Log In
Muonionalusta meteorite, Kitkiöjärvi, Pajala, Norrbotten County, Swedeni
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Muonionalusta meteorite | Meteorite Fall Location |
| Kitkiöjärvi | - not defined - |
| Pajala | Municipality |
| Norrbotten County | County |
| Sweden | Country |
Muonionalusta meteorite, Kitkiöjärvi, Norrbotten Province, Sweden
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
67° 47' 59'' North , 23° 6' 0'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Meteorite Class:
Meteoritical Society Class:
Köppen climate type:
Nearest Settlements:
| Place | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Kangos | 245 (2017) | 39.3km |
Name(s) in local language(s):
Muonionalustameteoriten
Iron meteorite, fine octahedrite (IVA,Of)
Found, 1906; 239 kg
In 1906 an iron-rich mass was found by a 10-year-old boy who tended cattle in the forest 3 km southwest of the village Kitkiöjärvi. 50 years later a larger 15 kg mass was recovered. Since then, additional specimens — including a 158 kg mass discovered in 2003 - have revealed a 25 x 15 km recovery ellipse in an Arctic region intersected by lakes and bogs. The description by Buchwald (1975) covering the first 3 masses (Muonionalusta I, II, and III) provides a broad overview of Muonionalusta's mineralogy. The original meteorite was a fine octahedrite which fragmented before reaching the earth's surface and has since been effected by the reworking of glacial ice of the last ice age. The major constituents — kamacite, taenite, troilite, schreibersite, and minor sulfides — are, of course, not unexpected in a IVA iron. The several associated weatherates (akaganeite, goethite, lepidocrocite) offer an unusual opportunity to study the effects of long exposure to an unusual and extremely cold environment.
With the recovery of additional species new findings have been reported. One of the new pieces discovered in 2001 — a 9.575 kg fragment found at a depth of 25 cm only 20 m from the site of the first find — contains stishovite apparently created in a preterrestrial shock eons ago. A recent Pb-Pb date from Muonionalusta troilite of ~4.565 Ga suggest a very ancient formation age for the IVA parent asteroid.
Shock conditions estimated for the Muonionalusta meteorite are in the P range 13–40 GPa and T range 1200–1300 K.
Found, 1906; 239 kg
In 1906 an iron-rich mass was found by a 10-year-old boy who tended cattle in the forest 3 km southwest of the village Kitkiöjärvi. 50 years later a larger 15 kg mass was recovered. Since then, additional specimens — including a 158 kg mass discovered in 2003 - have revealed a 25 x 15 km recovery ellipse in an Arctic region intersected by lakes and bogs. The description by Buchwald (1975) covering the first 3 masses (Muonionalusta I, II, and III) provides a broad overview of Muonionalusta's mineralogy. The original meteorite was a fine octahedrite which fragmented before reaching the earth's surface and has since been effected by the reworking of glacial ice of the last ice age. The major constituents — kamacite, taenite, troilite, schreibersite, and minor sulfides — are, of course, not unexpected in a IVA iron. The several associated weatherates (akaganeite, goethite, lepidocrocite) offer an unusual opportunity to study the effects of long exposure to an unusual and extremely cold environment.
With the recovery of additional species new findings have been reported. One of the new pieces discovered in 2001 — a 9.575 kg fragment found at a depth of 25 cm only 20 m from the site of the first find — contains stishovite apparently created in a preterrestrial shock eons ago. A recent Pb-Pb date from Muonionalusta troilite of ~4.565 Ga suggest a very ancient formation age for the IVA parent asteroid.
Shock conditions estimated for the Muonionalusta meteorite are in the P range 13–40 GPa and T range 1200–1300 K.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsMineral List
22 valid minerals. 2 (TL) - type locality of valid minerals.
Meteorite/Rock Types Recorded
Select Rock List Type
Alphabetical List Tree DiagramDetailed Mineral List:
| ⓘ Akaganeite Formula: (Fe3+,Ni2+)8(OH,O)16Cl1.25 · nH2O Description: Corrosion product. References: |
| ⓘ Chromite Formula: Fe2+Cr3+2O4 |
| ⓘ Daubréelite Formula: Fe2+Cr3+2S4 |
| ⓘ Ferrihydrite Formula: Fe3+10O14(OH)2 |
| ⓘ Gersdorffite Formula: NiAsS |
| ⓘ Goethite Formula: Fe3+O(OH) Description: Corrosion product. References: |
| ⓘ Hisingerite Formula: Fe3+2(Si2O5)(OH)4 · 2H2O |
| ⓘ Humboldtine Formula: Fe2+(C2O4) · 2H2O |
| ⓘ Lepidocrocite Formula: Fe3+O(OH) Description: Corrosion product. |
| ⓘ Maghemite Formula: (Fe3+0.67◻0.33)Fe3+2O4 References: |
| ⓘ Magnetite Formula: Fe2+Fe3+2O4 |
| ⓘ Muonionalustaite (TL) Formula: Ni3(OH)4Cl2 · 4H2O Type Locality: |
| ⓘ Native Iron Formula: Fe Description: e-iron |
| ⓘ Native Iron var. Kamacite Formula: (Fe,Ni) References: Prior, G. T. (1923) Catalogue of Meteorites - With Special Reference to those Represented in the Collection of the British Museum (Natural History) (1st ed.) The Trustees of the British Museum, London. |
| ⓘ Native Iron var. Martensite Formula: Fe |
| ⓘ Parahibbingite Formula: Fe2(OH)3Cl |
| ⓘ 'Plessite' |
| ⓘ Quartz Formula: SiO2 Description: Very minor, but intriguing possible devitrification product. |
| ⓘ Schreibersite Formula: (Fe,Ni)3P References: |
| ⓘ Stishovite Formula: SiO2 Description: Stishovite found as tridymite pseudomorphs. |
| ⓘ Taenite Formula: (Ni,Fe) |
| ⓘ Tridymite Formula: SiO2 |
| ⓘ Troilite Formula: FeS References: |
| ⓘ Xiexiandeite (TL) Formula: SiO2 Type Locality: |
| ⓘ Zolenskyite Formula: FeCr2S4 |
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) |
| ⓘ | var. Martensite | 1.AE.05 | Fe |
| ⓘ | Taenite | 1.AE.10 | (Ni,Fe) |
| ⓘ | Schreibersite | 1.BD.05 | (Fe,Ni)3P |
| Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
| ⓘ | Troilite | 2.CC.10 | FeS |
| ⓘ | Zolenskyite | 2.DA. | FeCr2S4 |
| ⓘ | Daubréelite | 2.DA.05 | Fe2+Cr3+2S4 |
| ⓘ | Gersdorffite | 2.EB.25 | NiAsS |
| Group 3 - Halides | |||
| ⓘ | Muonionalustaite (TL) | 3.DA. | Ni3(OH)4Cl2 · 4H2O |
| ⓘ | Parahibbingite | 3.DA. | Fe2(OH)3Cl |
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
| ⓘ | Chromite | 4.BB.05 | Fe2+Cr3+2O4 |
| ⓘ | Magnetite | 4.BB.05 | Fe2+Fe3+2O4 |
| ⓘ | Maghemite | 4.BB.15 | (Fe3+0.67◻0.33)Fe3+2O4 |
| ⓘ | Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| ⓘ | Tridymite | 4.DA.10 | SiO2 |
| ⓘ | Xiexiandeite (TL) | 4.DA.35 | SiO2 |
| ⓘ | Stishovite | 4.DA.40 | SiO2 |
| ⓘ | Akaganeite | 4.DK.05 | (Fe3+,Ni2+)8(OH,O)16Cl1.25 · nH2O |
| ⓘ | Goethite | 4.FD.10 | Fe3+O(OH) |
| ⓘ | Lepidocrocite | 4.FE.15 | Fe3+O(OH) |
| ⓘ | Ferrihydrite | 4.FE.35 | Fe3+10O14(OH)2 |
| Group 9 - Silicates | |||
| ⓘ | Hisingerite | 9.ED.10 | Fe3+2(Si2O5)(OH)4 · 2H2O |
| Group 10 - Organic Compounds | |||
| ⓘ | Humboldtine | 10.AB.05 | Fe2+(C2O4) · 2H2O |
| Unclassified | |||
| ⓘ | 'Plessite' | - | |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | ⓘ Akaganeite | (Fe3+,Ni2+)8(OH,O)16Cl1.25 · nH2O |
| H | ⓘ Ferrihydrite | Fe103+O14(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Goethite | Fe3+O(OH) |
| H | ⓘ Hisingerite | Fe23+(Si2O5)(OH)4 · 2H2O |
| H | ⓘ Humboldtine | Fe2+(C2O4) · 2H2O |
| H | ⓘ Lepidocrocite | Fe3+O(OH) |
| H | ⓘ Muonionalustaite | Ni3(OH)4Cl2 · 4H2O |
| H | ⓘ Parahibbingite | Fe2(OH)3Cl |
| C | Carbon | |
| C | ⓘ Humboldtine | Fe2+(C2O4) · 2H2O |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | ⓘ Akaganeite | (Fe3+,Ni2+)8(OH,O)16Cl1.25 · nH2O |
| O | ⓘ Chromite | Fe2+Cr23+O4 |
| O | ⓘ Ferrihydrite | Fe103+O14(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Goethite | Fe3+O(OH) |
| O | ⓘ Hisingerite | Fe23+(Si2O5)(OH)4 · 2H2O |
| O | ⓘ Humboldtine | Fe2+(C2O4) · 2H2O |
| O | ⓘ Lepidocrocite | Fe3+O(OH) |
| O | ⓘ Maghemite | (Fe3+0.67◻0.33)Fe23+O4 |
| O | ⓘ Magnetite | Fe2+Fe23+O4 |
| O | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Stishovite | SiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Tridymite | SiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Muonionalustaite | Ni3(OH)4Cl2 · 4H2O |
| O | ⓘ Parahibbingite | Fe2(OH)3Cl |
| O | ⓘ Xiexiandeite | SiO2 |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | ⓘ Hisingerite | Fe23+(Si2O5)(OH)4 · 2H2O |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| Si | ⓘ Stishovite | SiO2 |
| Si | ⓘ Tridymite | SiO2 |
| Si | ⓘ Xiexiandeite | SiO2 |
| P | Phosphorus | |
| P | ⓘ Schreibersite | (Fe,Ni)3P |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | ⓘ Daubréelite | Fe2+Cr23+S4 |
| S | ⓘ Gersdorffite | NiAsS |
| S | ⓘ Troilite | FeS |
| S | ⓘ Zolenskyite | FeCr2S4 |
| Cl | Chlorine | |
| Cl | ⓘ Akaganeite | (Fe3+,Ni2+)8(OH,O)16Cl1.25 · nH2O |
| Cl | ⓘ Muonionalustaite | Ni3(OH)4Cl2 · 4H2O |
| Cl | ⓘ Parahibbingite | Fe2(OH)3Cl |
| Cr | Chromium | |
| Cr | ⓘ Chromite | Fe2+Cr23+O4 |
| Cr | ⓘ Daubréelite | Fe2+Cr23+S4 |
| Cr | ⓘ Zolenskyite | FeCr2S4 |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | ⓘ Akaganeite | (Fe3+,Ni2+)8(OH,O)16Cl1.25 · nH2O |
| Fe | ⓘ Chromite | Fe2+Cr23+O4 |
| Fe | ⓘ Daubréelite | Fe2+Cr23+S4 |
| Fe | ⓘ Ferrihydrite | Fe103+O14(OH)2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Goethite | Fe3+O(OH) |
| Fe | ⓘ Hisingerite | Fe23+(Si2O5)(OH)4 · 2H2O |
| Fe | ⓘ Humboldtine | Fe2+(C2O4) · 2H2O |
| Fe | ⓘ Native Iron | Fe |
| Fe | ⓘ Native Iron var. Kamacite | (Fe,Ni) |
| Fe | ⓘ Lepidocrocite | Fe3+O(OH) |
| Fe | ⓘ Maghemite | (Fe3+0.67◻0.33)Fe23+O4 |
| Fe | ⓘ Magnetite | Fe2+Fe23+O4 |
| Fe | ⓘ Schreibersite | (Fe,Ni)3P |
| Fe | ⓘ Taenite | (Ni,Fe) |
| Fe | ⓘ Troilite | FeS |
| Fe | ⓘ Native Iron var. Martensite | Fe |
| Fe | ⓘ Zolenskyite | FeCr2S4 |
| Fe | ⓘ Parahibbingite | Fe2(OH)3Cl |
| Ni | Nickel | |
| Ni | ⓘ Akaganeite | (Fe3+,Ni2+)8(OH,O)16Cl1.25 · nH2O |
| Ni | ⓘ Gersdorffite | NiAsS |
| Ni | ⓘ Native Iron var. Kamacite | (Fe,Ni) |
| Ni | ⓘ Schreibersite | (Fe,Ni)3P |
| Ni | ⓘ Taenite | (Ni,Fe) |
| Ni | ⓘ Muonionalustaite | Ni3(OH)4Cl2 · 4H2O |
| As | Arsenic | |
| As | ⓘ Gersdorffite | NiAsS |
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
Eurasian PlateTectonic Plate
- Baltic Shield
- Karelia CratonCraton
EuropeContinent
ScandinaviaRegion
Sweden
- ⭔Norrbotten ProvinceProvince
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
Prior, G. T. (1923) Catalogue of Meteorites - With Special Reference to those Represented in the Collection of the British Museum (Natural History) (1st ed.) The Trustees of the British Museum, London.
Holtstam, Dan, Broman, Curt, Söderhielm, Johan, Zetterqvist, Anders (2003) First discovery of stishovite in an iron meteorite. Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 38 (11) 1579-1583 doi:10.1111/j.1945-5100.2003.tb00002.x
Muonionalusta meteorite, Kitkiöjärvi, Pajala, Norrbotten County, Sweden