Carbonaceous Chondrite (CV3)
147 mm x 135 mm x 1 mm
54 grams
Stunning, heart-shaped slice of the carbonaceous chondrite meteorite Northwest Africa 8722 (NWA 8722), originally purchased as an 8.1 kg stone in Morocco in 2006. The dark matrix is richly ingrained with chondrules, including CAl-rich inclusions—the oldest solid matter in our solar system. Precipitated directly from the swirling nebular gas of our solar system as it formed, at 1,400° near the Sun, CAI (Calcium-aluminium-rich inclusion) grains proliferated at the very beginning, literally setting the clock for the start of our Solar System some 4.567 billion years ago.
Per the Meteoritical Bulletin: 'The meteorite consists of ca. 40% diverse chondrules (typically mm-sized), 8% refractory inclusions, 2% lithic inclusions/fragments of mm to cm-size, and 50% matrix. The lithic inclusion are of dark or CO chondrite-like texture. The matrix is light brown and somewhat weathered with no visible metal.'
Handsomely displayed in a custom porthole-style airtight frame, with identification plaque on the front.
