Xining        36°51’35.7"N, 101°25’33.70"E

QingHai, China

Fell: 11 Feb 2012

Classification: Ordinary chondrite (L5)

History: On February 11, 2012, at 13:30-14:00, the villagers of Xining heard a loud noise. Shortly thereafter villagers recovered around 10 stones in Huangzhong county, Xining city of Qinghai Province. Miao Buikui and Liu Xijun, GUT, heard the news of the fall and visited the fall site. The total weight of the fall is more than 100 kg. The largest meteorite is 17.3 kg and second is 12.5 kg. The two meteorites were bought from the villagers by meteorite lovers. The meteorite fall area is a ellipse including the villages of Baina, Small Sigou, Yehong, Heergai, and Baiya. The area is 20-30 km in length and 4-5 km in width oriented NNE, centered at 36°51'35.77"N, 101°25’33.70"E.

Physical characteristics: Most stones have a similar appearance with a blocky shape: corners are not well-rounded. Where orientation is present, it is poorly developed. Many stones covered by a velvety fusion crust up to 1.0 mm thick. Interior is primarily white or grayish. A few tiny metal-troilite nodules and sparse shock veining. None of the stones show signs of rusting.

Petrography: (B. Miao, H. Chen, Z. Xia, L. Xie, J. Yao, GUT): The meteorite has a typical chondritic texture. The matrix displays a moderate to high degree of recrystallization. Most plagioclase grains are 5-40 μm, with a few grains >50 μm in diameter. The degree of shock metamorphism and terrestrial weathering are S3 and W0, respectively.

Geochemistry: Chemical compositions of olivine and low-Ca pyroxene are homogeneous: olivine, Fa_24.7-25.2, mean Fa_24.9, PMD 0.64%; low-Ca pyroxene, Fs_21.3-21.9En _77.6-78.2Wo _0.46-0.57, mean Fs_21.5En_78.6Wo _0.46, PMD-Fs=0.84%. The content of Fe-Ni metal and troilite is 20.9 wt.%.

Classification: Based on the textural characteristics, metal abundance, chemical composition of silicate and thermal metamorphic characteristics, the meteorite is an L5 ordinary chondrite.

Specimens: 96.4 g at GUT.