Watson 010        30°30’S, 131°43’E

South Australia, Australia

Found: 11 May 2009

Classification: Ordinary chondrite (H5)

History: Single mass found by K L. Bell on the Nullarbor Plain.

Physical characteristics: This meteorite is a dark brown to black. The darker coloring has been attributed to areas with fusion crust still intact (~80%). Dimensions for this sample measure 2.6 cm x 2.2 cm x 1.7 cm with weight of 19.3 g.

Petrography: (Kim Lai N. Bell, Monash). Well-defined chondrules in a rusty brown matrix, which makes it difficult to ascertain whether or not it has been recrystallized. Chondrule types include RP, POP, BO and CC with a size range between 0.2-1 mm and an average size of 0.4 mm. Mineralogy consists of olivine, pyroxene, Fe-Ni metal and sulfides. Olivine and pyroxene have undulose extinctions and planar fracturing. Fe-Ni metals (4%), taenite and kamacite, plus troilite (7%) have been heavily oxidized with up to 98% all metal and sulfides replaced.

Geochemistry: EMPA (wt%) Olivine: SiO₂ = 39.50, TiO₂ = 0.03, Al₂O₃ = 0.00, FeO = 17.72, MnO = 0.47, MgO = 42.30, CaO = 0.02, Na₂O = 0.00, K₂O = 0.00, (Fa = 19.03 mol%, σ = 0.24, n = 10). Low Ca-Pyroxene: SiO₂ = 56.73, TiO₂ = 0.05, Al₂O₃ = 0.38, FeO = 11.62, MnO = 0.55, MgO = 30.40, CaO = 0.52, Na₂O = 0.05, K₂O = 0.01, (Fs = 17.30 mol%, σ = 1.53, n = 5). Kamacite: Ni =5.31, Co = 0.49.

Classification: Ordinary chondrite (H5, S3, W4).

Specimens: Sample and one thin section held by A. Tomkins at Monash.