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)
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Diogenite specimen belongs to the achondrite meteorite family, with origins traced to asteroid 4 Vesta's differentiated mantle. The meteorite's composition centers on orthopyroxene, an iron-magnesium silicate that imparts its characteristic dark hue and substantial density. Associated minerals—including olivine, plagioclase, and metallic phases—vary in abundance across specimens, reflecting distinct thermal histories and crystallization pathways within Vesta's interior. The coarse-grained texture stems from gradual cooling rates that permitted extensive crystal growth, with some specimens exhibiting cumulate structures formed through crystal settling from primordial magma. This sample provides crucial petrological evidence for understanding planetary differentiation and the compositional architecture of early solar system bodies.
The formation of diogenites is closely linked to the geological history of Vesta. It is hypothesized that these meteorites formed from differentiated basaltic magma on Vesta's surface. As Vesta cooled, heavier minerals like orthopyroxene crystallized first and settled towards the bottom of magma chambers. Over time, impacts on Vesta could have excavated these materials and ejected them into space, where they eventually fell to Earth as meteorites.
This diogenite specimen illuminates planetary differentiation mechanisms and early solar system conditions through its mineralogical signature. As a member of the HED meteorite group—alongside howardites and eucrites—diogenites occupy a distinct position within Vesta's crustal architecture. While eucrites represent basaltic material from shallower depths, diogenites derive from the asteroid's deeper, olivine-pyroxene-rich layers. Howardites, conversely, represent regolith breccias combining both lithologies. This classification framework enables researchers to reconstruct Vesta's internal structure and thermal evolution, offering comparative insights into differentiation processes across diverse planetary bodies. The specimen's provenance and mineralogical characteristics provide essential data for constraining models of protoplanetary accretion and magmatic evolution in the early solar system.
