Tourinnes-la-Grosse meteorite, Beauvechain, Walloon Brabant, Wallonia, Belgiumi

Regional Level Types
Tourinnes-la-Grosse meteorite	Meteorite Fall Location
Beauvechain	Municipality
Walloon Brabant	Province
Wallonia	Region
Belgium	Country

Ordinary chondrite (L6, S3)
Fell, 7 December 1863, 7:30 hrs; 14.5 kg, 2 stones

After detonations, two stones of nearly equal mass fell in the woods near Opvelp and at LeCulot sous Tourinnes-la-Grosse. The stone's meteoritic character was quickly recognized as chondrules, silicates, the peculiar sulfide we now call troilite, and Fe-Ni metal were quite evident. Indeed, the variegated colors, shapes and textures with indistinct chondrules and small metal grains are characteristic of petrologic type 6 ordinary chondrites. Several specimens have been well-preserved, with a notable greenish tint in both chondrules and grains. Total iron (21.98wt%Fe) plus olivine (Fa23.7) and low Ca-orthopyroxene (Fs20.6) compositions are characteristic of the L-chondrite geochemical group. Mineralogically, the meteorite consists primarily of dominant olivine (~45 wt%) accompanied by pyroxene along with minor albitic plagioclase, troilite, and Fe-Ni metal (kamacite and taenite). Accessory chromite, copper, diopside, ilmenite, and minor sulfides are also reported. Maskelynite, deformed plagioclase, and fractured olivine with undulose extinction are all indicative of significant pre-terrestrial shocks (shock level S3).

Rubidium-87/Strontium systematics strongly suggest that Tourrinnes-la-Grosse was formed about ~4.5 billion years ago, like all or almost all ordinary chondrites.

The L-group of ordinary chondrites (relatively low in total iron) are the largest group of classified witnessed meteorite falls (~45% of the well-classified falls). The L6 petrologic type account for ~ 70% of the L-group with Tourinnes-la-Grosse one of 272 meteorite falls now classified exactly as an 'L6' chondrite [June 2017].

Only 1.3 kg of the original mass has been retained at the Museum d'Histoire Naturelle (Paris). A few masses in the 100-400 g range are also found elsewhere.

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References