Aba Panu L3 Chondrite Meteorite For Sale

The Aba Panu meteorite is a chondrite that fell over Oyo State, Nigeria, on April 19, 2018. NASA’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies detected the bolide around 2:00 PM that day, traveling over 45,000 miles per hour as it entered Earth’s atmosphere. Shortly after, the meteor exploded approximately 30 kilometers above the surface, scattering fragments over the village of Aba Panu and the towns of Ipapo and Tede to the north.

This fall is one of only seven documented L3 chondrite events, and it’s a remarkable specimen. Some pieces display poorly developed regmaglypts, though fusion crust is rare. Classified as an L3 chondrite, it features a dense collection of large, sometimes armored chondrules embedded in a gray matrix, with striking nickel-iron grains scattered throughout. Aba Panu provides a fascinating glimpse into the early history of the solar system.

What Are L3 Chondrites?

7 Items ($75 to $1,195)

Aba Panu Chondrite Meteorite ( g) - Witnessed Fall! #281466

4.35" Aba Panu Chondrite Meteorite (84.7 g) - Witnessed Fall!

$1,195

Aba Panu Chondrite Meteorite ( g) - Witnessed Fall! #281468

3.9" Aba Panu Chondrite Meteorite (48.4 g) - Witnessed Fall!

$595

Aba Panu Chondrite Meteorite ( g) - Witnessed Fall! #281471

1.0" Aba Panu Chondrite Meteorite (4.98 g) - Witnessed Fall!

$75

Aba Panu Chondrite Meteorite ( g) - Witnessed Fall! #281474

.98" Aba Panu Chondrite Meteorite (5.48 g) - Witnessed Fall!

SOLD

Aba Panu Chondrite Meteorite ( g) Slice - Witnessed Fall! #281470

1" Aba Panu Chondrite Meteorite (5.73 g) Slice - Witnessed Fall!

SOLD

Aba Panu Chondrite Meteorite ( g) Slice - Witnessed Fall! #281472

1.05" Aba Panu Chondrite Meteorite (5.81 g) Slice - Witnessed Fall!

SOLD

Aba Panu Chondrite Meteorite Slice ( g) - Witnessed Fall! #281477

.92" Aba Panu Chondrite Meteorite Slice (3.61 g) - Witnessed Fall!

SOLD

What Are L3 Chondrites?

An L3 chondrite is a rare type of stony meteorite classified within the "L group" of ordinary chondrites. The "L" stands for low iron, as these chondrites contain lower amounts of free nickel-iron metal compared to other ordinary chondrites, though they still contain significant amounts of iron. Here are some of the defining features of an L3 Chondrite.

1. L3 chondrites are filled with well-preserved chondrules—small, round grains that formed as molten droplets in the early solar system. These chondrules are often large and clearly visible in L3 chondrites.

2. The "3" indicates the petrologic grade, meaning the meteorite is relatively primitive and unaltered by heat or metamorphism compared to other meteorites with higher numbers (like L4, L5, or L6). L3 chondrites retain many of their original features from the formation of the solar system, making them a "time capsule" of early planetary formation.

3. L3 chondrites have a fine-grained, often grayish matrix in which the chondrules are embedded. This matrix includes a mixture of silicate minerals and small metal grains, including nickel-iron.

4. L3 chondrites contain some nickel-iron grains, though less than their H chondrite counterparts (which are higher in iron). The presence of nickel-iron metal makes L3 chondrites slightly magnetic. L chondrites contain about 20-25% total iron by weight, and less than 7% of that is in the form of metal.