NWA 6508, EL3

NWA 6508 was purchased as an unclassified NWA meteorite on eBay in September of 2009.  The seller had cut it in half, and…it was clearly interesting.  I analyzed it and discovered that it was an EL3!  Filled with abundant chondrules and chondrule fragments, this stone is some of the most primitive material from the EL parent body that we have on Earth.

Some additional information from the Meteoritical Bulletin:

Of note: The total known weight of all known EL3 material on Earth is less than three kilograms; as of 2014, all but ~140 grams (excluding the two stones we are offering) was found in Antarctica.  In total, less than 500 grams of this type of material is potentially available for collectors.  It’s uncommon stuff.

As of 2024, a few additional “EL3s” have been published, but they seem to have odd average chondrule diameters and…at the very least, aren’t normal EL3s.  I’m not sure what they are.  More work needs to be done on anhydrous reduced chondrites.