Meteorite Rafsa 005 – Algeria
Meteorite type: Achondrite / Angrite
Locality: Tindouf, Algeria
Weight: 0,2g
Dimensions: 7 x 7 x 1 mm
Year of found: 2023
Total known weight: 2027g
Surface treatment: cut slice
Packaging: Transparent plastic box (5,8 x 3,8 x 1,6 cm)
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Rafsa 005 Meteorite – Rare Angrite from Algeria
Rafsa 005 is a rare meteorite of the angrite type, discovered in 2023 in the Tindouf region of Algeria. The total recovered mass was 2.027 kilograms, with fragments scattered across the desert terrain.
Origin and Classification
This meteorite was classified as an angrite, an exceptionally rare achondritic meteorite. Achondrites lack chondrules, as they have undergone melting and crystallization. Angrites formed through volcanic activity on early protoplanets that underwent planetary differentiation—the development of core, mantle, and crust.
Composition and Age
Angrites are extremely ancient rocks, estimated to be around 4.56 billion years old. They contain unique minerals such as anorthite, olivine, augite, as well as phosphates and iron oxides in unusual ratios. Their chemical and isotopic composition suggests an origin from a body that evolved separately from major planets.