In March of 2003, an artifact hunter looking for arrowheads near Santa Vitoria do Palomar found some strange rocks that were later recognized as meteorites. A second hunter recovered a 10kg mass from the same area. The meteorite was analyzed and determined to be an unequilibrated L3 chondrite. Despite the find location being in the tropical Rio Grande do Sul region of Brazil, the stones have some fusion crust.
Refer to the photo. The black centimeter cube is shown for scale and is not included. You are purchasing a single small fragment like the one shown. Your purchase will include a labeled gemjar for safe storage.
From the Meteoritical Bulletin entry on Santa Vitoria do Palmar :
Santa Vitoria do Palmar 33°30′34′′S, 53°24′39′′W
Santa Vitoria do Palmar, Brazil
Find: 2003
Ordinary chondrite (L3)
History: Three stones were recovered in March 2003 near the city of Santa Vitoria do Palmar by Mr. Roberto Maciel while collecting Indian arrows. Later in February 2004, Mr. Lautaro Côrreira found a fourth stone weighing 10.450 kg in the same area.
Physical characteristics: All three stones, weighing about 34 kg, 4.34 kg, and 1.57 kg, respectively, are at least partly covered with fusion crust.
Petrography: (A. Greshake, MNB) The sample is an unbrecciated chondrite with unequilibrated olivine and pyroxene, and Fe,Ni-rich metal. The chondrules are well defined and of large variation in the textural types including BO, BP, PO, POP, and PP.
Mineral compositions: Olivine (Fa0.5–35.2), pyroxene (Fs0.5–31.6).
Classification: Ordinary chondrite (L3); S4, W2.
Type specimen: A 20 g sample plus one polished thin section are on deposit at MNB. 5910 g is on exhibition in the MNB. Côrreira holds the main mass.
