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Veramin meteorite, Karand, Tehran Province, Irani
Regional Level Types
Veramin meteoriteMeteorite Fall Location
Karand- not defined -
Tehran ProvinceProvince
IranCountry

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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
35° 20' North , 51° 38' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
35.33333,51.63333
GRN:
N24E31
Type:
Meteorite Fall Location
Meteorite Class:
Mesosiderite-B2 meteorite
Meteoritical Society Class:
Mesosiderite-B2
Metbull:
View entry in Meteoritical Bulletin Database
Köppen climate type:
BSh : Hot semi-arid (steppe) climate
Nearest Settlements:
PlacePopulationDistance
Varāmīn179,603 (2014)1.5km
Pīshvā53,856 (2014)8.9km
Eqbālīyeh36,709 (2012)9.5km
Qarchak251,834 (2012)11.8km
Sharīfābād8,870 (2013)17.3km
Mindat Locality ID:
262146
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:262146:6
GUID (UUID V4):
0


Mesosiderite-B2 (stony iron)
Fall, 18 Apr 1880; 54 kg

The fall of the Veramin mesosiderite was accompanied by ten or so very loud explosions, smoke, and the almost immediate recovery of a pitted 54 kg stone. The stone soon came into the possession of the Shah. The Shah gave small portions of the stone to Ward and other Europeans. Veramin was called a Peckhamite or Grahamite at first. However, small flecks and granules of Fe-Ni metal and a complex silicate intergrowth of dominant monoclinic pyroxene accompanied by olivine and calcic plagioclase were characterized as classification terminology was also evolving during the early 20th Century. The mineralogical inventory has been expanded in recent decades with the detection and characterization of apatite, chromite, ilmenite, troilite, schreibersite, and other minor constituents.

Veramin is one of only 7 witnessed mesosiderite falls. The mesosiderites are an interesting, but problematic set of highly brecciated and quite ancient stony irons. While they have O-isotope abundances similar to those of HED meteorites, there is at present no totally consensual understanding of how the combination of once molten Fe-Ni metal interacting with unequilibrated, but still relatively intact clast-rich silicates have created the particular characteristics of the mesosiderites. At least one major collision seems to be a given, but whence the metal? From an early core-penetrating collision? from an already partially molten iron-rich impactor? Answers, at least for now, seem to be up in the air.

The main mass (~50 kg) has been in Tehran since 1880.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Mineral List


15 valid minerals.

Meteorite/Rock Types Recorded

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

Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Anorthite
Formula: Ca(Al2Si2O8)
ⓘ Anorthite var. Bytownite
Formula: (Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si2O8]
ⓘ 'Apatite'
Formula: Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
ⓘ Augite
Formula: (CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
ⓘ Chromite
Formula: Fe2+Cr3+2O4
ⓘ 'Clinopyroxene Subgroup'
Description: Clinopyroxene is Ca-rich. Augite appears to be the only clinopyroxene postively detected in the sources cited. However, Powell (1971) has the only mineralogically specific citation.
ⓘ Cubanite
Formula: CuFe2S3
ⓘ Enstatite
Formula: Mg2Si2O6
ⓘ Enstatite var. Bronzite
Formula: (Mg,Fe2+)2[SiO3]2
ⓘ 'Fayalite-Forsterite Series'
Description: Olivine (~6 vol% of silicates) following Prinz et al.(1980); Olivine (Fo ~80) following Delaney et al.(1980)
References:
Ward, H. A. (1901) The Veramin Meteorite: American Journal of Science, Series 4 Vol. 12:453-459. (Dec 1901/December 1, 1901)
Powell, B. N. (1971). Petrology and chemistry of mesosiderites—II. Silicate textures and compositions and metal-silicate relationships. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 35: 5-34.
Prinz, M., Nehru, C. E., Delaney, J. S., Harlow, G. E. & Bedell, R. L. (1980) Modal studies of mesosiderites and related achondrites, including the new mesosiderite ALHA 77219. Proceedings of the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference XI: 1055-1071.
Delaney, J. S., Nehru, C. E. & Prinz, M. (1980) Olivine Clasts from mesosiderites and Howardites: Clues to the nature of achondritic parent bodies. Proceedings of the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference XI: 1073-1087.
Delaney, J. S., Prinz, M., Harlow, G. E., Nehru, C. E. (1981) Metamorphism in mesosiderites. Proceedings Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, 12B, 1315-1342.
ⓘ Graphite
Formula: C
ⓘ Ilmenite
Formula: Fe2+TiO3
ⓘ Merrillite
Formula: Ca9NaMg(PO4)7
ⓘ Native Iron
Formula: Fe
ⓘ Native Iron var. Kamacite
Formula: (Fe,Ni)
ⓘ 'Orthopyroxene Subgroup'
Description: Orthopyroxene [71 vol% of silicates], compositional range [En~60-80%] following Prinz et al.(1980)
ⓘ 'Plagioclase'
Formula: (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
Description: Calcic plagioclase; ~20 vol% of silicates following Prinz et al.(1980)
ⓘ Rutile
Formula: TiO2
Description: In very minor amounts
ⓘ Schreibersite
Formula: (Fe,Ni)3P
Description: As a very minor constituent
ⓘ Taenite
Formula: (Ni,Fe)
ⓘ Tetrataenite
Formula: FeNi
ⓘ Tridymite
Formula: SiO2
ⓘ Troilite
Formula: FeS

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
ⓘNative Iron1.AE.05Fe
ⓘvar. Kamacite1.AE.05(Fe,Ni)
ⓘTaenite1.AE.10(Ni,Fe)
ⓘTetrataenite1.AE.10FeNi
ⓘSchreibersite1.BD.05(Fe,Ni)3P
ⓘGraphite1.CB.05aC
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘCubanite2.CB.55aCuFe2S3
ⓘTroilite2.CC.10FeS
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘChromite4.BB.05Fe2+Cr3+2O4
ⓘIlmenite4.CB.05Fe2+TiO3
ⓘTridymite4.DA.10SiO2
ⓘRutile4.DB.05TiO2
Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates
ⓘMerrillite8.AC.45Ca9NaMg(PO4)7
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘEnstatite9.DA.05Mg2Si2O6
ⓘvar. Bronzite9.DA.05(Mg,Fe2+)2[SiO3]2
ⓘAugite9.DA.15(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
ⓘAnorthite9.FA.35Ca(Al2Si2O8)
ⓘvar. Bytownite9.FA.35(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si2O8]
Unclassified
ⓘ'Clinopyroxene Subgroup'-
ⓘ'Fayalite-Forsterite Series'-
ⓘ'Plagioclase'-(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
ⓘ'Orthopyroxene Subgroup'-
ⓘ'Apatite'-Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
CCarbon
Cⓘ GraphiteC
OOxygen
Oⓘ AnorthiteCa(Al2Si2O8)
Oⓘ Augite(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
Oⓘ Anorthite var. Bytownite(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si2O8]
Oⓘ ChromiteFe2+Cr23+O4
Oⓘ EnstatiteMg2Si2O6
Oⓘ IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
Oⓘ RutileTiO2
Oⓘ TridymiteSiO2
Oⓘ Enstatite var. Bronzite(Mg,Fe2+)2[SiO3]2
Oⓘ MerrilliteCa9NaMg(PO4)7
Oⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series
Oⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
Oⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
FFluorine
Fⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
NaSodium
Naⓘ Anorthite var. Bytownite(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si2O8]
Naⓘ MerrilliteCa9NaMg(PO4)7
Naⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ Augite(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
Mgⓘ EnstatiteMg2Si2O6
Mgⓘ Enstatite var. Bronzite(Mg,Fe2+)2[SiO3]2
Mgⓘ MerrilliteCa9NaMg(PO4)7
Mgⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series
AlAluminium
Alⓘ AnorthiteCa(Al2Si2O8)
Alⓘ Anorthite var. Bytownite(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si2O8]
Alⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
SiSilicon
Siⓘ AnorthiteCa(Al2Si2O8)
Siⓘ Augite(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
Siⓘ Anorthite var. Bytownite(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si2O8]
Siⓘ EnstatiteMg2Si2O6
Siⓘ TridymiteSiO2
Siⓘ Enstatite var. Bronzite(Mg,Fe2+)2[SiO3]2
Siⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series
Siⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
PPhosphorus
Pⓘ Schreibersite(Fe,Ni)3P
Pⓘ MerrilliteCa9NaMg(PO4)7
Pⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
SSulfur
Sⓘ CubaniteCuFe2S3
Sⓘ TroiliteFeS
ClChlorine
Clⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
CaCalcium
Caⓘ AnorthiteCa(Al2Si2O8)
Caⓘ Augite(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
Caⓘ Anorthite var. Bytownite(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si2O8]
Caⓘ MerrilliteCa9NaMg(PO4)7
Caⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
Caⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
TiTitanium
Tiⓘ IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
Tiⓘ RutileTiO2
CrChromium
Crⓘ ChromiteFe2+Cr23+O4
FeIron
Feⓘ Augite(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
Feⓘ ChromiteFe2+Cr23+O4
Feⓘ CubaniteCuFe2S3
Feⓘ IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
Feⓘ Native IronFe
Feⓘ Native Iron var. Kamacite(Fe,Ni)
Feⓘ Schreibersite(Fe,Ni)3P
Feⓘ Taenite(Ni,Fe)
Feⓘ TetrataeniteFeNi
Feⓘ TroiliteFeS
Feⓘ Enstatite var. Bronzite(Mg,Fe2+)2[SiO3]2
Feⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series
NiNickel
Niⓘ Native Iron var. Kamacite(Fe,Ni)
Niⓘ Schreibersite(Fe,Ni)3P
Niⓘ Taenite(Ni,Fe)
Niⓘ TetrataeniteFeNi
CuCopper
Cuⓘ CubaniteCuFe2S3

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

AsiaContinent
Eurasian PlateTectonic Plate
Indian Plate (India Plate)
Iran

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

Ward, H. A. (1901) The Veramin Meteorite: American Journal of Science, Series 4 Vol. 12:453-459. (Dec 1901/December 1, 1901)
Powell, B. N. (1969). Petrology and chemistry of mesosiderites—I. textures and composition of nickel-iron. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 33: 789-810.
Powell, B. N. (1971). Petrology and chemistry of mesosiderites—II. Silicate textures and compositions and metal-silicate relationships. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 35: 5-34.
Bunch, T. E., Keil, Klaus (1971) Chromite and ilmenite in non-chondritic meteorites. American Mineralogist, 56 (1-2) 146-157
Ramdohr, Paul (1972) The Opaque Minerals in Stony Meteorites. De Gruyter. doi:10.1515/9783112651025
Floran, R.J. (1978) Silicate petrography, classification, and origin of the mesosiderites - Review and new observations. Lunar and Planetary Science Conference IX, Proceedings, Vol. 1: 1053-1081.
Clarke, Roy S., Scott, Edward R. D. (1980) Tetrataenite-ordered FeNi, a new mineral in meteorites. American Mineralogist, 65 (7-8) 624-630
Prinz, M., Nehru, C. E., Delaney, J. S., Harlow, G. E. & Bedell, R. L. (1980) Modal studies of mesosiderites and related achondrites, including the new mesosiderite ALHA 77219. Proceedings of the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference XI: 1055-1071.
Delaney, J. S., Nehru, C. E. & Prinz, M. (1980) Olivine Clasts from mesosiderites and Howardites: Clues to the nature of achondritic parent bodies. Proceedings of the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference XI: 1073-1087.
Delaney, J. S., Prinz, M., Harlow, G. E., Nehru, C. E. (1981) Metamorphism in mesosiderites. Proceedings Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, 12B, 1315-1342.
Graham, A. L., Editor (1990) Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 68: Meteoritics 25 (1): 59-70. (March 1990)
www.lpi.usra.edu (2010) http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meteor/metbull.php
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