Kopargaon        19°52’28.5"N, 74°33’45.3"E

Maharashtra, India

Confirmed fall: 2023 Jan 24

Classification: Ordinary chondrite (LL5)

History: On January 24, 2023, a meteorite fell through the roof of the house that belongs to Kiran Babanrao Thakre, a resident of Bhojade Chauki hamlet in the Kopargaon taluka in Ahmednagar district, Maharastra at around 6:50 am IST (Indian Standard Time). The meteorite crashed through the flat metal roof of the house and then shattered into several fragments once it hit the floor of the bedroom and finally left an impact scar. A neighbor and eye-witness, Mahindra Baburao Singar, described that he saw bright objects falling from the sky at a distance, accompanied by a hissing sound. Additionally, the police inspector of Kopargaon taluka also indicated that someone who was doing morning Yoga on the bank of Godavari river witnessed the fireball trail in the sky. Based on all these facts, it appears that the meteorite fireball probably traversed from the westerly direction of the Bhojade village.

Physical characteristics: A first-hand, preliminary inspection of the object suggested it was a stony meteorite due to the presence of silicate-rich mineralogy with shiny grains (that could be metal and troilite). It texturally resembles an ordinary chondrite. Uniform, dull, black fusion crust (~a few mm thickness) is preserved in several fragments. The relatively larger specimen shows the traces of radiating flow lines. Shallow thumb like impressions (regmaglypts) an a few fractured surfaces are also visible. The ash-gray, recrystallized silicate matrix is speckled with limonitic brown spots for the oxidized metal sulfide grains. There are several lithic fragments in the matrix. The brecciated nature is clearly visible from the fractured and cut surface where clasts of variable sizes are visible.

Petrography: Silicate matrix is texturally integrated with several lithic clast. A few chondrule clasts are also noticeable. Overall appearance as fragmental breccia.

Geochemistry: Major mineral phases include olivine (Fa_29.95±0.26, n=12), low-Ca pyroxene (Fs_23.97±0.44Wo_0.86±0.5, n=8). Feldspar is albitic (Ab₈₅). Accesory phases include high-Ca pyroxene, chromite, troilite and Fe-Ni alloy.

Classification: Ordinary chondrite (LL5). Degree of shock moderate and weathering is minimal (W0)

Specimens: Type specimen 98.5 g at PRL. Main mass was with District Officials of Ahmednagar