Chergach

The Chergach meteorite fell during the daytime on July 2nd or 3rd, 2007. It fell southwest of El Mokhtar, Erg Chech, Timbuktu district in Mali. Many, many stones fell with a Total Known Weight of approximately 100kg which have since been classified as an H5 Chondrite with a Shock Rating of S3 and a Weathering Level of W0 (unweathered). The meteorite displays a beautiful fresh black fusion crust which is highlighted by a pale grey coloured interior on broken surfaces. Some shock veins are also visible throughout the stones of this fall. The classification also states that: "In addition to this dominant lithology, a significant number of stones consist of chondritic clasts (H5 S3-4 W0, identical to the homogeneous lithology) set in a fine-grained, black, silicate impact melt matrix with abundant droplets of metal and metal-troilite. Shock stage of small clasts is up to S4.)

The circumstances surrounding the fall included reports of nomads witnessing a smoke cloud and several detonations being heard across a wide area. The first person to find meteorites from this fall was Mr Ouled Bleila who was later killed in a car accident on his way back from the Chergach strewn field in October 2007. The Tuareg people from Algeria who visited the fall site in September 2007 have stated that the elliptical strewn field stretches for more than 20 km in a north-easterly direction. This specimen is part of the Meteorites Australia Collection (MA.08.0001).

Chergach (H5) 54.3g Individual.
Enlargement ---> 1500 x 994 (285KB)

Chergach (H5) 54.3g Individual.
Enlargement ---> 1500 x 699 (176KB)

Chergach (H5) 54.3g Individual.
Enlargement ---> 1500 x 988 (268KB)