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)