Meteorite Ait Saoun – Morocco
The newest witnessed fall
Type: Enstatite chondrite EH3
Locality: Morocco
Weight: 0,47g
Dimensions: 8 x 6 x 5 mm
Year fell: 2024
Total known weight: 4 kg
Surface treatment: none – raw
Packaging: Transparent plastic box (5,8 x 3,8 x 1,6 cm)
| Category: | Ait Saoun |
|---|---|
| By name: | Ait Saoun |
| ? Type: | Stony |
| Subspecies: | Chondrite |
| ? Surface treatment: | Natural (raw) |
| Packaging: | In box |
| Specialties: | Observed fall |
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Ait Saoun Meteorite – Enstatite Chondrite Observed Fall in Morocco
On August 6, 2024 at 21:42 local time, a bright meteor was observed over the Moroccan province of Zagora, captured by an all-sky camera at the Oukaimeden Observatory in the High Atlas Mountains. Witnesses from several areas, including Agoudal, Ouarzazate, Tazenakht, Taoudant, Tiznit, and Aït Benhaddou, reported a bluish fireball with red streaks, followed by multiple loud explosions and a whistling sound. Residents of the village Aït Saoun and surrounding areas reported a strong sulfur smell that lingered for several hours. The following morning, the first meteorite fragments were found near the village.
Classification and Composition
This meteorite was classified as an EH3 enstatite chondrite with a total recovered weight of approximately 4 kg. The strewn field covers an area of approximately 6 × 0.5 km.
Fragments and Appearance
After the fall, hundreds of people flocked to the Aït Saoun area to search for fragments. Many small pieces weighing just a few grams and several larger fragments were found, with the largest reported fragment weighing 96 grams. The meteorites are covered with a glossy thin black fusion crust. The interior is gray with well-defined chondrules up to 2 mm in diameter.