A SYSTEMATIC CLASSIFICATION OF METEORITES
PART I
(NC and CC taxonomic super-groups not distinguished)

PART II: PRIMITIVE ACHONDRITES, ACHONDRITES, STONY-IRONS, IRONS
PART III: MARTIAN METEORITES—GEOCHEMICAL CLASSIFICATION
PART IV: DIOGENITES—IUGS TAXONOMY
PART V: ENSTATITE CHONDRITES—SUBGROUP CLASSIFICATION

CHONDRITES

E, F, O, AND R CHONDRITE SUPERCLAN (Kallemeyn et al., 1996)

ENSTATITE (E) CHONDRITES
See new subgroup classification by Weyrauch et al., 2018

EH GROUP

EH3 (e.g. Sah 97096 [EHa3.1–3.4], MAC 88136 [ELa3.8/3.9], Hadley Rille [IM], Qingzhen [EHa])

EH4 (e.g. Bethune, Indarch [EHa])

EH5 (e.g. Kaidun-III, LEW 88180 [EHb], QUE 93372 [EHa], Saint-Sauveur [EHb5/IMB], St. Mark's [EHa])

EH6 (e.g. MIL 090846, NWA 6363, NWA 7976, NWA 12945, Y-980211 [EHb6/IMB], Y-980223 [EHb6/IMB])

EH7 (e.g. Itqiy [Meta-EH-anom or partial melt residue], NWA 2526 [similar to Itqiy])

EH impact melt phase (e.g. Abee [EHbIMB], Adhi Kot [EHbIMB], Galim (b) [IMB], LAP 02225 [IM], NWA 4799 [EHaIM], NWA 7214 [EHaIM], NWA 7324 [MR], NWA 7809 [EHaIM], NWA 10237 [MR], NWA 11071 [EHaIM], Y-82189 [IM], Y-8404 and pairings [EHbIMB/MR], Y-86760 [IM])

EL GROUP

EL3 (e.g. AhS MS-MU-002 [ELb3/4], NWA 2965 and pairings [3/6], AhS MS-177, Kaidun IV, MAC 88136 and pairings [ELa], NWA 305, NWA 3132, NWA 8785 [highest matrix abundance], PCA 91020, QUE 93351)

EL4 (e.g. DaG 734 [ELa], DaG 1031, FRO 03005, Grein 002 [4/5], HaH 317, QUE 94368)

EL5 (e.g. Adrar Bous, NWA 1222, Tanezrouft 031, TIL 91714 [ELa])

EL6 (e.g. Atlanta [ELa], Eagle, Forrest 033, Hvittis [ELa], LEW 87119, Pillistfer [ELa], Yilmia [ELa]

EL7/impact-melt phase (e.g. Happy Canyon [MR], Ilafegh 009 [ELa7/MR], Y-980524 [IMB])

UNGROUPED E CHONDRITES

E-ung (e.g. LAP 031220 [4], LEW 87223 [3-anom], NWA 974 [6], NWA 2526 [7], PCA 91020 [3-anom; poss. rel. to LEW 87223], QUE 94204 [7], Y-793225 [6-anom; Rubin and Wasson, 2011])

G CHONDRITES (Weisberg et al., 2015)
Highly reduced, metal-rich

G3 (e.g. GRO 95551, NWA 5492, Sierra Gorda 009)

KAKANGARI (K) CHONDRITES
Highly reduced (A–L parent body?)

K3 (e.g. Kakangari [3.6], Lea County 002, LEW 87232)

K4 (e.g. NWA 10085)

FORSTERITE (F) CHONDRITES
Highly reduced

F3–6 (e.g. Acfer 370 [4], ALHA78113, Cumberland Falls inclusions [3, 4, 6], El Médano 301 [4; see photo], NWA 7135 [3/4])

O–R CLAN (C.M.O'D. Alexander, 2019)

ORDINARY (O) CHONDRITES

H GROUP

H3.0–3.9 (e.g. Roosevelt Co. 075 [3.1], ERO 93050 [3.2], WSG 95300 [3.3], DaG 475 [3.4], LEW 88315 [3.5], Clovis no.1 [3.6], Grady (1937) [3.7], Lost Creek [3.8], DaG 225 [3.9], Abbott [3–6])

H4 (e.g. Correo, Eustis, Selma)

H5 (e.g. Bonita Springs, Juancheng, Monahans (1998), NWA 2488, Sah 98034)

H6 (e.g. Peekskill)

H7 [or Meta-H] (e.g. ALH 88119, NWA 2898, Y-75008, Y-790120, Y-790960)

H melt phase (e.g. DaG 896 [IM], Dho 010 [IMB], Gao-Guenie [IMB], GSS 020 [MR], Portales Valley [IMB], NWA 2058 [MR], Smyer [IMB])

TRANSITIONAL H/L

H/L3 (e.g. MET 00526 [3.05], Tieschitz [3.6], Bremervörde [3.7], Famenin [3.8–3.9], NWA 1955 [3–4])

H/L4 (e.g. Cali, Haxtun)

H/L5 (e.g. Dhofar 428, LAP 031047, NWA 3330)

H/L6 (e.g. DaG 591, NWA 4152 and pairings, SaU 324)

L GROUP

L3.0–3.9 (e.g. NWA 7731 [3.00], NWA 8276 [3.00], LEW 86134 [3.0], JaH 026 [3.1], NWA 2798 [3.2], Dho 008 [3.2/3.3], ALH 83010 [3.3], EET 96015 [3.4], Felt (b) [3.5], Moorabie [3.5–3.8], MET 96503 [3.6], NWA 092 [3.7], NWA 2797 [3.8], Sah 97193 [3.9])

L4 (e.g. Bluff (b), Okechobee)

L5 (e.g. Beenham, Mt. Tazerzait [anom], Park Forest)

L6 (e.g. Brewster, Bruderheim, Katol [6–7], Seagraves (c) [6/7])

L7 [or Meta-L] (e.g. Dho 1275, Forrest 028, FRO 90058 and pairings, LEW 88663, NWA 12961)

L melt phase (e.g. Cat Mountain [IMB], NWA 722, NWA 2085, NWA 4150 [IMR], NWA 6486 [IMR], NWA 11042 [IMR; abstract 1, 2; article; cut face photo courtesy of Abdelhadi Aithiba], PAT 91501, Shaw)

TRANSITIONAL L/LL

L/LL3 (e.g. Inman [3.4], NWA 487 [<3.5], SaU 089 [3.6/3.7], Esperance [3], NWA 4020 [3])

L/LL4 (e.g. Bjurböle, Cynthiana, Seemore Downs)

L/LL5 (e.g. Chelyabinsk, Knyahinya, Qidong, Sah 97021 [5/6])

L/LL6 (e.g. Acfer 041, Holbrook, Naryilco)

LL GROUP

LL3.00–3.9 (e.g. NWA 8576 [LL3.00], NWA 10061 [LL3.00], Semarkona [3.01], MET 00526 [3.05], NWA 1756 [3.10], NWA 3127 [3.10, metal-poor], NWA 4290 [3.10], Bishunpur [3.15], Y-74660 [3.15], Krymka [3.2], Wells [3.3], Ragland [3.4], NWA 539 [3.5], NWA 094 [3.6], Parnallee [3.7], DaG 054 [3.8], DaG 180 [3.9])

LL4 (e.g. DaG 298, Greenwell Springs, Soko Banja)

LL5 (e.g. DaG 222 [5–6], NWA 1584, Paragould, Tuxtuac)

LL6 (e.g. Beeler, Ensisheim, NWA 2092 [6/7])

LL7 [or Meta-LL] (e.g. Crocker's Well, DaG 1022, Dho 011, Dho 014, NWA 503, NWA 8417, NWA 12272 ["chondrules... dimly visible"], EET 92013, Sah 97037, Uden, Y-82067)

LL melt phase (e.g. Bison [IMB], NWA 1701 [IMB], Y-74160 [IMB {1984}])

RUMURUTI (R) CHONDRITES

R3 (e.g. LAP 03639 [3.4–4], DaG 013 [3.5–6], NWA 755 [3.7], Carlisle Lakes [3.8], NWA 978 [3.8], Acfer 217 [3.8–5], Rumuruti [3.8–6], NWA 753 [3.9])

R4 (e.g. HaH 119, NWA 053, NWA 1906, Sierra Gorda 010 [anom, w/Cr-magnetite])

R5 (e.g. LAP 031275, NWA 1585, NWA 1668, NWA 7514)

R6 (e.g. MIL 07440, MIL 11207, NWA 5299, NWA 8012, Y-980159)

UNGROUPED NON-CARBONACEOUS CHONDRITES

Metal-poor (e.g. NWA 960 [L3], NWA 2040 [L3.1], NWA 2041 [L3], NWA 3114 [L3.8], NWA 3127 [LL3.10], NWA 3157 [L3], NWA 4294 [LL3], NWA 4298 [LL3], NWA 4486 [L3], NWA 4531 [LL3], NWA 5717 [L+LL3.05])

Others (e.g. (HaH 180 [3.5], JaH 846 [3.5; abstract], NWA 725 and pairings [previously 'W chondrite', e.g., NWA 1058, NWA 1463], NWA 5717 [3.05–3.1], NWA 12379 [L/LL-like, metal-rich], Sah 97009/39/42)

CARBONACEOUS CHONDRITE SUPERCLAN

CV–CK CLAN (Weisberg et al., 2006)

CV

CV2 (e.g. Mokoia clast, Mundrabilla 012)

CV3red (Reduced subgroup, e.g. Leoville [3.0], Arch [3.0], Efremovka [3.2], Vigarano [3.3], DaG 055 [anom], DaG 430 [anom], RBT 04133, MIL 07513)

CV3oxA (Oxidized-Allende subgroup, e.g. Axtell [3.0], Allende [3.2], NWA 1763 [3.5])

CV3oxB (Oxidized-Bali subgroup, e.g. Bali [3.0], Grosnaja [3.0], Kaba [3.1], Mokoia [3.3], NWA 2086 [~3.3])

CV4ox (e.g. NWA 8418 [abstract])

CV7ox [or Meta-CV] (e.g. NWA 3133 and pairings [CV8])

CV melt phase (e.g. LAR 06317 clast [CV3oxA], RBT 04143 clast [CV3red])

CK

CK3, e.g. Ningqiang [3.3], NWA 1559 [3.6/3.7], NWA 5343 [3.6/3.7], DaG 431 [3.8], NWA 2921 [3.8], Camel Donga 003 [3], Hart [3], NWA 772 [3], NWA 1694 [3], Watson 002 [3])

CK4 (e.g. DAG 275 [4/5], Dho 015, HaH 280/281, Karoonda, Kobe, Maralinga, NWA 521, NWA 735, NWA 4422, Y-6903)

CK5 (e.g. DaG 412, EET 87507 and pairings, NWA 060, NWA 1563, NWA 1907)

CK6 (e.g. LEW 87009, NWA 2388)

CK7 [or Meta-CK] (e.g. NWA 8186 [CK8 {photo courtesy of Steve Witt; abstract}])

CO–CM CLAN (Kallemeyn and Wasson, 1982)

CO

CO3 after Bonal et al. (2007) (e.g. DOM 08006 [3.00–3.01], ALHA77307 [3.03], Y-81020 [3.05], LAP 031117 [3.06–3.09], Colony [3.0], DaG 005 and pairings [3.1], MIL 090025 [3.1], Kainsaz [3.2], MIL 07099 and pairings [3.2], Felix [3.4], Lancé [3.4], Ornans [3.4], Moss [3.6], Warrenton [3.6], Isna [3.7])

CO3 subgroup with FeO-enriched and grossite-bearing CAIs (Simon and Grossman, 2015) (e.g. Acfer 094 [3.00], DOM 08004 and pairings [3.2])

CM

CM1 see revised hydrothermal alteration sequence (CM2.0–CM2.8) below (after Rubin et al., 2005, 2007; Blanchard et al., 2011; Bischoff et al., 2017; Lentfort et al., 2019):

CM2 (e.g. ALH 84034 [2.0; =CM1], EET 83334 [2.0; =CM1], Kaidun clasts [2.0; =CM1], LAP 02277 [2.0; =CM1], MET 01070 [2.0; =CM1], Moapa Valley [2.0; =CM1], NWA 4765 [2.0; =CM1], Mukundpura [2.0; =CM1], Sutter's Mill [2.0/2.1], Nogoya [2.0–2.6], ALH 85013 [2.0–2.8], Cold Bokkeveld [2.0–2.8], ALH 83100 [2.1], QUE 93005 [2.1], QUE 99355 [2.3], TIL 08007 [2.3], NWA 10907 [2.3–2.4], Jbilet Winselwan [2.3–2.9], Murray [2.4/2.5], Y-791198 [2.4–2.8], Banten [2.4–2.9], Murchison [2.4–2.9], Kivesvaara [2.5], QUE 97990 [2.6], EET 96029 [2.7], TIL 91722 [~2.7], Maribo [2.4–2.6], Paris [2.7–2.9 A/B], A-12169 [most primitive, abstract])

not yet classified by aqueous alteration subtype (e.g. Boriskino, NWA 11118 [porous accretionary aggregate], Sayama [ox])

CM3 (NWA 11024 [photo courtesy Sergey Vasiliev], tentative: EET 90043, MAC 87300, NWA 11086)

CM melt phase (e.g. GRO 95574 clast [howardite])

CR CLAN (Weisberg et al., 1995)

CR

CR1 see revised hydrothermal alteration sequence (CR2.0–CR2.8) below (after Harju et al., 2011, 2014, 2015):

CR2 (e.g. GRO 95577 [2.0], MIL 090292 [2.0], Al Rais [2.3], MIL 090001 [2.4], Renazzo [2.4], GRA 06100 [2.5], NWA 5028 [2.6], MIL 07513 [2.7], MIL 090657 [2.7], Acfer 097 and pairings [2.8], EET 87711 and pairings [2.8], LAP 02342 [2.8], MET 00426 [2.8], NWA 801 [2.8], QUE 99177 [2.8; most pristine])

CR3 (e.g. DaG 1068 [abstract], NWA 12474)

CR6 (e.g. NWA 3100 [tenereite], NWA 7317 and pairings [tenereite])

CR7 [or Meta-CR] (NWA 5131, NWA 7531, NWA 11561 [tenereite], NWA 12455 [CR8])

CB

CBa (e.g. Bencubbin, Fountain Hills, Gujba, MIL 05082 and pairings, AhS MS-181, NWA 1814, NWA 4025, Quebrada Chimborazo 001, Sierra Gorda 013 [V-rich sulfides], Weatherford)

CBb (e.g. HaH 237, MAC 02675, QUE 94411 and pairings)

TRANSITIONAL CH/CBb

CH/CBb (e.g. Isheyevo)

CH

CH3 (e.g. Acfer 182 and pairings, Acfer 366, ALH 85085, EET 96238, NWA 470, NWA 739, NWA 770, NWA 2210, NWA 4781, NWA 5130, PAT 91546, PCA 91467, RKP 92435, SaU 290)

CR CLAN-RELATED

CR Clan-related (e.g. Kaidun [containing CR-, CI-, CM-, CV-, Meta-C-, O-, EH-, EL-, and aubrite-like clasts], LEW 85332 [C3.0–3.1 w/ C1,2 clasts; possible duo w/ CR2 MIL 090001 {abstract}], LEW 86211/498 [metal-sulfide impact melt {abstract}], NWA 011 and pairings, Tucson)

CI CHONDRITES (Kallemeyn and Wasson, 1981)

CI1 (e.g. Alais, Ivuna, Orgueil)

CI-like, meta Stage III (500–750°C; Nakamura, 2005) (e.g. Y-82162, Y-86029, Y-980115)

‘CY CHONDRITES’ (Ikeda, 1992; King and Russell, 2019 #1386; King et al., 2019)
Thermally metamorphosed/dehydrated

CY1 (e.g. Y-86029 [CI1], Y-82162 [C1/2-ung], Y-86720 [C2-ung], Y-86789 [C2-ung], Y-980115 [CI1])

CY2 (e.g. Belgica 7904 [C2-ung])

Other Potential CY (e.g. A-881458 [CM2], Dho 2066 [C2-ung], Dho 225 [CM-anom or ung], Dho 735 [CM2], Dho 1988 [C2-ung], Dho 2066 [C-ung], EET 96010 [CM2], PCA 02012 [CM2], WIS 91600 [CM2], Y-793321 [CM2])

CI-like, meta Stage III (500–750°C; Nakamura, 2005) (e.g. Y-86737 [CI1], Y-980134 [CI1])

‘CA CHONDRITES’ (Kimura et al., 2019 #6044)
High chondrule and low matrix abundances

CA3.2 (e.g. Y-82094, A-09003, A-09535)

UNGROUPED CARBONACEOUS CHONDRITES

C-ung (e.g. Adelaide [C2], AhS 91/91A [C1], AhS 202 [C2], AhS 671 [C1], Bench Crater [C1], Coolidge [C4; duo with Loongana 001, possibly including Sah 00182 and HaH 073 and perhaps NWA 779 and Sah 00177], DaG 978 [C≥3.5], "Hypatia" [ref. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6], MIL 07687 [C2], Mulga (west) [C5/6], NWA 033 [C3], NWA 978 [C3], NWA 994 [C3], NWA 1152 [C3/CV3-anom], NWA 5958 [C2], NWA 6047 [C3ox or ung], NWA 6697 [C2], NWA 7821 [C2/CM2-anom], NWA 7891 [CV3-anom or ung], NWA 8781 [C], NWA 11556 [C2], NWA 11750 [C3.00], NWA 12416 [C3], Sah 00182 [C3], Tagish Lake [C2])

METACHONDRITES (Irving et al., 2005)

COMPLETE METAMORPHISM, TEXTURALLY EVOLVED
(deprecated to type 7[–8])

Meta-LL (e.g. NWA 5297 [possibly BRA-related or ung], NWA 7030 [anom])

Meta-L (e.g. NWA 6348)

Meta-H (e.g. NWA 2353, NWA 2635, NWA 4226 [H8])

Meta-E (e.g. Zakłodzie)

Meta-CR (e.g. NWA 5131 [see CR7], NWA 12455 [see CR7 {CR8}])

Meta-CO (e.g. NWA 1839 [possibly CV-related])

Meta-CV (e.g. NWA 3133 and pairings [see CV7 {CV8}], NWA 10503 ['CX' trend])

Meta-CK (e.g. NWA 8186 [see CK7 {CK8}])

Meta-CC-ung (e.g. NWA 2788 affinity ['CT' parent body; see photos, abstracts [1, 2], and isotopic plot])

PART II: PRIMITIVE ACHONDRITES, ACHONDRITES, STONY-IRONS, IRONS
PART III: MARTIAN METEORITES—GEOCHEMICAL CLASSIFICATION
PART IV: DIOGENITES—IUGS TAXONOMY
PART V: ENSTATITE CHONDRITES—SUBGROUP CLASSIFICATION

You must collect things for reasons you don't yet understand.
Daniel J. Boorstin – Librarian of Congress

© 1997–2019 by David Weir