Scientists are excited about NWA5480 because they exhibit unique textural characteristics not previously found in any other known meteorites! The material must have been heated to a point where it became “plasticized” and mixed, presumably in the deep interior (mantle) of the NWA 5480 parent body (presumably asteroid 4Vesta).
By analogy with deformed olivine-orthopyroxene-rich samples of the Earth’s mantle (known as harzburgites), it appears likely that temperatures were high enough that NWA 5480 represents a solid residue after partial melting to produce molten magma, which presumably ascended towards the surface of the parent body. The “swirl” texture that can be seen on the interior and exterior graphically displays the flowing and mixing of the olivine and orthopyroxene grains, with intermingled chromite crystals.
Diogenites: “Vast underground chambers of magma churned and roiled, eventually cooling to the point at which orthopyroxene crystals froze out of the liquid rock. Insulated by kilometers of overlying rock and magma, they cooled slowly, growing into enormous sizes before settling downwards into vast piles of large crystals at the base of the underground caverns.” (Meteorite, p.102)
24.2g End Cut, 50mm x 38mm x 8mm
Originating from the asteroid 4 Vesta, the Diogenite are a group of stony meteorites which are also considered achondrites as they lack chondrules like most other stony meteorites. Origin story:
How it happened
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