Meteorite Ait Saoun – Morocco
The newest witnessed fall
Type: Enstatite chondrite EH3
Locality: Morocco
Weight: 0,47g
Dimensions: 8 x 6 x 5 mm
Year fell: 2024
Total known weight: 4 kg
Surface treatment: none – raw
Packaging: Transparent plastic box (5,8 x 3,8 x 1,6 cm)
| Category: | Ait Saoun |
|---|---|
| By name: | Ait Saoun |
| ? Type: | Stony |
| Subspecies: | Chondrite |
| ? Surface treatment: | Natural (raw) |
| Packaging: | In box |
| Specialties: | Observed fall |
On August 6, 2024 at 21:42 local time, a bright meteor was observed over the Moroccan province of Zagora, captured by the full-field camera at the Oukaimeden Observatory in the High Atlas Mountains. Witnesses from different areas, including Agoudal, Ouarzazate, Tazenakht, Taoudant, Tiznit and Aït Benhaddou, reported a bluish fireball with red streaks, accompanied by several strong explosions and a whistling sound. Residents of the village of Aït Saoun and surrounding areas noticed a strong smell of sulphur that persisted for several hours. The following morning, the first meteorite fragments were found in the vicinity of the village. This meteorite was classified as an enstatite chondrite type EH3 with a total mass of approximately 4 kg. The strewnfield, i.e. the area of scattered fragments, is approximately 6 × 0.5 km.
After the meteorite fell, hundreds of people flocked to the Aït Saoun area to search for fragments. Many small pieces weighing a few grams and several larger fragments were found, with the largest piece reported so far weighing 96 grams. The meteorites are covered with a shiny thin black melt crust. The interior is grey with well-defined chondrules up to 2 mm in diameter.