Bassikounou meteorite
Bassikounou is an ordinary chondrite meteorite, officially classified as H5, that was seen to fall in Mauritania in 2006. A total of 29.56 kg was recovered. Witnessed falls are rare and especially valuable to science, because the stones are collected before Earth's weather can change them.
Where it fell
Key facts
- Name
- Bassikounou
- Classification
- H5
- Type
- Chondrite · Ordinary
- Group
- H
- Fall or find
- Fall (seen to fall)
- Year
- 2006
- Mass recovered
- 29.56 kg
- Country
- Mauritania
- Coordinates
- 15.7833° N, 5.9000° W
What is a chondrite?
Stony and primitive. Chondrites still carry mineral grains from the early solar system, often including chondrules. More about H chondrites.
Meteorites near Bassikounou
- N'Goureyma Iron, ungrouped · 270 km away
Other H meteorites
- Allan Hills 84071 Antarctica · 1984
- Lewis Cliff 87106 Antarctica · 1987
- Yamato 8453 Antarctica · 1984
- Grove Mountains 022935 Antarctica · 2003
- Yamato 699 Antarctica · 1969
- Dhofar 802 Oman · 2001
Photo shared under a Creative Commons licence (Wikimedia Commons).