THE METEORITE MARKET

Achondrite Meteorites for Sale

There are two types of stony meteorites, CHONDRITES and ACHONDRITES. On this page you will find Achondrites.

Definitions

  • Chondrite (n) A type of meteorite containing mineral spheres called chondrules.
  • Chondrule (n) Millimeter-sized mineral spheres found in stony chondrite meteorites. Chondrules are formed by re-melting of mineral grains in the solar nebula.
  • Achondrite (n) A class of meteorites that lack chondrules. Achondrites are formed by igneous processes on or near the surface of larger asteroids or planets. Many achondrites resemble igneous rocks on Earth, especially basalt. Meteorites that originate on Mars or the Moon are achondrites.


    • Click on the picture to see photos, prices, weights, and instructions on how to order meteorites. We have a separate photo catalog for each locality.

    ASTEROIDAL ACHONDRITES

    These are achondrites that originate in the asteroid belt as opposed to on the moon or Mars.

    HED Group Achondrites

    The best-known asteroidal achondrites form the HED group. HED stands for Howardite, Eucrite, Diogenite. These rocks have a similar isotope chemistry. Scientists believe that they originate on the asteroid 4 Vesta.

    Dar al Gani 779, Libya

    • Type: Howardite (AHOW)
    • Found 1999
    		 Temporarily unavailable

    Millbillillie, Australia

    • Type: Eucrite (AEUC)
    • Witnessed fall October 1960
    • Slices and individual stones
    		 Price: $37/g to $13/g

    Juvinas, France

    • Type: Eucrite (AEUC)
    • Witnessed fall 1821
    		Price: $80/g to $60/g

    Béréba, Burkina Faso

    • Type: Eucrite (AEUC)
    • Witnessed fall 1924
    		Price: $180/g

    Dar al Gani 391, Libya

    • Type: Polymict Eucrite (AEUC)
    • Found 1997
    		 One Museum quality slice

    NWA 1109, Sahara Desert

    • Type: Polymict Eucrite (AEUC-P)
    • Witnessed fall October 1960
    		 Price: $30 per gram

    Igdi, Morocco

    • Type: Polymict Eucrite (AEUC-P)
    • Found 2000
    • Monomict breccia, Nuevo Loredo trend
    		 Price: about $40/g

    Bilanga, Burkina Faso

    • Type: Diogenite (ADIO)
    • Witnessed fall 1999, October 27
    		 Price: About $30-$45 per gram

    Tatahouine, Tunisia

    • Type: Diogenite (ADIO)
    • Witnessed fall 1931, June 27
    		 Price: About $20 per gram

    Other Melted/Differentiated Achondrites

    You can see all of the types on our Type Table.

    Aubrites (Enstatite rock)

    Mt. Egerton, Australia

    • Type: Aubrite (AAUB)
    • Found 1941
    		 Price: ~$10-$40 per piece

    Ureilites (melted carbonaceous chondrite)

    El Gounanem, Morocco

    • Type: Ureilite (AURE)
    • Found 2000
    		 Price: $100 per gram

    Dhofar 132, Oman

    • Type: Ureilite (AURE)
    • Found 2000
    		 Price: One museum piece
    $5500

    Brachinites(?) (Essentially olivine)

    Tafassasset (Te-1), Niger

    • Type: Primitive Achondrite Brachinite related
    • Found 2000
    		 One Piece--$3500

    Primitive Achondrites

    Acapulcoites/Winonaite (melted ordinary chondrite)

    NWA 725 (Tissemoumine) Morocco

    • Type: Acapulcoite or Winonaite
    • Found 2000
    		 Price: $80 per gram

    Dhofar 125, Oman

    • Type: Acapulcoite (ACAP)
    • Found 2000
    		 One museum piece

    Price: $12,000

    PLANETARY ACHONDRITES

    SNC Group Achondrites (Mars Meteorites)

    SNC stands for Shergottites, Nakhlites, Chassignites. Scientists believe that these meteorites originate on Mars. You can see all of the types on our Type Table.

    Dar al Gani 476, Libya

    • Type: Martian Basalt (Shergottite)
    • Found 1998
    		 Price: About $200 and up.
    Occasionally I have pieces for less than $100

    Sayh al Uhaynur (SaU) 005/008, Oman

    • Type: Martian Basalt (Shergottite)
    • Found 1999
    		 Price: About $75 and up.
    Occasionally I have pieces for ~$50.

    NWA2975 (Paired), Sahara

    • Type: Martian Basalt (Shergottite)
    • Found 2005
    		 Price: About $25 and up.
    slices and individuals


    NWA 1068, Sahara

    • Type: Martian Basalt (Shergottite)
    • Found 2001
    		 Price: $500/g.
    End

    Lunar Achondrites

    Scientists believe that these meteorites originate on the Moon.

    Dar al Gani 400, Libya

    • Type: Lunar Anorthositic Breccia
    • Found 1998
    		 Price: $30 and up.

    Where do Achondrites come from? How are they formed?

    Like chondrites and irons, scientists believe that most achondrites originate in the Asteroid Belt between Jupiter and Mars. A few achondrites are thought to originate on the Moon or Mars.

    The classification of ACHONDRITES is seemingly more complex than irons or chondrites. Most achondrites are the result of igneous processes—the processes of melting and recrystallizing of rocks. At the beginning of the igneous process, the rocks that were melted were probably chondrites. Sometimes the melting was partial. Some parts of a rock melted and flowed away from the rest. The liquid then hardened into a rock of a different composition. The material that was left behind formed a rock of still another composition. Both would be described as differentiated rocks. These two rocks would be two kinds of achondrites. A third kind of achondrite would be a rock (like a chondrite) that was simply melted and cooled. The original chondritic texture would be completely replaced by igneous texture.

    (When thinking of igneous rocks, it is important to realize that the cooling was very slow. These rocks have a crystalline texture like igneous earth rocks such as granite or basalt. They do not look like slag or glass.)

    Scientists further group and divide achondrites on the basis of oxygen isotopes and other geochemical indicators. For more information about how this is done, see the books Rocks from Space and Meteorites and Their Parent Planets. Our Type Table has some information too.

    To see our meteorite classification table and learn about the types of meteorites, click here.

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