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. 

This Tatahouine Diogenite specimen represents a diogenite meteorite, a category of achondrite that formed through planetary differentiation processes. Diogenites are thought to derive from asteroid 4 Vesta, the asteroid belt's second-largest body, making them invaluable for understanding planetary geology and solar system evolution. The Tatahouine fall occurred on June 24, 1931, in Tunisia, establishing its documented provenance. As a differentiated meteorite, this specimen offers collectors and researchers direct access to material shaped by the same geological processes that formed terrestrial planets, providing tangible evidence of early solar system conditions and planetary body composition.

Diogenites are primarily composed of orthopyroxene, a mineral that is rich in iron and magnesium. The presence of this mineral gives diogenites their characteristic dark color and dense structure. In addition to orthopyroxene, diogenites may contain other minerals such as olivine, plagioclase, and various metallic phases. The specific mineralogical composition can vary among individual specimens, reflecting different cooling histories or parent body processes.

The Tatahouine diogenite exhibits the characteristic coarse-grained texture resulting from gradual cooling during formation, enabling substantial crystal development. Many diogenites display cumulate textures, reflecting crystal accumulation within cooling magma chambers. This specimen's genesis traces to Vesta's differentiation process, where dense minerals like orthopyroxene crystallized and settled in magmatic reservoirs. Subsequent impacts on Vesta's surface excavated these materials, launching them into space as meteorites. The Tatahouine fall of June 24, 1931, represents one such ejection event, delivering a sample of Vesta's interior composition to Earth. This specimen's mineralogical and textural features preserve evidence of planetary-scale magmatic processes and impact dynamics that shaped the asteroid belt's largest bodies during the early solar system.

The Tatahouine diogenite belongs to the HED meteorite group, alongside howardites and eucrites, all believed to originate from asteroid 4 Vesta. This classification system reflects distinct mineralogical and chemical signatures that reveal how planetary bodies undergo density-driven differentiation. By examining diogenites, researchers gain critical insights into early solar system conditions and the geological processes that shaped terrestrial planets. The HED group's three members—with howardites representing mixed material and eucrites displaying basaltic compositions—collectively illuminate Vesta's internal structure and evolution. This June 24, 1931, Tatahouine specimen serves as a window into planetary formation mechanisms and provides a comparative context for understanding similar bodies throughout the solar system.