NWA 3099

The meteorite, NWA 3099 was found in North West Africa in 2003. This meteorite has been classified as a very rare intermediate chondrite; L/LL3. It also has been given a weathering level of just 1 and a very high shock rating of 4 which is not particularly evident. The Total Known Weight for this remarkable meteorite is a miniscule 179g which has been cut from a single stone into about a dozen slices. NWA 3099 displays has a beautifully coloured matrix full of crisp chondrules and many various other inclusions. The stone also has fresh black crust and flow lines in some areas. This specimen is part of the Meteorites Australia Collection and includes the following features:

• Frequent and relatively large troilite (Iron Sulphide) inclusions.

• A reasonable amount of visible metallic iron.

• Chondrules armoured with troilite (Iron Sulphide).

• Chondrules armoured with metallic iron.

• Inclusions which may be of Carbonaceous origin.

• Numerous different 'Achondritic-like' inclusions. (Eg. On the right side which is also the largest inclusion found in this meteorite and passes through about 3 or 4 slices. The inclusion looks very similar to some Howardites such as Dhofar 485 with dark angular fragments embedded.)

• A few odd Barred Olivines/Chondrules.

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NWA 3099 (L/LL3) - 11.80g Complete Slice.

NWA 3099 (L/LL3) - 11.80g Complete Slice.

NWA 3099 (L/LL3) - 11.80g Complete Slice.

Further Reading / Theories by Bernd Pauli: While rare; it may be possible that this meteorite contains Carbonaceous inclusions. A well-known example is Krymka (LL3.1/S3) some slices of which include black carbonaceous material, referred to as 'Mysterite'. Interestingly, where there is Mysterite in the Krymka chondrite, there is also abundant troilite in the matrix. There are also graphite-bearing fragments and, again, these fragments contain a high abundance of troilite and graphite.

Maybe NWA 3099 is as, or, at least almost as "primitive" as Krymka or even Semarkona and thus would contain material from the early days of our solar system. Like in Krymka, the C-rich clasts might be of a pre-accretionary nature, and maybe there are even presolar nanodiamonds like the ones that have been reported from Krymka. Maybe there is even a relation to cometary material as has been assumed for Krymka carbonaceous material.

Similarities & Differences - Other L3 & LL3 Chondrites -->