Stubenberg        48°17.7’N, 13°7.0’E

Bayern, Germany

Confirmed fall: 2016 Mar 6

Classification: Ordinary chondrite (LL6)

History: (Pavel Spurný, CzAS). A very bright bolide was observed by thousands of eyewitnesses over Austria, Germany and the Czech Republic on March 6, 2016, at 21:36:51-56 UT. It was recorded photographically and photoelectrically by digital all-sky fireball observatories at six Czech stations of the European Fireball Network. A digital photographic spectrum of the bolide was also obtained. Based on these instrumental data, precise results on atmospheric trajectory, heliocentric orbit, and fragmentation history were quickly determined. From this analysis it was evident that this event likely resulted in multiple stones falling: the impact site was modeled and sent to German colleagues four days after the fall. All of the meteorites were found in the predicted location for a given mass.

Physical characteristics: (D. Heinlein). A total mass of 1.473 kg was recovered within the predicted fall site. The largest fragment has a mass of 1.320 kg and was found in a 14-cm-deep impact pit. The remaining 153 g of material consists of several pieces resulting from five different fragments. The first meteorite, 48 g, was found six days after the fall: it was broken into many pieces after hitting a hard surface. The other recovered fragments have masses of 42, 36, 19, and 8 g.

Petrography: (S. Ebert and A. Bischoff, IfP). Based on the study of the thin sections, Stubenberg is brecciated. Only highly recrystallized fragments (type 6) were observed, having only very rare, indistinct chondrules. Plagioclase (some >100 μm) and olivine show undulatory extinction, and the olivines show distinct sets of planar fractures indicating that the rock is weakly shocked (S3). Opaque phases include metals (kamacite, taenite), troilite, and chromite. Other accessory phases include Cl-apatite and merrillite. Several shock veins cross the meteorite.

Geochemistry: (S. Ebert and A. Bischoff, IfP). The mean composition of olivine is Fa_31.4±0.3 (Fa_30.5-32.2, n=54). The low-Ca pyroxenes and Ca-pyroxenes have mean compositions of Fs_25.4±0.3 (Fs_24.8-26.1, n= 43) and Fs_11.2Wo_41.4 (n=7), respectively. Mean plagioclase composition is An_11.1±0.4Or_5.5±1.2 (An_10.3-12.1, n= 42). Kamacite has mean Ni and Co concentrations of 3.9 and 6.1 wt%, respectively (n=8). The taenite composition is variable, with Ni content varying from 41.9 to 48.2 wt% (mean: 44.3 wt% Ni, ~1.8 wt% Co, n=38).

Classification: LL chondrite breccia (LL6, S3, W0)

Specimens: Type Specimens: 20.1 g, IfP; the main masses are with the finders.