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 a meteorite classified as an achondrite, 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 objects in the asteroid belt. Studying these meteorites provides insights into the early solar system's formation and evolution.

Diogenites are primarily composed of orthopyroxene, a mineral rich in iron and magnesium, which gives them a characteristic dark color and dense structure. They may also contain olivine, plagioclase, and various metallic phases. Variations in mineral composition reflect different cooling histories or processes on the parent body.

The texture of diogenites is typically coarse-grained, due to slow cooling during formation, which allows larger crystals to develop. Some specimens show a cumulate texture, indicating they formed from the accumulation of crystals settling out of molten magma.

The formation of diogenites is closely tied to Vesta’s geological history. As basaltic magma on Vesta cooled, heavier minerals like orthopyroxene crystallized first and settled toward the bottom of magma chambers. Subsequent impacts on Vesta ejected these materials into space, eventually allowing them to reach Earth as meteorites.

Diogenites provide critical information on planetary differentiation, showing how celestial bodies separate into layers based on density, and offering clues about early solar system conditions.

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