NWA 3118 - Carbonaceous Chondrite Meteorite

A meteorite thin section from The Curchin Collection

What is NWA 3118?

Carbonaceous chondrites contain some of the first materials that formed from our solar system. This dark rock has round to irregularly shaped chondrules and calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions (CAIs). Read more about CAIs on our Allende page.

Chondrules are enigmatic creatures. Their composition, mineralogy, and texture give us clues into their origin story, but we are still trying to unlock all the pieces. Like all things scientific, they are classified based on the texture and mineralogy. Our sample NWA 3118 has glorious barred olivine chondrules, amoeboid olivine aggregates (AOAs), as well as the primitive CAIs.

Under the Microscope

In transmitted cross-polarized light, the colorful chondrules are what stands out against the carbonaceous matrix. With distinctly clear and unaltered chondrules, NWA 3118 doesn’t disappoint. There are multiple barred olivine chondrules both round and irregular shaped, which we highlight in some of the designs. Amoeboid olivine aggregates appear as colorful clusters of tiny olivine crystals.