ALLENDE METEORITE - AN END PIECE THAT CONTAINS. THE OLDEST MATTER THAT CAN BE TOUCHED, TRUE. STARDUST. ...

Description

ALLENDE METEORITE - AN END PIECE THAT CONTAINS
THE OLDEST MATTER THAT CAN BE TOUCHED, TRUE
STARDUST
Carbonaceous-CV3
Chihuahua, Mexico
The most studied meteorite in the world, Allende contains interstellar particles that are believed to have formed during an explosion of a super nova prior to the formation of our solar system. This was the first material to have condensed out of the hot nebular gasses that initiated the formation of the planets. In effect, the white calcium-aluminum inclusions (CAIs) seen here are aggregates of "stardust"- the oldest material mankind can ever physically touch - and Allende is among the few meteorites to contain such particles. This end piece, part of a meteorite shower which descended on Chihuahua, Mexico on February 8, 1969, also features 70% fusion crust on the reverse-evidence of the meteorite's fiery descent through our atmosphere. Its light charcoal matrix is loaded with CAIs, spherical chondrules and a myriad of other inclusions. This is a select example of one of the most scientifically important meteorite showers in history: more than one hundred scientific papers have been devoted to the study of Allende meteorites. 58 x 32 x 22 mm (2.25 x 1.25 x 0.9 inches) and 49.7 grams.

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