COLD BOKKEVELD METEORITES SPECIMENS

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.