Chondrite Freeform - Height: 6 cm - Width: 5 cm - 1088 g - (24)

Altered chondrites are a particular type of meteorites belonging to the large family of chondrites, which themselves are the most primitive meteorites of the Solar System.
The term altered refers to chemical or mineralogical transformations that occurred after the initial formation of the meteorite.

Aqueous alteration
Interaction with liquid water inside the parent asteroid
Formation of hydrated minerals (clays, phyllosilicates)
Very common in carbonaceous chondrites
Typical example: CI chondrites group or CM chondrites

Thermal alteration
Internal heating (radioactivity or impacts)
Recrystallization of minerals
Loss of water or transformation of hydrated phases

Shock alteration
Violent impacts in space
Fracturing, partial melting

Altered ordinary chondrites
Less rich in carbon
They mainly undergo thermal alteration
Classified according to their degree of alteration (petrologic type 3 to 6)

Lot of 24 altered NWA chondrites from 100 g to 10 g, several with a polished face.
for 1088 g