Xi Ujimgin meteorite, West Ujimqin Banner (Xiwuzhumuqin Co.), Xilingol League (Xilinguole Prefecture), Inner Mongolia, Chinai

Regional Level Types
Xi Ujimgin meteorite	Meteorite Fall Location
West Ujimqin Banner (Xiwuzhumuqin Co.)	County
Xilingol League (Xilinguole Prefecture)	Prefecture
Inner Mongolia	Autonomous Region
China	Country

Ordinary chondrite, (L/LL6-an; S2)
Fall, 24 August 1980, 17 hrs; 5.9 kg

A single mass was recovered after an afternoon fall. Inspections revealed a largely equilibrated ordinary chondrite. Total iron (23.53 wt%) is consistent with an L-chondrite classification. Olivine (Fa~26.1) composition is very near the boundary of L and LL chondrite composition. A few mineralogical phases are referenced below, but petrographic studies in more accessible literature have been limited in scope. Instead, research citations have centered on Xi Ujimgin's ambiguous chemical signatures [e.g., high cobalt in matrix kamacite]. The somewhat arbitrary nature of the compositional 'borders' between L and L chondrites and the lack of other consistent indicators of Xi Ujimgin's relationship to either the L or LL group of ordinary chondrites has eventually resulted in its current classification as a rare L/LL ordinary chondrite.

A U,Th-He age of 4.45 Ga as well as a relatively high cosmic ray exposure (CRE) age of ~51 Ma have been reported.

Xi Ujimgin is the only meteorite currently classified as an 'anomalous' L/LL6-an chondrite as of early 2017 and one of only 11 witnessed L/LL falls. The main mass has been at the Beijing Planetarium with a much smaller mass (117 g) at UCLA.

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References