Tatahouine

The Tatahouine meteorite fell June 27th, 1931 a few kilometres Northeast of a small village called Foum Tatahouine in Tunisia, Africa. This meteorite has been classified as a rare Achondrite, specifically - Diogenite. Around 12kg was originally collected and recently about another 1.5kg - 2kg have been found but are heavily weathered. The circumstances of its fall were particularly unique as the meteor detonated/exploded at a relatively low altitude therefore not allowing the pieces to reform fusion crust. As a result, the pieces of Tatahouine are all fragments, most of which are under 1 gram and have no fusion crust present. The characteristic colour of Tatahouine is an attractive olive-green/grey with dark black shock veins running through the fragments. Ironically, because the vast majority of Tatahouine fragments are less than a gram, it is actually the larger pieces which command a higher price per gram as they are so rare. Especially over 10g which may be up to several times more expensive per gram. Below are a 6.30g Partslice and an 11.10g Fragment. Both of these pieces have tiny patches of black glassy fusion crust which will occasionally be found on Tatahouine specimens. These specimens are part of the Meteorites Australia Collection.

Tatahouine (Diogenite) - 6.30g Partslice.

Tatahouine (Diogenite) - 6.30g Partslice.

Tatahouine (Diogenite) - 6.30g Partslice.

Tatahouine (Diogenite) - 11.10g Fragment.

Tatahouine (Diogenite) - 11.10g Fragment.

Tatahouine (Diogenite) - 11.10g Fragment.