [3.15], Krymka [3.2], Wells [3.3], Ragland [3.4], NWA 539 [3.5], NWA 094 [3.6], Parnallee [3.7], DaG 054 [3.8], DaG 180 [3.9]) |
| LL4 (e.g. DaG 298, Greenwell Springs, Soko Banja) |
| LL5 (e.g. DaG 222 [5–6], NWA 1584, Paragould, Tuxtuac) |
| LL6 (e.g. Beeler, Ensisheim, NWA 2092 [6/7]) |
| LL7 [or Meta-LL] (e.g. Crocker’s Well, DaG 1022, Dho 011, Dho 014, NWA 503, EET 92013, Sah 97037, Uden, Y-82067) |
| LL melt phase (e.g. Bison [IMB], NWA 1701 [IMB], Y-74160) |
| R3 (e.g. LAP 03639 [3.4–4], DaG 013 [3.5–6], NWA 755 [3.7], Carlisle Lakes [3.8], NWA 978 [3.8], Acfer 217 [3.8–5], Rumuruti [3.8–6], NWA 753 [3.9]) |
| R4 (e.g. HaH 119, NWA 053, NWA 1906) |
| R5 (e.g. LAP 031275, NWA 1585, NWA 1668, NWA 7514) |
| R6 (e.g. MIL 07440, MIL 11207, NWA 5299, NWA 8012, Y-980159) |
UNGROUPED NON-CARBONACEOUS CHONDRITES
| Metal-poor (e.g. NWA 960 [L3], NWA 2040 [L3.1], NWA 2041 [L3], NWA 3114 [L3.8], NWA 3127 [LL3.10], NWA 3157 [L3], NWA 4294 [LL3], NWA 4298 [LL3], NWA 4486 [L3], NWA 4531 [LL3], NWA 5717 [L+LL3.05]) |
| Reduced, Low-FeO, Metal-rich (e.g. Beni Semguine [H5-anom], Burnwell [H4-anom], Cerro los Calvos [H4-anom], DOM 14080 [4-ung], EET 96031 [H4-anom], LAP 04757/73 [H-like], MIL 07273 [H5-anom], Moorabie [3.8-ung], QUE 94570 [L-like], Suwahib (Buwah) [H3.8-anom], Willaroy [H3.8-anom], Wray (a) [H4-anom], Y-982717 [H4-anom]) |
| Others (e.g. (HaH 180 [3.5], JaH 846 [3.5; abstract], NWA 725 and pairings [previously ‘W chondrites’, e.g., NWA 1058, NWA 1463], NWA 5717 [3.05–3.1], Sah 97009/39/42) |
CARBONACEOUS CHONDRITECarbonaceous chondrites represent the most primitive rock samples of our solar system. This rare (less than 5% of all meteorite falls) class of meteorites are a time capsule from the earliest days in the formation of our solar system. They are divided into the following compositional groups that, other than Click on Term to Read More SUPERCLAN
CV–CK CLAN (Weisberg et al., 2006)
| CV |
| CV2 (e.g. Mokoia clastA mineral or rock fragment embedded in another rock. Click on Term to Read More, Mundrabilla 012) |
| CV3red (Reduced subgroup, e.g. Leoville [3.0], Arch [3.0], Efremovka [3.2], Vigarano [3.3], DaG 055 [anom], DaG 430 [anom], RBT 04133, MIL 07513) |
| CV3oxA (Oxidized-Allende subgroup, e.g. Axtell [3.0], Allende [3.2], NWA 1763 [3.5]) |
| CV3oxB (Oxidized-Bali subgroup, e.g. Bali [3.0], Grosnaja [3.0], Kaba [3.1], Mokoia [3.3], NWA 2086 [~3.3]) |
| CV4ox (e.g. NWA 8418 [abstract]) |
| CV melt phase (e.g. LAR 06317 clast [CV3oxA], RBT 04143 clast [CV3red]) |
| CK |
| CK3, e.g. Ningqiang [3.3], NWA 1559 [3.6/3.7], NWA 5343 [3.6/3.7], DaG 431 [3.8], NWA 2921 [3.8], Camel Donga 003 [3], Hart [3], NWA 772 [3], NWA 1694 [3], Watson 002 [3]) |
| CK4 (e.g. DAG 275 [4/5], Dho 015, HaH 280/281, Karoonda, Kobe, Maralinga, NWA 521, NWA 735, NWA 4422, Y-6903) |
| CK5 (e.g. DaG 412, EET 87507 and pairings, NWA 060, NWA 1563, NWA 1907) |
| CK6 (e.g. LEW 87009, NWA 2388) |
| CK7 [or Meta-CK] (e.g. NWA 8186 [photo courtesy of Steve Witt]) |
CO–CM CLAN (Kallemeyn and Wasson, 1982)
| CO |
| CO3 after Bonal et al. (2007) (e.g. DOM 08006 [3.00–3.01], ALHA77307 [3.03], Y-81020 [3.05], LAP 031117 [3.06–3.09], Colony [3.0], DaG 005 and pairings [3.1], Kainsaz [3.2], MIL 07099 and pairings [3.2], Felix [3.4], Lancé [3.4], Ornans [3.4], Moss [3.6], Warrenton [3.6], Isna [3.7]) |
| CO3 subgroup with FeO-enriched and grossite-bearing CAIsSub-millimeter to centimeter-sized amorphous objects found typically in carbonaceous chondrites and ranging in color from white to greyish white and even light pink. CAIs have occasionally been found in ordinary chondrites, such as the L3.00 chondrite, NWA 8276 (Sara Russell, 2016). CAIs are also known as refractory inclusions since they Click on Term to Read More (Simon and Grossman, 2015) (e.g. Acfer 094 [3.00], DOM 08004 and pairings [3.2]) |
| CM |
| CM1 see revised hydrothermal alteration sequence (CM2.0–CM2.8) below (after Rubin et al., 2005, 2007; Blanchard et al., 2011): |
| CM2 (e.g. ALH 84034 [2.0; =CM1], EET 83334 [2.0; =CM1], Kaidun clasts [2.0; =CM1], LAP 02277 [2.0; =CM1], MET 01070 [2.0; =CM1], Moapa Valley [2.0; =CM1], NWA 4765 [2.0; =CM1], Mukundpura [2.0; =CM1], Sutter’s Mill [2.0/2.1], Jbilet Winselwan [2.0–2.3], ALH 83100 [2.1], QUE 93005 [2.1], Cold Bokkeveld [2.2], Nogoya [2.2], QUE 99355 [2.3], TIL 08007 [2.3], Y-791198 [2.4], Murray [2.4/2.5], Kivesvaara [2.5], Murchison [2.5], QUE 97990 [2.6], EET 96029 [2.7], TIL 91722 [~2.7], Maribo [<3.0], Paris [2.7–2.9 A/B])
not yet classified by aqueous alteration subtype (e.g. Boriskino, NWA 11118 [porous accretionary aggregate], Sayama [ox]) |
| CM3 (NWA 11024 [photo courtesy Sergey Vasiliev], tentative: EET 90043, MAC 87300, NWA 11086) |
| CM melt phase (e.g. GRO 95574 clast [howardite]) |
CR CLAN (Weisberg et al., 1995)
| CR |
| CR1 see revised hydrothermal alteration sequence (CR2.0–CR2.8) below (after Harju et al., 2011, 2014, 2015): |
| CR2 (e.g. GRO 95577 [2.0], MIL 090292 [2.0], Al Rais [2.3], MIL 090001 [2.4], Renazzo [2.4], GRA 06100 [2.5], NWA 5028 [2.6], MIL 07513 [2.7], MIL 090657 [2.7], Acfer 097 and pairings [2.8], EET 87711 and pairings [2.8], LAP 02342 [2.8], MET 00426 [2.8], NWA 801 [2.8], QUE 99177 [2.8; most pristine]) |
| CR3 (e.g. DaG 1068 [abstract]) |
| CR6 (e.g. NWA 3100, NWA 7317 and pairings) |
| CR7 [or Meta-CR] (NWA 5131, NWA 7531) |
| CB |
| CBa (e.g. Bencubbin, Fountain Hills, Gujba, MIL 05082 and pairings, AhS MS-181, NWA 1814, NWA 4025, Quebrada Chimborazo 001, Weatherford) |
| CBb (e.g. HaH 237, MAC 02675, QUE 94411 and pairings) |
| TRANSITIONAL CH/CBb |
| CH/CBb (e.g. Isheyevo) |
| CH |
| CH3 (e.g. Acfer 182 and pairings, Acfer 366, ALH 85085, EET 96238, NWA 470, NWA 739, NWA 770, NWA 2210, NWA 4781, NWA 5130, PAT 91546, PCA 91467, RKP 92435, SaU 290) |
| CR CLAN-RELATED |
| CR Clan-related (e.g. Kaidun [containing CR-, CI-, CM-, CV-, Meta-C-, O-, EH-, EL-, and aubrite-like clasts], LEW 85332 [C3.0–3.1 w/ C1,2 clasts; possible duo w/ CR2 MIL 090001 {abstract}], LEW 86211/498 [metal-sulfide impact melt {abstract}], NWA 011 and pairings, Tucson) |
CI CHONDRITES (Kallemeyn and Wasson, 1981)
| CI1 (e.g. Alais, Ivuna, Orgueil) |
| CI-like, meta Stage III (500–750°C; Nakamura, 2005) (e.g. Y-82162, Y-86029, Y-980115) |
‘CY CHONDRITES’ (Ikeda, 1992; King and Russell, 2019)
Thermally metamorphosed/dehydrated
| CY1 (e.g. Y-82162 [C1/2-ung], Y-86720 [C2-ung], Y-86789 [C2-ung]) |
| CY2 (e.g. Belgica 7904 [C2-ung]) |
| Other Potential CY (e.g. A-881458 [CM2], Dho 2066 [C2-ung], Dho 225 [CM-anom or ung], Dho 735 [CM2], Dho 1988 [C2-ung], Dho 2066 [C-ung], EET 96010 [CM2], PCA 02012 [CM2], WIS 91600 [CM2], Y-793321 [CM2])
CI-like, meta Stage III (500–750°C; Nakamura, 2005) (e.g. Y-86029 [CI1], Y-86737 [CI1], Y-980115 [CI1], Y-980134 [CI1]) |
UNGROUPED CARBONACEOUS CHONDRITES
| C-ung (e.g. Adelaide [C2], AhS 91/91A [C1], AhS 202 [C2], AhS 671 [C1], Bench CraterBowl-like depression ("crater" means "cup" in Latin) on the surface of a planet, moon, or asteroid. Craters range in size from a few centimeters to over 1,000 km across, and are mostly caused by impact or by volcanic activity, though some are due to cryovolcanism. Click on Term to Read More [C1], Coolidge [C4; duo with Loongana 001, possibly including Sah 00182 and HaH 073 and perhaps NWA 779 and Sah 00177], DaG 978 [C≥3.5], ‘Hypatia’ [ref. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6], MIL 07687 [C2], Mulga (west) [C5/6], NWA 033 [C3], NWA 978 [C3], NWA 994 [C3], NWA 1152 [C3/CV3-anom], NWA 5958 [C2], NWA 6047 [C3ox or ung], NWA 6697 [C2], NWA 7821 [C2/CM2-anom], NWA 7891 [CV3-anom or ung], NWA 8781 [C], NWA 11556 [C2], NWA 11750 [C3.00], Sah 00182 [C3], Tagish Lake [C2], Y-82094 [C3.2]) |
METACHONDRITES (Irving et al., 2005)
COMPLETE METAMORPHISM
| Meta-LL (e.g. NWA 5297 [possibly BRA-related or ung], NWA 7030 [anom]) |
| Meta-L (e.g. NWA 6348) |
| Meta-H (e.g. NWA 2353, NWA 2635) |
| Meta-CR [or CR7] (e.g. NWA 5131, NWA 7531) |
| Meta-CO (e.g. NWA 1839 [possibly CV-related]) |
| Meta-CV (e.g. NWA 3133 and pairings, NWA 10503 [‘CX’ trend]) |
| Meta-CK [or CK7] (e.g. NWA 8186 [photo courtesy of Steve Witt]) |
| Meta-CC-ung (e.g. NWA 2788 [‘CT’ parent body; see photos, abstracts [1, 2], and isotopic plot]) |
PART II: PRIMITIVE ACHONDRITES, ACHONDRITES, STONY-IRONS, IRONS
PART III: MARTIAN METEORITES—GEOCHEMICAL CLASSIFICATION
PART IV: DIOGENITES—IUGS TAXONOMY
PART V: ENSTATITE CHONDRITES—SUBGROUP CLASSIFICATION
Daniel J. Boorstin – Librarian of Congress
© 1997–2019 by David Weir
