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SÃO JOSÉ DO RIO PRETO

Stony

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DESCRIPTION:

CHONDRITE

ORDINARY

H-L-LL

H

4

BRAZIL - SP

1962

Equilibrated Ordinary Chondrite H4.

PETROGRAPHY:

The meteorite exhibits a chondritic texture that is still very evident with chondrules showing a varied internal texture, such as barred, radial and porphyritic. The chondrules are embedded in a fine-grained matrix, consisting mainly of microcrystalline material, but with regions still glassy. Source: Gomes & Keil (1980).

GEOCHEMISTRY:

Optical and electron microprobe analyses by Gomes et al. (1978d) provides the following data: olivine Fa198.7, pyroxene with low Ca (bronzite) Fs16.8 and metallic phase FeNi (kamacite and taenite) as the main constituents. In lesser quantity are the plagioclase Ab85.8 An11.9 Or2.3, diopside (pyroxene rich in Ca) En50.9 Fs6.6 Wo42.4, troilite and chromite. Source: Gomes & Keil (1980).

CLASSIFICATION:

The texture and mineralogy support the classification of the chemical H group for the São José do Rio Preto meteorite, mainly the minerals olivine, pyroxene and chromite. In addition, this classification is confirmed by the ratios Feº / Ni (9.40), Fe / SiO2 (0.73) and Feº / Fe (0.59), as well as the total concentration of total Fe in the meteorite (26.78%) and total Fe 16.64% FeNi. The well-developed chondritic texture, the slight compositional variation still found in olivines and pyroxenes, the abundant presence of microcrystalline grains in the chondrules and in the matrix (such as the presence of some vitreous regions), as well as the occurrence of low Ca pyroxene twinned petrographic type 4 by Van Schmus & Wood (1967) for the meteorite. Source: Gomes & Keil (1980).

CLASSIFIERS:

Not reported by the Meteoritical Bulletin Database. A preliminary description was carried out by Coutinho & Arid (1963) and then a more detailed study on the meteorite was published by Gomes & Keil (1977a). Source: Gomes et al. (1978d).

HISTORY:

The meteorite fell on August 14, 1962, around 8:00 am to 300m SW from the headquarters of Fazenda Urtiga, which was at the time owned by Mr. João Bastos and is located about 12 km from the city of São José do Rio Preto. The fall was witnessed by Raimundo Golveia Salgado, who almost missed the fall of a “strange” celestial body that fell just 3 meters from him. The stone that weighed 927g and fell making a loud noise, did not cause any crater or hole. The stone was recovered around half an hour after the fall and according to information it still maintained a high temperature, it was not even possible to touch it immediately. News of the event took Professor Arid to the fall site and arranged for the farm owner to donate the meteorite for research. The meteorite was first studied by Coutinho and Arid, who also established that the meteorite traveled from SW-NE. The meteorite was exposed in the Museum of the Department of Geology and Paleontology of the Faculty of Philosophy of São José do Rio Preto and was taken to the professor's residence at the time of his retirement. Description obtained in the documents of M. E. Zucolotto.

All information that does not have a specific source was extracted from the Meteoritical Bulletin Database.

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