Gerdekkaya        40.130°N, 35.056°E

Corum, Turkey

Find: 28 Apr 2018

Classification: Iron meteorite (IAB-sLL)

History: The meteorite was found by people clearing rocks from a field that was being plowed to get ready for planting. Because this rock was so heavy, the two discoverers realized that they probably had a meteorite and notified Cevdet Erdogan, a relative in the USA who provided the type specimen.

Physical characteristics: Edges weathered, metal and silicates relatively fresh.

Petrography: Petrographic description. Sample is not well polished nor etched. Inclusions that are mixes of FeS and silicates are common on each of the four faces examined on this small (ca. 2 cm) block. These inclusions consist of disorganized mixes of silicates and FeS. Impact cannot be reuled out, but terrestrial heating is suspected. Kamacite boundaries are present, but no organized octahedral structure was recognized. The degree of terrestrial oxidation is minor to moderate.

Geochemistry: Metal composition (based on one INAA): Co, 4.88 mg/g; Ni, 76 mg/g; Ga, 70.0 μg/g; As, 15.3 μg/g; W, 0.80 μg/g; Ir 2.90 μg/g; Au, 1.63 μg/g. The silicates are typical for IAB-sLL; most are low-Ca pyroxenes with a mean composition of 5.6 mol%Fs, 1.2 mol% An.

Classification: The meteorite is a member of IAB-sLL. It has several close relatives with similar Ir. Co, Ni and Au including Nova 058, Comanche (iron), Kaalijarv and Pine River.