L Chondrite

Ordinary chondrites low in free Ni-Fe metal (4 to 10 vol. %), containing olivine (Fa22-26) and the orthopyroxene hypersthene (Fs19-22). Average chondrule diameters (0.7 mm) are larger than those in H chondrites. The asteroid 433 Eros is suspected as a parent body, based on reflectance spectra, but most L chondrites show signs of severe shock metamorphism suggesting a violent history of the parent. L chondrites may originate from a relative or a former part of Eros that was entirely broken up when it collided with another asteroid.


Some or all content above used with permission from J. H. Wittke.


 

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