Tatahouine Diogenite Stony Meteorite Achondrites Specimen Fell June 24, 1931 Display

Location: Tunisia

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. 

Tatahouine Diogenite is an achondrite meteorite, a type of stony meteorite that has undergone differentiation and crystallization processes similar to those in planetary bodies. Diogenites are believed to originate from asteroid 4 Vesta, one of the largest bodies in the asteroid belt, providing valuable insights into the formation and evolution of the early solar system.

Composition and Texture:
Diogenites are primarily composed of orthopyroxene, rich in iron and magnesium, which gives them a dark color and dense structure. They may also contain olivine, plagioclase, and metallic phases. The coarse-grained texture results from slow cooling, allowing large crystals to form, and some exhibit a cumulate texture, indicating crystal accumulation from molten magma.

Formation:
These meteorites likely formed from differentiated basaltic magma on Vesta's surface, with heavier minerals crystallizing first and settling in magma chambers. Subsequent impacts on Vesta ejected these rocks into space, eventually landing on Earth as meteorites.

Scientific Significance:
Studying diogenites sheds light on planetary differentiation—how celestial bodies develop layered structures—and provides information about early solar system conditions.

Classification:
Diogenites are part of the HED (Howardite-Eucrite-Diogenite) group of meteorites. Howardites are mixtures of eucrite and diogenite material, while eucrites are basaltic rocks from Vesta with different mineral compositions. This classification helps researchers trace the origins and evolutionary history of these materials and understand similar bodies in the solar system.