Meteorite NWA 7831 – Western Sahara
Type: achondrite / Diogenite
Locality: Western Sahara
Weight: 0,15g
Dimensions: 5 x 5 x 3 mm
Year found: 2013
Total known weight: 20 kg
Surface treatment: none – raw
Packaging: Transparent plastic box (5,8 x 3,8 x 1,6 cm)
| Category: | Diogenites |
|---|---|
| By name: | NWA 7831 |
| ? Type: | Stony |
| Subspecies: | Achondrite |
| ? Surface treatment: | Natural (raw) |
| Packaging: | In box |
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NWA 7831 Meteorite – A Diogenite from Vesta's Interior
The NWA 7831 meteorite is a fascinating example of diogenite, a type of achondrite that originates from the mantle of asteroid Vesta. It was discovered in March 2013 in the Western Sahara, specifically in the Saguia el Hamra region. The total mass of all recovered pieces is approximately 20 kilograms.
Diogenites, including NWA 7831, are deep-seated igneous rocks that formed deep beneath the surface of Vesta, one of the largest objects in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Vesta is considered a protoplanet with a differentiated planetary structure, meaning it has a core, mantle, and crust — similar to Earth-like planets. Diogenites contain a high amount of pyroxene, a mineral rich in iron and magnesium, and often include smaller amounts of olivine and plagioclase.
NWA 7831 is notable for its composition, which includes prominent yellow-green crystals of orthopyroxene. This mineral is relatively rare in meteorites, and its presence suggests specific crystallization conditions deep within Vesta’s mantle.
Dawn Mission and Diogenite Origins
The Dawn space probe, which studied asteroid Vesta in 2011 and 2012, provided essential data used to compare terrestrial finds like NWA 7831 with Vesta’s surface and subsurface structures. This allowed scientists to confirm that certain meteorite types, including diogenites, originate from this asteroid. Research results provided evidence that diogenites were ejected from Vesta during impacts with other asteroids and later reached Earth as meteorites.