Ordinary Chondrite (L/LL4; S3), 6 kg
Fall, 23 Jan 1877

Early in the year of 1877, a fireball and detonations announced the first witnessed fall in the state of Kentucky. Clearing of the land and seasonal plowing had uncovered 9 previous meteorite (8 irons and a pallasite), but Cynthiana was the first stony meteorite in the state to be recovered. Cynthiana appears to be a ‘normal’ ordinary chondrite — although it has suffered significant preterrestrial impact damage [Shock level - S3] somewhere and somewhen between it formation on an original asteroidal parent body and its arrival on earth. A dark inclusion appears to be an incompletely digested residue of such earlier impacts and (ancient) metamorphism.

Total iron (19.2 wt%) and olivine composition (Fa25.6) suggest that Cynthiana is a part of a small group of ordinary chondrites with compositional properties intermediate between those of the usually well-defined L (low iron) and LL (very low iron) ordinary chondrite groups. Cynthiana is one of only 3 witnessed falls listed as exactly L/LL4 w. the Meteoritical Society (Albareto and Bjurböle are the others).

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Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Mineral List

5 valid minerals.

Meteorite/Rock Types Recorded

Note: data is currently VERY limited. Please bear with us while we work towards adding this information!

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Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

ⓘ 'L/LL4 chondrite meteorite'

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Chromite

Formula: Fe²⁺Cr³⁺₂O₄

References:

Meunier, Stanislas (1884) Encyclopédie Chimiquie. Tome II Métalloïdes. Appendice 2eme cahier: Méteorites. A. Lahure . p.1-532.

Mason, B. & Maynes, A.D. (1967) The Composition of the Allegan, Bur-Gheluai, and Cynthiana meteorites: Proceedings of the United States National Museum 124(3624): Smithsonian Institution Press: Washington, DC. 12pages. (Oct 1967).

ⓘ 'Clinopyroxene Subgroup'

Description: Clinopyroxene (or, formerly, clinohypersthene) more abundant than orthopyroxene.

References:

ⓘ Enstatite

Formula: Mg₂Si₂O₆

Description: Smith's use of the term 'Bronzite' does not conform with modern usage. Orthopyroxene is modern and perhaps more precise. Mason & Maynes (1967) used the term 'hypersthene' in usage which is also dated

References:

Smith, J.L. (1877) A description of the Rochester, Warrenton, and Cynthiana meteoritic stones: American Journal of Science, 3rd series., vol. 14: 219-229.

ⓘ Enstatite var. Bronzite

Formula: (Mg,Fe²⁺)₂[SiO₃]₂

References:

Smith, J.L. (1877) A description of the Rochester, Warrenton, and Cynthiana meteoritic stones: American Journal of Science, 3rd series., vol. 14: 219-229.

ⓘ 'Fayalite-Forsterite Series'

Description: Fa25.6 - Intermediate between low iron (L) and low low iron (LL) ordinary chondrite values. Fa 25.5, Rubin (1990).

References:

Farrington, O.C., 1915, Catalogue of the meteorites of North America to January 1, 1909: National Academy of Sciences, Memoir 13, 513 pages.

Meunier, Stanislas (1884) Encyclopédie Chimiquie. Tome II Métalloïdes. Appendice 2eme cahier: Méteorites. A. Lahure . p.1-532.

Rubin, Alan E. (1990) Kamacite and olivine in ordinary chondrites: Intergroup and intragroup relationships. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 54 (5) 1217-1232 doi:10.1016/0016-7037(90)90148-e

Grady, Monica (2000) Catalogue of Meteorites (5th ed.). Cambridge University Press.

ⓘ 'Meteoritic Iron'

References:

Farrington, O.C., 1915, Catalogue of the meteorites of North America to January 1, 1909: National Academy of Sciences, Memoir 13, 513 pages.

Grady, Monica (2000) Catalogue of Meteorites (5th ed.). Cambridge University Press.

ⓘ Native Iron

Formula: Fe

Description: Ni ~6%

References:

Rubin, Alan E. (1990) Kamacite and olivine in ordinary chondrites: Intergroup and intragroup relationships. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 54 (5) 1217-1232 doi:10.1016/0016-7037(90)90148-e

Bennett III, M.E. & McSween Jr., H.Y. (1996) Shock features in iron-nickel metal and troilite of L-group ordinary chondrites: Meteoritics & Planetary Science 31(2): 255-264. (March 1996).

ⓘ Native Iron var. Kamacite

Formula: (Fe,Ni)

Description: Ni ~6%

References:

Rubin, Alan E. (1990) Kamacite and olivine in ordinary chondrites: Intergroup and intragroup relationships. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 54 (5) 1217-1232 doi:10.1016/0016-7037(90)90148-e

Bennett III, M.E. & McSween Jr., H.Y. (1996) Shock features in iron-nickel metal and troilite of L-group ordinary chondrites: Meteoritics & Planetary Science 31(2): 255-264. (March 1996).

ⓘ 'Plagioclase'

Formula: (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi₂]O₈

Description: Plagioclase is quite minor, but a weak X-ray diffraction peak observed by Mason & Maynes (1967).

References:

ⓘ 'Plessite'

References:

Bennett III, M.E. & McSween Jr., H.Y. (1996) Shock features in iron-nickel metal and troilite of L-group ordinary chondrites: Meteoritics & Planetary Science 31(2): 255-264. (March 1996).

ⓘ 'Pyroxene Group'

Formula: ADSi₂O₆

References:

Farrington, O.C., 1915, Catalogue of the meteorites of North America to January 1, 1909: National Academy of Sciences, Memoir 13, 513 pages.

Meunier, Stanislas (1884) Encyclopédie Chimiquie. Tome II Métalloïdes. Appendice 2eme cahier: Méteorites. A. Lahure . p.1-532.

ⓘ Taenite

Formula: (Fe,Ni)

Description: Taenite is unzoned.

References:

Bennett, M.E. & McSween Jr, H.Y. (1996) Shock feature in iron-nickel metal and troilite of L-group ordinary chondrites Meteoritics & Planetary Science 31(2): 255-26. (March 1996).

Bennett III, M.E. & McSween Jr., H.Y. (1996) Shock features in iron-nickel metal and troilite of L-group ordinary chondrites: Meteoritics & Planetary Science 31(2): 255-264. (March 1996).

ⓘ Troilite

Formula: FeS

Description: Polycrystalline troilite is one of several shock indicators.

References:

Farrington, O.C., 1915, Catalogue of the meteorites of North America to January 1, 1909: National Academy of Sciences, Memoir 13, 513 pages.

Smith, J.L. (1877) A description of the Rochester, Warrenton, and Cynthiana meteoritic stones: American Journal of Science, 3rd series., vol. 14: 219-229.

Meunier, Stanislas (1884) Encyclopédie Chimiquie. Tome II Métalloïdes. Appendice 2eme cahier: Méteorites. A. Lahure . p.1-532.

Bennett, M.E. & McSween Jr, H.Y. (1996) Shock feature in iron-nickel metal and troilite of L-group ordinary chondrites Meteoritics & Planetary Science 31(2): 255-26. (March 1996).

Bennett III, M.E. & McSween Jr., H.Y. (1996) Shock features in iron-nickel metal and troilite of L-group ordinary chondrites: Meteoritics & Planetary Science 31(2): 255-264. (March 1996).

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
ⓘ	Native Iron	1.AE.05	Fe
ⓘ	var. Kamacite	1.AE.05	(Fe,Ni)
ⓘ	Taenite	1.AE.10	(Fe,Ni)
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘ	Troilite	2.CC.10	FeS
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘ	Chromite	4.BB.05	Fe²⁺Cr³⁺₂O₄
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘ	Enstatite	9.DA.05	Mg₂Si₂O₆
ⓘ	var. Bronzite	9.DA.05	(Mg,Fe²⁺)₂[SiO₃]₂
Unclassified
ⓘ	'Clinopyroxene Subgroup'	-
ⓘ	'Fayalite-Forsterite Series'	-
ⓘ	'Plagioclase'	-	(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi₂]O₈
ⓘ	'Pyroxene Group'	-	ADSi₂O₆
ⓘ	'Meteoritic Iron'	-
ⓘ	'Plessite'	-

List of minerals for each chemical element

O	Oxygen
O	ⓘ Chromite	Fe²⁺Cr₂³⁺O₄
O	ⓘ Enstatite	Mg₂Si₂O₆
O	ⓘ Enstatite var. Bronzite	(Mg,Fe²⁺)₂[SiO₃]₂
O	ⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series
O	ⓘ Plagioclase	(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi₂]O₈
O	ⓘ Pyroxene Group	ADSi₂O₆
Na	Sodium
Na	ⓘ Plagioclase	(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi₂]O₈
Mg	Magnesium
Mg	ⓘ Enstatite	Mg₂Si₂O₆
Mg	ⓘ Enstatite var. Bronzite	(Mg,Fe²⁺)₂[SiO₃]₂
Mg	ⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series
Al	Aluminium
Al	ⓘ Plagioclase	(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi₂]O₈
Si	Silicon
Si	ⓘ Enstatite	Mg₂Si₂O₆
Si	ⓘ Enstatite var. Bronzite	(Mg,Fe²⁺)₂[SiO₃]₂
Si	ⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series
Si	ⓘ Plagioclase	(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi₂]O₈
Si	ⓘ Pyroxene Group	ADSi₂O₆
S	Sulfur
S	ⓘ Troilite	FeS
Ca	Calcium
Ca	ⓘ Plagioclase	(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi₂]O₈
Cr	Chromium
Cr	ⓘ Chromite	Fe²⁺Cr₂³⁺O₄
Fe	Iron
Fe	ⓘ Chromite	Fe²⁺Cr₂³⁺O₄
Fe	ⓘ Native Iron	Fe
Fe	ⓘ Native Iron var. Kamacite	(Fe,Ni)
Fe	ⓘ Taenite	(Fe,Ni)
Fe	ⓘ Troilite	FeS
Fe	ⓘ Enstatite var. Bronzite	(Mg,Fe²⁺)₂[SiO₃]₂
Fe	ⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series
Ni	Nickel
Ni	ⓘ Native Iron var. Kamacite	(Fe,Ni)
Ni	ⓘ Taenite	(Fe,Ni)

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

North AmericaContinent

North America PlateTectonic Plate

Granite-Rhyolite ProvinceMagmatic Province
Shawnee DomainDomain

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References

Farrington, O.C., 1915, Catalogue of the meteorites of North America to January 1, 1909: National Academy of Sciences, Memoir 13, 513 pages.

www.lpi.usra.edu (n.d.) http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meteor/get_original_photo.php?recno=5628628

Smith, J.L. (1877) A description of the Rochester, Warrenton, and Cynthiana meteoritic stones: American Journal of Science, 3rd series., vol. 14: 219-229.

Meunier, Stanislas (1884) Encyclopédie Chimiquie. Tome II Métalloïdes. Appendice 2eme cahier: Méteorites. A. Lahure . p.1-532.

Sears, D. W. & Wasson, J. T. (1981) Dark Inclusions in the Abbott, Cynthiana and Abee Chondrites (Abstract): LUNAR AND PLANETARY SCIENCE XII: 958-960.(March 1981)

Rubin, Alan E. (1990) Kamacite and olivine in ordinary chondrites: Intergroup and intragroup relationships. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 54 (5) 1217-1232 doi:10.1016/0016-7037(90)90148-e

Bennett III, M.E. & McSween Jr., H.Y. (1996) Shock features in iron-nickel metal and troilite of L-group ordinary chondrites: Meteoritics & Planetary Science 31(2): 255-264. (March 1996).

Grady, Monica (2000) Catalogue of Meteorites (5th ed.). Cambridge University Press.

www.lpi.usra.edu (2010) http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meteor/metbull.php

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Cynthiana meteorite, Harrison County, Kentucky, USAiRegional Level TypesCynthiana meteoriteMeteorite Fall Location Harrison CountyCounty KentuckyState USACountry function showexplain() { $("#locexplain").toggle(); if (typeof movemap === "function") movemap(); }

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Mineral List

Meteorite/Rock Types Recorded

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Detailed Mineral List:

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

List of minerals for each chemical element

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References

Cynthiana meteorite, Harrison County, Kentucky, USA i
Regional Level Types
Cynthiana meteorite Meteorite Fall Location
Harrison County County
Kentucky State
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