Selma H4

The Selma meteorite was found near that Alabama city in 1906. At 310 pounds it was then the largest meteorite found in the United States. It was purchased by the American Museum of Natural History (New York). The thin section pictured here was deaccessioned by Arizona State University in early 2014 and is now in a private collection in France.

There is little doubt that these two barred olivine chondrule segments are related. Their apparent size difference is due to “vertical” displacement after breaking. One scenario, for example, is that the plane of the thin section passes through the widest part of the right hand segment. The left hand segment had moved a little lower (or higher!) and thereby presented a smaller part of that segment through which the section was cut.

A large porphyritic olivine chondrule with internal olivine displaying well defined natural crystal faces, that is, the crystals are euhedral.

Relict grains with their characteristic dusty appearance.

A barred olivine chondrule with several sets of bars, each of which is in crytallographic continuity with part of the chondrule rim.

A cluster of barred olivine chondrules apparently joined at a common point and possibly containing internal crystallographic twins.

A small complex compound chondrule.

John Kashuba

John is a natural history enthusiast living in Oregon.