Quebrada Chimborazo 001 (QC 001)        24°7’37.28"S, 69°15’48.51"W

Antofagasta, Chile

Find: 2004 May 8

Classification: Carbonaceous chondrite (CBa)

History: The meteorite was found near the Minera Escondida copper mine at the foot of Pasua hill in the canyon, Quebrada Chimborazo.

Physical characteristics: A single, complete, irregularly shaped stone.

Petrography: The meteorite consists of magnesian nonporphyritic cm-sized chondrules and their fragments, Fe,Ni-metal, sulfide nodules and their fragments, and impact melt material. The chondrules have skeletal olivine textures and consist of magnesian olivine laths; anorthitic mesostasis. The impact melt often shows flow texture and consists of Fe,Ni-metal and sulfides, and abundant ferroan silicate droplets.

Geochemistry: Magnesian olivine laths Fa_2-5, n=5; low-Ca pyroxene Fs_2-5Wo_0.5-1, TiO₂=0.1-0.2, Al₂O₃=0.6-1.1, Cr₂O₃=0.5-0.6 (all wt%), n=8; high-Ca pyroxene Fs_2-4Wo_40-50, TiO₂=0.3-1.7, Al₂O₃=7.6-18.9, Cr₂O₃=0.3-2.0 (all wt%), n=5; ferroan silicate droplets: SiO₂=42.5±1.0, TiO₂=0.26±0.48, Al₂O₃=3.6±0.3, Cr₂O₃=0.90±0.15, FeO=17.1±3.3, MnO=0.09±0.03, MgO=33.1±3.6, CaO=2.8±0.59, Na₂O=0.24±0.07 (all wt%), n=24.

Classification: The meteorite is mineralogically very similar to the subgroup A (CBa) Bencubbin-like carbonaceous chondrites Gujba, Bencubbin, Weatherford, MIL 05082 and MIL 07411.

Specimens: A 20.9 g type specimen and 1 polished thin section are on deposit at the NHMD; Labenne holds the main mass.