Stewart Valley 012 (StV 012)        36°14.100’N, 116°11.015’W

Nevada, USA

Found: 26 Feb 2012

Classification: Ordinary chondrite (H6)

History: Jason Snyder found several meteorite fragments on February 26, 2012, while he was hunting for meteorites on the Stewart Valley Dry Lake near Pahrump, Nevada. Some were clumped together and the smaller pieces formed a 12-inch elliptical pattern. The largest piece, which was at the center, was slightly buried and weighed 27.8 g. Twelve pieces were recovered at that spot and weighed a total of 64.1 g. More pieces were recovered within 100 m, and ranged from sub-gram to several grams.

Physical characteristics: Dark, rough, weathered exterior. Saw cut reveals ~15% bright, sub-mm metal grains, some aligned, set in a dark brown matrix, parallel veins or fractures.

Petrography: (C. Agee, UNM) Microprobe examination of a polished thin section shows a few equilibrated, indistinct chondrules. Olivine, pyroxene, plagioclase, chlor-apatite, troilite and abundant kamacite present.

Geochemistry: (C. Agee and N. Wilson, UNM) Olivine Fa_19.1±0.2, Fe/Mn=38±1, n=3; low-Ca pyroxene Fs_17.3±0.3Wo_1.0±0.2, Fe/Mn=23±1, n=3; plagioclase Ab₇₃An₂₅Or₂; and kamacite Fe=93.75 Ni=5.97 Co=0.31 wt%.

Classification: Ordinary chondrite (H6), weathering grade W1.

Specimens: 60.3 g plus a polished thin section on deposit at UNM, Jason Snyder holds the main mass.