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Ureilitefrom Dar al Gani, Libya |
| Ureilites are a rare class of achondrites that are often attracted with a magnet like L or LL chondrites. Without a cut face showing their internal structure, it is quite impossible to differentiate them from ordinary chondrites. |
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A typical ureilite texture consists of olivine and pigeonite crystals (1 to 3 mm) and carbonaceous material forming veins easily visible in the matrix. Microscopic diamonds, the result of violent events on the parent body, occur in shock metamorphosed ureilites. |
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Some ureilites have a very smooth fusion crust compared to chondrites whereas others can show a mosaic pattern on the crust (photo). There is generally no fracture on the crust. |
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Dar al Gani 874 |
Polymict ureilite from Dar al Gani plateau reveals the presence of two distinct lithologies. |
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Information on ureilites is rather sparse. Carbon content, presence of diamond and lonsdaleite suggest that parent bodies of ureilites are different from other meteorite parent bodies. |
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22 finds with a total weight of 5673 grams were recovered on a small area of Dar al Gani plateau. |
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Some samples from the above specimens are available for collectors and researchers on request. Today, the total known weight of ureilites on earth is around 30 kilos. This class of meteorite is more rare than Mars rocks. |
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