BANMA (L5, S2) officially registered in the Meteoritical Bulletin Database

15/10/2016 17:31 · by karmaka · in Banma (班玛), L, ordinary chondrite, witnessed fall

On 15 October 2016 the meteorite which fell in Banma County, Golog Tibetan Autonomous prefecture, Qinghai province in China on 24 August 2016 at about 21:00 local time was officially registered in the Meteoritical Bulletin Database as BANMA (L5, S2, W0).

More detailed information about the fall can be found HERE.

Writeup (MB 105):

“Banma 33° 15.18’N, 100°27.9’E

Qinghai, China

Confirmed fall: 2016 Aug 24

Classification: Ordinary chondrite (L5)

History: On 24 August 2016, at about 21:00 local time, several nomads of Banma City, Qinghai province, saw a bright object flying from a southeasterly direction, followed by a loud explosion. The next day, the nomads searched in the direction of the explosion and found a black stone embedded in the ground in a small crater on a hillside.

Physical characteristics: The stone is relatively flat and 32 × 23 cm and 18 cm thick. Fusion crust and regmaglypts are well preserved.

Petrography: Chondrule outlines are obscure. The matrix displays a moderate to high degree of recrystallization. Poorly defined BO chondrules are 0.4-0.6 mm wide. All the feldspar grains are relatively small, less than 50 μm. Numerous FeNi metal and FeS grains are present.

Geochemistry: (W. Hsu, PMO) Olivine, Fa24.0±0.4 (n=14), range Fa23.2-24.8. Low-Ca pyroxene, Fa20.3±0.5Wo1.6±0.1 (n=10), range Fs19.7-21.4Wo1.5-1.8.

Classification: Ordinary chondrite, L5, S2, W0

Specimens: 64 g at PMO. Main mass at the Banma City Hall.

State/Prov/County: Qinghai
Origin or pseudonym: Hill
Date: 2016 Aug 24
Latitude: 33°15.18’N
Longitude: 100°27.9’E
Mass (g): 10050
Pieces: 1
Class: L5
Shock stage: S2
Weathering grade: W0
Fayalite (mol%): 24.0±0.4 (n=14)
Ferrosilite (mol%): 20.3±0.5 (n=10)
Wollastonite (mol%): 1.6±0.1 (n=10)
Classifier: Li Y., PMO
Type spec mass (g): 64
Type spec location: PMO
Main mass: Banma City Hall
Comments: Submitted by Hsu W.