Ordinary chondrite, genomict breccia (LL4,br; S3)
Found, November 1987; 664 g, single stone

A small blocky stone (~7x8x9 cm) was found on a recently cut lawn next to a 6 cm deep hole. Covered with a black glassy fusion crust, the interior contains abundant, devitrified chondrules up to 6mm in diameter comprising ~30 vol% of the stone. The light grey matrix is characterized by abundant small angular olivine- and pyroxene-rich clasts which range from nearly white to grayish black in color. The largely equilibrated olivine (Fa28.6) and mildly unequilibrated low Ca-pyroxene (Fs23.8,ave) are characteristic of LL4 chondrites. Mineralogically the meteorite consists primarily of dominant olivine [vol%] accompanied by sometimes twinned Ca-poor pyroxene along with minor plagioclase, diopsidic clinopyroxene, troilite, and Fe-Ni metal. Fe-Ni metal includes kamacite and 'cloudy' [zoned] taenite bordered by tetrataenite. Accessory chromite, ilmenite, and phosphates (both chlorapatite and merrillite) are also present.

The LL meteorites are ordinary chondrites that are relatively very low in total iron. They represent nearly 10% of all fully classified meteorite falls and a slightly larger proportion of total meteorite recoveries. LL4's account for ~10% of all LL-group chondrites. Greenwell Springs is one of 320 meteorites currently classified exactly as LL4 ordinary chondrite (May 2017). Despite Greenwell Springs's very modest mass it is still more massive than 85% of the listed LL4 chondrites. This is apparently due two two factors: (1) LL chondrites are often quite friable and prone to both disruption and destruction during atmospheric entry and (2) there are undoubtedly a number of disrupted fragments among the small Antarctic and Saharan meteorites which cannot be properly paired with each other.

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Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Mineral List

9 valid minerals.

Meteorite/Rock Types Recorded

Note: data is currently VERY limited. Please bear with us while we work towards adding this information!

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Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

ⓘ LL4 chondrite meteorite

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Augite

Formula: (Ca_xMg_yFe_z)(Mg_y1Fe_z1)Si₂O₆

References:

Byerly, G.R., Jarosewich, E., Mason, B. & Clarke Jr., R.S. (1988) The Greenwell Springs LL4 chondrite - A new fall from Louisiana, USA: Meteoritics 23: 359-360. (Dec 1988).

ⓘ Chlorapatite

Formula: Ca₅(PO₄)₃Cl

References:

Byerly, G.R., Jarosewich, E., Mason, B. & Clarke Jr., R.S. (1988) The Greenwell Springs LL4 chondrite - A new fall from Louisiana, USA: Meteoritics 23: 359-360. (Dec 1988).

ⓘ Chromite

Formula: Fe²⁺Cr³⁺₂O₄

References:

Byerly, G.R., Jarosewich, E., Mason, B. & Clarke Jr., R.S. (1988) The Greenwell Springs LL4 chondrite - A new fall from Louisiana, USA: Meteoritics 23: 359-360. (Dec 1988).

Kessel, R., Beckett, J.R. & Stolper, E.M. (2007) The thermal history of equilibrated ordinary chondrites and the relationship between textural maturity and temperature: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 71(7):1855-1881. (April 2007).

ⓘ 'Fayalite-Forsterite Series'

References:

Graham, A.L., Editor (1988). The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 66. Meteoritics 23 (2): 171-173. (June 1988).

Dunn, T.L., Cressy, G., McSween Jr, H.Y. & McCoy, T.J. (2010) Analysis of ordinary chondrites using powder X-ray diffraction: 1. Modal mineral abundances. Meteoritics & Planetary Science 45(1):123-134. (Jan 2010). between textural maturity and temperature: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 71(7):1855-1881. (April 2007).

ⓘ Ilmenite

Formula: Fe²⁺TiO₃

References:

Byerly, G.R., Jarosewich, E., Mason, B. & Clarke Jr., R.S. (1988) The Greenwell Springs LL4 chondrite - A new fall from Louisiana, USA: Meteoritics 23: 359-360. (Dec 1988).

ⓘ Merrillite

Formula: Ca₉NaMg(PO₄)₇

References:

Byerly, G.R., Jarosewich, E., Mason, B. & Clarke Jr., R.S. (1988) The Greenwell Springs LL4 chondrite - A new fall from Louisiana, USA: Meteoritics 23: 359-360. (Dec 1988).

ⓘ Native Iron

Formula: Fe

References:

Byerly, G.R., Jarosewich, E., Mason, B. & Clarke Jr., R.S. (1988) The Greenwell Springs LL4 chondrite - A new fall from Louisiana, USA: Meteoritics 23: 359-360. (Dec 1988).

ⓘ Native Iron var. Kamacite

Formula: (Fe,Ni)

References:

Byerly, G.R., Jarosewich, E., Mason, B. & Clarke Jr., R.S. (1988) The Greenwell Springs LL4 chondrite - A new fall from Louisiana, USA: Meteoritics 23: 359-360. (Dec 1988).

ⓘ 'Orthopyroxene Subgroup'

References:

ⓘ 'Plagioclase'

Formula: (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi₂]O₈

References:

ⓘ 'Pyroxene Group'

Formula: ADSi₂O₆

Description: low-Ca pyroxene not equilibrated. Some twinned pyroxenes present (presumably Ca-poor clinopyroxene).

References:

Graham, A.L., Editor (1988). The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 66. Meteoritics 23 (2): 171-173. (June 1988).

ⓘ Taenite

Formula: (Fe,Ni)

Description: Cloudy Taenite bordered by Tetrataenite.

References:

Byerly, G.R., Jarosewich, E., Mason, B. & Clarke Jr., R.S. (1988) The Greenwell Springs LL4 chondrite - A new fall from Louisiana, USA: Meteoritics 23: 359-360. (Dec 1988).

ⓘ Tetrataenite

Formula: FeNi

References:

Byerly, G.R., Jarosewich, E., Mason, B. & Clarke Jr., R.S. (1988) The Greenwell Springs LL4 chondrite - A new fall from Louisiana, USA: Meteoritics 23: 359-360. (Dec 1988).

ⓘ Troilite

Formula: FeS

References:

Byerly, G.R., Jarosewich, E., Mason, B. & Clarke Jr., R.S. (1988) The Greenwell Springs LL4 chondrite - A new fall from Louisiana, USA: Meteoritics 23: 359-360. (Dec 1988).

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
ⓘ	Native Iron	1.AE.05	Fe
ⓘ	var. Kamacite	1.AE.05	(Fe,Ni)
ⓘ	Taenite	1.AE.10	(Fe,Ni)
ⓘ	Tetrataenite	1.AE.10	FeNi
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘ	Troilite	2.CC.10	FeS
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘ	Chromite	4.BB.05	Fe²⁺Cr³⁺₂O₄
ⓘ	Ilmenite	4.CB.05	Fe²⁺TiO₃
Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates
ⓘ	Merrillite	8.AC.45	Ca₉NaMg(PO₄)₇
ⓘ	Chlorapatite	8.BN.05	Ca₅(PO₄)₃Cl
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘ	Augite	9.DA.15	(Ca_xMg_yFe_z)(Mg_y1Fe_z1)Si₂O₆
Unclassified
ⓘ	'Fayalite-Forsterite Series'	-
ⓘ	'Plagioclase'	-	(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi₂]O₈
ⓘ	'Pyroxene Group'	-	ADSi₂O₆
ⓘ	'Orthopyroxene Subgroup'	-

List of minerals for each chemical element

O	Oxygen
O	ⓘ Augite	(Ca_xMg_yFe_z)(Mg_y1Fe_z1)Si₂O₆
O	ⓘ Chlorapatite	Ca₅(PO₄)₃Cl
O	ⓘ Chromite	Fe²⁺Cr₂³⁺O₄
O	ⓘ Ilmenite	Fe²⁺TiO₃
O	ⓘ Merrillite	Ca₉NaMg(PO₄)₇
O	ⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series
O	ⓘ Plagioclase	(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi₂]O₈
O	ⓘ Pyroxene Group	ADSi₂O₆
Na	Sodium
Na	ⓘ Merrillite	Ca₉NaMg(PO₄)₇
Na	ⓘ Plagioclase	(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi₂]O₈
Mg	Magnesium
Mg	ⓘ Augite	(Ca_xMg_yFe_z)(Mg_y1Fe_z1)Si₂O₆
Mg	ⓘ Merrillite	Ca₉NaMg(PO₄)₇
Mg	ⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series
Al	Aluminium
Al	ⓘ Plagioclase	(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi₂]O₈
Si	Silicon
Si	ⓘ Augite	(Ca_xMg_yFe_z)(Mg_y1Fe_z1)Si₂O₆
Si	ⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series
Si	ⓘ Plagioclase	(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi₂]O₈
Si	ⓘ Pyroxene Group	ADSi₂O₆
P	Phosphorus
P	ⓘ Chlorapatite	Ca₅(PO₄)₃Cl
P	ⓘ Merrillite	Ca₉NaMg(PO₄)₇
S	Sulfur
S	ⓘ Troilite	FeS
Cl	Chlorine
Cl	ⓘ Chlorapatite	Ca₅(PO₄)₃Cl
Ca	Calcium
Ca	ⓘ Augite	(Ca_xMg_yFe_z)(Mg_y1Fe_z1)Si₂O₆
Ca	ⓘ Chlorapatite	Ca₅(PO₄)₃Cl
Ca	ⓘ Merrillite	Ca₉NaMg(PO₄)₇
Ca	ⓘ Plagioclase	(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi₂]O₈
Ti	Titanium
Ti	ⓘ Ilmenite	Fe²⁺TiO₃
Cr	Chromium
Cr	ⓘ Chromite	Fe²⁺Cr₂³⁺O₄
Fe	Iron
Fe	ⓘ Augite	(Ca_xMg_yFe_z)(Mg_y1Fe_z1)Si₂O₆
Fe	ⓘ Chromite	Fe²⁺Cr₂³⁺O₄
Fe	ⓘ Ilmenite	Fe²⁺TiO₃
Fe	ⓘ Native Iron	Fe
Fe	ⓘ Native Iron var. Kamacite	(Fe,Ni)
Fe	ⓘ Taenite	(Fe,Ni)
Fe	ⓘ Tetrataenite	FeNi
Fe	ⓘ Troilite	FeS
Fe	ⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series
Ni	Nickel
Ni	ⓘ Native Iron var. Kamacite	(Fe,Ni)
Ni	ⓘ Taenite	(Fe,Ni)
Ni	ⓘ Tetrataenite	FeNi

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

North AmericaContinent

North America PlateTectonic Plate

Gulf of Mexico BasinBasin
Sabine DomainDomain
Sabine TerraneVolcanic Arc

USA

⭔Southeastern United StatesArea

This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.

References

www.lpi.usra.edu (n.d.) http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meteor/metbull.php

www.lpi.usra.edu (n.d.) http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meteor/metbull.php?code=11195

www.encyclopedia-of-meteorites.com (n.d.) http://www.encyclopedia-of-meteorites.com/test/greenwell_springs_horejsi2.jpg

Graham, A.L., Editor (1988). The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 66. Meteoritics 23 (2): 171-173. (June 1988).

Byerly, G.R., Jarosewich, E., Mason, B. & Clarke Jr., R.S. (1988) The Greenwell Springs LL4 chondrite - A new fall from Louisiana, USA: Meteoritics 23: 359-360. (December, 1988).

Grady, Monica (2000) Catalogue of Meteorites (5th ed.). Cambridge University Press.

Kessel, Ronit (2002). The activity of chromite in multicomponent spinels: An experimental study with implications for the metamorphic history of equilibrated ordinary chondrites (Thesis). California Institute of Technology: Pasadena, California. 219 pages.

Kessel, Ronit, Beckett, J.R. & Stolper, E.M. (2007) The thermal history of equilibrated ordinary chondrites and the relationship between textural maturity and temperature: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta: 71(7): 1855-1881. (April 2007).

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