{"title":"LL4 Chondrite Meteorites","description":"\u003cp\u003eLL4 chondrites are \u003cstrong\u003eordinary chondrites\u003c\/strong\u003e belonging to the low-iron, low-metal (LL) chemical group — among the most scientifically significant stony meteorites available to collectors.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWhat Makes LL4 Chondrites Unique?\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLow siderophile element content\u003c\/strong\u003e with characteristically large chondrules (~0.9 mm average diameter)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOxygen isotope compositions\u003c\/strong\u003e that plot further above the terrestrial fractionation line than any other ordinary chondrite group\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType 4 metamorphic grade\u003c\/strong\u003e — thermally processed to homogenize olivine compositions and recrystallize fine-grained matrix, while retaining abundant, well-defined chondrules\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMonoclinic low-Ca pyroxene\u003c\/strong\u003e with polysynthetic twinning, a hallmark of type 4 thermal metamorphism\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePrimary igneous chondrule glass is absent, replaced by recrystallized silicates\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eEach specimen in this collection is a genuine piece of the early solar system, formed over 4.5 billion years ago and delivered to Earth as a natural time capsule of planetary formation.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"nwa-17490-ll4-ordinary-chondrite-meteorite-slice-195g","title":"NWA 17490 – LL4 Ordinary Chondrite Meteorite Slice 195g","description":"\u003ch1\u003eA Window Into the Early Solar System — Cut Open for You\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSomewhere in the Sahara Desert, buried under sand and time, lay a rock that had been traveling through space for billions of years. Found near \u003cstrong\u003eGuelmin, Morocco in 2024\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eNorthwest Africa 17490\u003c\/strong\u003e made its final journey into the hands of collectors. This 195-gram slice has been cut to reveal what no human eye had ever seen before: the pristine interior of an ancient LL4 chondrite, frozen in the moment of the solar system’s birth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHold it up to the light. The surface is alive with texture — hundreds of tiny \u003cstrong\u003echondrules\u003c\/strong\u003e, spherical droplets of molten rock that solidified in space over 4.5 billion years ago, each one a time capsule of the primordial nebula. Scattered among them, glinting metallic grains of \u003cstrong\u003eFeNi alloys and sulfides\u003c\/strong\u003e, some armored in a shell of iron sulfide, tell the story of a world that never quite became a planet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy LL4 Chondrites Are Special\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLL chondrites are among the \u003cstrong\u003eleast metallic of all ordinary chondrites\u003c\/strong\u003e — LL stands for Low iron, Low metal. They formed in the outer regions of the asteroid belt, farther from the Sun, and carry a distinct chemical fingerprint that sets them apart. Type 4 indicates the rock experienced mild thermal metamorphism, enough to begin recrystallizing its matrix while still preserving well-defined chondrules. The result is a specimen that sits at a perfect crossroads: \u003cstrong\u003eprimitive enough to show original solar system textures, mature enough to display beautiful structure\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecimen Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOfficial Name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Northwest Africa 17490 (NWA 17490)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eClassification:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ordinary Chondrite — LL4\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThis piece:\u003c\/strong\u003e Slice — 195 g\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 142 × 93 × 9 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTotal known mass:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2.7 kg\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eYear found:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2024, purchased from a dealer in Guelmin, Morocco\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eApproved:\u003c\/strong\u003e 18 September 2025 — Meteoritical Bulletin MB 114 (2025)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eScientific Data\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOlivine:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fa27.5 ± 0.5 mol% (range Fa26.7–29.3, n=34)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLow-Ca pyroxene:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fs20.9 ± 5.4 mol% (n=43)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHigh-Ca pyroxene:\u003c\/strong\u003e En48.0–67.3 \/ Fs19.3–25.5 \/ Wo8.0–30.7 (n=7)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlagioclase:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ab71.6 ± 17.5 \/ Or4.1 ± 4.5 (n=21)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eKamacite:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ni = 2.7–6.6 wt% (n=3)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTaenite:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ni = 37.6–48.1 wt% (n=3)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSulfide:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pyrrhotite, S = 39.8–41.4 wt%, Ni up to 3.6 wt% (n=11)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eChromite:\u003c\/strong\u003e #Cr = 0.89–0.90 (n=4)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNote:\u003c\/strong\u003e σ-Fs (mol%) = 5.4 — consistent with LL group classification\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePetrography\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChondritic texture with well-defined chondrules set in a fine-grained matrix scattered with mineral clasts and large (up to 500 μm) globular to rounded opaque aggregates of FeNi alloys and sulfides. Many chondrules display an \u003cstrong\u003earmored texture\u003c\/strong\u003e, bordered by sulfide and FeNi rims. Opaques show weathering, with partial to total replacement by Fe-oxy\/hydroxides — a hallmark of terrestrial residence in an arid desert environment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eProvenance \u0026amp; Authenticity\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOfficially registered with the \u003cstrong\u003eMeteoritical Society\u003c\/strong\u003e and published in \u003cem\u003eMeteoritical Bulletin MB 114 (2025)\u003c\/em\u003e. Purchased from a reputable dealer in Guelmin, Morocco. This slice comes from a 2.7 kg total mass find, making individual pieces genuinely collectible. Ships with full provenance documentation.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Buy Meteorite LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47955928645819,"sku":"NWA-17490-SL-195","price":975.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0665\/2054\/7515\/files\/NWA_17490_Ordinary_chondrite_LL4_2768.jpg?v=1781289725"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0665\/2054\/7515\/collections\/NWA_17490_Ordinary_chondrite_LL4_2768.jpg?v=1781289736","url":"https:\/\/buymeteorite.com\/fr\/collections\/ll4-chondrite-meteorites.oembed","provider":"Buy Meteorite LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}