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NWA 6026 - Exotic New Carbonaceous Chondrite CK5 - Whole Slice 11gr
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NWA 6026 - Exotic New Carbonaceous Chondrite CK5 - Whole Slice 11gr

$419.00

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Introducing NWA 6026, a new carbonaceous chondrite CK5 meteorite from the Saharan Desert.

NWA 6026 (provisional) is a carbonaceous chondrite of the Karoonda type (CK5).  This is a very rare class of meteorite.  

This specimen slice weighs a substantial 11 grams and has a beautiful gloss polish on both sides.  It is approx. 1.5mm in thickness and has a large amount of surface area for the weight.  The slice also has some small areas of black crust around the outside edge.   This is one of the largest full slices of this meteorite and it was taken directly from the 133-gram main mass.  This slice shows well-defined chondrules set into a dark matrix that has subtle swirled-lithologies with melt-like veins of black running through lighter-grey areas.  It also tiny sparkly metal grains that glitter like diamonds when the slice is turned under a light.  It is very hard to capture the beauty of this material in photos, and I am not a professional photographer, so keep in mind that the photos don't do this meteorite justice - it is an absolutely gorgeous example of the CK class of meteorites.  Your purchase of this slice will include a specimen card with data and a 3"x4" Riker box for safe storage and display. (not shown)

NWA 6026 was purchased in Morocco in 2009.  It was submitted for classification (Humboldt University, Berlin) and received the provisional NWA number 6026 in January 2010.  The specimen consisted of a single mass weighing 244 grams with fresh glossy black fusion crust.  It has a weathering grade of W1/W2 and a shock grade of S2.  The interior is quite fresh with CAI's and small shock veins set in a characteristic blue-grey background matrix of magnetite-rich material.  Other classification data : Fa mol% 0.7-31.7, Fs mol% 1.9-5.6.

Refer to the photos.  The black centimeter cube is shown for scale and is not included.

CK type specimens vary from other carbonaceous chondrites because they have experienced violent conditions during their history.  Like other carbonaceous chondrites, they represent a primitive material from the earliest days of the primordial solar nebula, but most carbonaceous chondrites are relatively unaltered and pristine.  CK types have experienced non-aqueous oxidizing conditions as a result of heat and shock that was caused by violent collisions in the early chaos of the solar system.  Because of this, they have a characteristic greyish blue matrix that owes it's color to the presence of magnetite inside the iron-rich olivine-bearing material.  CK meteorites also contain large CAI inclusions (Calcium Aluminum Inclusions), which are known to be the oldest matter in the solar system, having condensed from the solar nebula millions of years before the formation of chondrules.  Also, because of the CK's violent history, most of these meteorite exhibit some degree of shock and shock veins.  At first, scientists thought that CK meteorites were part of the Vigarano (CV) family, and they were labelled as CV4 or CV5 meteorites.  But now it is known that CK meteorites are a distinctly different class of meteorite that originates from an unknown parent body that is different from other carbonaceous chondrites.  CK meteorites are subdivided into petrologic grades 3-6, with 6 being the most metamorphosed and CK4 being the most common.

To put this scarcity of this meteorite into perspective, consider the following :

1) There have been approx. 30,000 meteorites to be officially classified, and this includes all meteorites that originated from Antarctica and the deserts of North West Africa.  Out of many thousands of meteorites to be found, only 80 have been classified as CK5.

2) Of the 80 known CK5 meteorites, 67 of them were found in Antarctica by official government expeditions and are only available for scientific study - they are forever locked away from the collector's market.   

3) The majority of the Antarctic CK5 meteorites are tiny stones weighing 10 or less grams from paired finds.  Only 4 of the Antarctic finds weigh more than 100 grams, and only one weighs more than 1000 grams.  In other words - these 67 Antarctic meteorites don't add up to much total weight and may only represent a small number of paired falls.

4) Of the 13 CK5 meteorites available to collectors, 4 of them are very small stones weighing under 100 grams, so this material is rarely seen on the market.  

5) The combined TKW (total known weight) of all CK5 meteorites is only 11.7kg, and the non-Antarctics weigh only 7.9kg.

6) By comparison there are over 60 known lunar meteorites (not counting pairings) and just one of them weighs more than all of known CK5 meteorites in existence.  This means that carbonaceous CK5 meteorites are many times more rare than lunars (moon rocks) by weight.

This meteorite is generously priced at $30 per gram.  Take a look around the web and compare prices for this material.  You'll see that most others sell for $40-$50 per gram or more, and many of the specimens are more weathered than this new one.

Some of the other non-Antarctic CK5 meteorites that are seen on the collector market :

Dar al Gani 412 - a very weathered (W3) meteorite consisting of a single mass weighing 946 grams. (selling for $40/gram)

NWA 060 - a single 604gr stone found very early in the NWA days.  (selling for $50/gram to $100/gram)

Purchase of this item includes a free shipping upgrade to USPS Insured Priority Box with Signature Confirmation and tracking number.

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