An Ungrouped Carbonaceous Chondrite

NWA 5958 C3.0-ung was 286 grams of fragments. We bought a fragment from Greg Hupé and had thin sections made from it.

The Met Bull entry and two papers are here:
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meteor/metbull.php?code=50844
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2011/pdf/2343.pdf
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2011/pdf/2325.pdf

3.534 gram fragment of NWA 5958 C3.0-ung

The large tan chondrule fragment is about 1.7 mm across. The protruding white chondrule above and to the right is about 0.5 mm in diameter. NWA 5958 C3.0-ung

Here the original chondrule has had at least three shells of additional material accreted to it. Total diameter is almost three millimeters. Thin section in transmitted light. NWA 5958 C3.0-ung

Chondrule diameter is almost three millimeters. Thin section in cross-polarized light. NWA 5958 C3.0-ung

Two small mutant barred olivine chondrules. Thin section in cross-polarized light. NWA 5958 C3.0-ung

A small distorted barred olivine chondrule. Thin section in cross-polarized light. NWA 5958 C3.0-ung

A fine-grained object with larger mineral grains embedded. Thin section in cross-polarized light. NWA 5958 C3.0-ung

A fine-grained object with embedded mineral grains flanked by mineral grains that appear to have accreted additional material. Thin section in cross-polarized light. NWA 5958 C3.0-ung

CAI. Thin section in cross-polarized light. NWA 5958 C3.0-ung

A droplet shaped chondrule 0.6 mm across with interesting internal textures. Thin section in plane-polarized light. NWA 5958 C3.0-ung

We see that the chondrule contains both olivine and pyroxene. Why does the chondrule appear to have flattened sides? Why does it appear to have the point of a droplet? Thin section in cross-polarized light. NWA 5958 C3.0-ung

Is this the answer to the droplet point question, a cosmic taffy pull? Thin section in cross-polarized light. NWA 5958 C3.0-ung

John Kashuba

John is a natural history enthusiast living in Oregon.