NWA 869 Meteorite Slice – L3-6 Chondrite, 30.4 g

This meteorite slice comes from NWA 869 and weighs 30.4 g. NWA 869 belongs to the brecciated L3–6 chondrite group and represents one of the most widely documented stony meteorites. The specimen is prepared as a slice and polished on both sides to expose its internal structure. The meteorite is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity issued by a member of the IMCA (International Meteorite Collectors Association).

Features
• Name: NWA 869
• Type: Ordinary Chondrite
• Classification: L3–6, Brecciated
• Dimensions: approx. 60 × 45 × 5 mm
• Weight: 30.4 g
• Origin: Undifferentiated asteroid (parent body unknown)
• Found: Tindouf
• Condition: Polished slice
• Discovery Date: 2000
• Certification: Included, issued by an IMCA member

Scientific and Physical Characteristics

This meteorite slice is composed of multiple lithologies, reflecting a complex impact history on its parent body. The polished surface reveals abundant chondrules within a fine-grained matrix, as well as areas of free metal typical of L-group chondrites. Each chondrule represents early solid material from the protoplanetary disk, preserved from the earliest stages of solar system formation. Ordinary chondrites such as NWA 869 are among the oldest known solid materials, with an estimated formation age of approximately 4.55 billion years.