Diogenite Meteorites Asteroid 4 Vesta Specimen NMW 7831 Western Sahara Display

Location: Western Sahara

Weight: 0.4 Ounces (Display)

Dimensions: 2.3 Inches Long, 1.5 Inches Wide, 0.6 Inches Thick (Display)

Comes with a Free Display Case.

The item pictured is the one you will receive. 

Diogenites represent a fascinating category of achondritic meteorites originating from asteroid 4 Vesta, one of the asteroid belt's most significant bodies. These stony meteorites have undergone differentiation and crystallization processes mirroring those found in planetary bodies, offering profound insights into early solar system development. Composed primarily of orthopyroxene—an iron and magnesium-rich mineral—diogenites display their characteristic dark coloration and substantial density. Their coarse-grained texture results from deliberate cooling during formation, permitting substantial crystal development. Additional mineralogical constituents may include olivine, plagioclase, and metallic phases, with variations reflecting distinct cooling histories and parent body processes. Scientific evidence suggests diogenites crystallized from differentiated basaltic magma on Vesta's surface, with heavier minerals settling within magma chambers before subsequent impacts ejected them into space. As members of the HED meteorite group alongside howardites and eucrites, diogenites provide invaluable data regarding planetary differentiation mechanisms and early solar system conditions, making them essential specimens for advancing our understanding of celestial evolution.