Santa Bárbara meteorite, Encantado, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazili

Regional Level Types
Santa Bárbara meteorite	Meteorite Fall Location
Encantado	Municipality
Rio Grande do Sul	State
Brazil	Country

Ordinary chondrite, brecciated (L4,br;S2)
Fall, 26 September 1873; 400 g

A southerly moving meteorite was seen to fall from a cloudless sky near the Rio Taquari just north of Encantado. After detonations were followed by rapid machine gun-like sounds, a single meteoritic stone was recovered. The meteorite contains distinct chondrules found within a surrounding matrix of usually transparent, granular microcrystalline material with occasional regions of turbid glass. Chondrule textures vary considerably. The meteorite consists primarily of olivine, orthopyroxene, and Fe-Ni metal. Accessory phases include chromite, microcrystalline plagioclase, diopside, and phosphates. Olivine (Fa24.6) and low Ca-pyroxene (Fs20.6) compositions are characteristic of L-chondrites. Clear chondritic textures, the presence of Ca-poor clinopyroxene, very minor amounts of residual glass, and rare —sometimes twinned — plagioclase are suggestive of the L4 petrologic type. Plagioclase textures and variations are quite complex.

The L (relatively low in total iron) chondrites are a large group of ordinary chondrites and represent ~40% of witnessed meteorite falls which have been properly classified. The L4 chondrites are a small subset, accounting for < 10% of the group. Santa Barbara is one of 23 meteorite falls classified exactly as an L4 chondrite (tally of June 2016).

Note: Gomes & Keil (1980) suggest that the date provided above was the most likely of several dates which have been recorded.

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References