Kainsaz meteorite

Kainsaz
Type	Chondrite
Class	Carbonaceous chondrite
Clan	CM-CO
Group	CO3.2
Subgroup	3
Shock stage	2
Country	Russia
Region	Kainsaz, Muslyumovo, Tatarstan
Coordinates	55°26′N 53°15′E / 55.433°N 53.250°E / 55.433; 53.250Coordinates: 55°26′N 53°15′E / 55.433°N 53.250°E / 55.433; 53.250
Observed fall	Yes
Fall date	1937-09-13
TKW	200 kilograms (440 lb)
Strewn field	Yes
This partial slice has fusion crust along 2 edges and weighs 4.04 grams (0.143 oz).

Fifteen pieces of the Kainsaz meteorite were seen to fall near Kainsaz, Muslyumovo, Tatarstan in 1937-09-13.^[1] The largest weighed 102.5 kilograms (226 lb), the total weight was ~200 kilograms (440 lb).^[2][3] As of January 2013 pieces were on sale for ~US$100/g.^[2] Kainsaz is the only observed fall in Tatarstan.^[3]

History

A fireball was observed which left a dust train and broke into fragments during flight in a series of detonations that were heard up to 130 kilometres (81 mi) away.^[1] The strewn field of 40 by 7 kilometres (24.9 mi × 4.3 mi) was oriented SE-NW with the largest stone falling at the NW end,^[1] the smallest (the size of a nut) near the village of Kosteevo at the SE end.^[1]

Mineralogy

Most of the chondrules (90 %) are either droplet (39 %) or lithic (61 %). The remaining 10 % are barred olivine, radial pyroxene, cryptocrystalline, glassy, sulfide-metal, micro-poikilitic and complex chondrules.^[4]

Classification

Kainsaz is classified as a CO3.2. This stands for CO group, petrologic type = 3, and subtype = 2. The group is part of the CM-CO clan and a member of the carbonaceous chondrites.^[3]

See also

• Glossary of meteoritics

References