Angra dos Reis meteorite

The Angra dos Reis meteorite is the type specimen of the angrite group. It was observed when it fell to earth in 1869.[1]

Angra dos Reis
TypeAchondrite
GroupAngrite
CompositionFassaite (93%)
CountryBrazil
RegionAngra dos Reis
Coordinates22°58′S 44°19′W
Observed fallYes
Fall date20 January 1869
TKW1.5 kilograms (3.3 lb)

Discovery and naming

The meteorite is named after Angra dos Reis, a municipality of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It fell on 20 January 1869 into the bay where the water was about 2 m deep. Two fragments were found by a diver the next day.[2]

Museum

The National Museum of Brazil holds the meteorite as part of its meteorite collection. After the museum's 2018 fire, there were concerns that it was lost in the rubble of the museum.[3][4] Some Meteorites were found on October 19, 2018, including the Angra dos Reais.[5]

Mineralogy

Although it is the type specimen of the angrites, Angra dos Reis is actually very different from most angrites. It is almost completely made from a rare form of pyroxene called fassaite. This makes it more like a pyroxenite than the typical angrite, which is similar to a basalt. The only other meteorite samples that contain fassaite are the Calcium-aluminium-rich inclusions found in the Allende meteorite. The reason for this exotic composition is thought to be partial melting of a chondritic precursor under redox conditions in which meteoric iron is unstable.[6]

References
  1. "Angra dos Reis". Meteoritical Society. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  2. "Angra dos Reis". Meteoritestudies. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  3. "Meteorito de R$ 3 milhões segue perdido nos escombros do Museu Nacional" (in Portuguese). 25 September 2018.
  4. "O meteorito que vale R$ 3 milhões e está perdido nos escombros do Museu Nacional" (in Portuguese). 25 September 2018.
  5. "Meteorito que vale milhões de reais é recuperado dos escombros do Museu Nacional" (in Portuguese). 25 September 2018.
  6. "The Angrite Meteorite Mystery" (PDF). NASA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-09-17. Retrieved 2013-01-03.
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