Cold Bokkeveld Meteorites For Sale

The Cold Bokkeveld meteorite is a a highly significant carbonaceous chondrite, classified as a CM2 chondrite, that fell to Earth on October 13, 1838, near the town of Cold Bokkeveld in South Africa. Known for its dark, fragile appearance, this meteorite is one of the oldest and most well-preserved examples of a carbonaceous chondrite. It contains a range of organic compounds and water-bearing minerals, making it a window into the early solar system.

Cold Bokkeveld’s composition includes hydrated silicates, chondrules (small, spherical mineral grains), and fine-grained matrix material rich in carbon compounds, including amino acids and other prebiotic molecules. Its water-bearing minerals suggest it originated from a parent body that likely contained or interacted with liquid water, reinforcing the hypothesis that asteroids and meteorites like Cold Bokkeveld could have delivered essential ingredients for life to early Earth.

Due to its exceptional preservation and unique composition, Cold Bokkeveld has been extensively studied and compared with other famous CM chondrites, such as Murchison.

What Is A Carbonaceous Chondrite?

4 Items ($49 to $345)

Carbonaceous Chondrite Fragment ( g) - Cold Bokkeveld #285966

.39" Carbonaceous Chondrite Fragment (0.09 g) - Cold Bokkeveld

$345

Carbonaceous Chondrite Fragment ( g) - Cold Bokkeveld #285968

.15" Carbonaceous Chondrite Fragment (0.02 g) - Cold Bokkeveld

$59

Carbonaceous Chondrite Fragment - Cold Bokkeveld #285956

.17" Carbonaceous Chondrite Fragment - Cold Bokkeveld

$49

Carbonaceous Chondrite Fragment - Cold Bokkeveld #285958

.15" Carbonaceous Chondrite Fragment - Cold Bokkeveld

$49

What Is A Carbonaceous Chondrite?

A carbonaceous chondrite meteorite is a rare type of stony meteorite that contains high amounts of carbon, organic molecules, and water-bearing minerals. These meteorites are some of the oldest materials in the solar system, with origins dating back over 4.5 billion years. Because they contain unaltered minerals and complex organic compounds, carbonaceous chondrites are considered "primitive" meteorites, preserving the raw ingredients from which the solar system formed.

Key Characteristics of Carbonaceous Chondrites:

They contain carbon-based compounds, including amino acids, sugars, and other molecules essential to life. This has led scientists to speculate that carbonaceous chondrites could have delivered the building blocks of life to early Earth.

Many carbonaceous chondrites contain minerals formed in the presence of water, suggesting they originated in parts of the solar system with abundant water or ice. This water-rich nature indicates that their parent bodies (often asteroids) likely contained liquid water at some point.

These meteorites have changed very little since their formation, making them valuable records of early solar system conditions. They provide unique insights into the original material and chemistry of the solar system.

Carbonaceous chondrites are relatively rare, representing only about 4% of all known meteorite falls. They are also fragile and more susceptible to weathering, which makes preserving them in their pristine state a challenge.

Further Classification:

Carbonaceous chondrites are classified into several groups (e.g., CI, CM, CR, CO, CV, CK), based on their mineral content, alteration level, and other characteristics. Each group provides clues about its formation environment:

CI Chondrites: Extremely rare, with the highest abundance of water and organic material.

CM Chondrites: Water-rich and known for amino acids and other organic compounds.

CR, CO, CV, CK Chondrites: Vary in water and carbon content, with differences in mineral composition and thermal histories.