Ait Saoun Enstatite Chondrite Meteorite Individual, EH3, 0.67g, Oriented, Complete Fusion Crust

Oriented individual from a confirmed 2024 fall

This Ait Saoun individual weighs 0.67g and retains its fusion crust, with a shape consistent with stable orientation during atmospheric flight. Ait Saoun fell on the night of 6 August 2024 in southern Morocco, and the Meteoritical Bulletin records it as a confirmed fall, classified as an EH3 enstatite chondrite.

Structure and features

The Bulletin describes complete Ait Saoun stones as covered in a thin black fusion crust, with the rear surface of some oriented stones showing a foamy, bubbly crust. This specimen shows fusion crust across its surface. The polarized photographs cut glare from the crust to show its texture, including small vesicles and fine surface cracks. Oriented stones form when a meteorite holds a steady position during descent, so the leading face and trailing face ablate differently.

Inside, the Bulletin records a gray interior with abundant, well-defined chondrules, fine sulfide grains, and a high magnetic susceptibility. The rock is described as relatively fragile, and many pieces broke on impact.

Discovery and provenance

Eyewitnesses across Morocco reported a bluish fireball with red streaks at 9:42 PM local time, followed at Ait Saoun by several explosions and a strong sulfur odor that lingered for hours. The first stones were found the next morning in and around the village of Ait Saoun, in a strewnfield of about 6 by 0.5 km. The Bulletin estimates the total recovered mass at nearly 4 kg, mostly as small pieces under 1g.

This specimen comes from the initial finds made the day after the fall. It was recovered by local hunters in the Ait Saoun strewnfield and acquired by Treasure Coast Meteorite Co. directly from them.

Scientific context

Enstatite chondrites formed under highly reducing conditions, which is why they contain minerals such as oldhamite (calcium sulfide) and niningerite that are absent from ordinary chondrites. The Ait Saoun writeup records both, along with silicon-bearing kamacite metal. The EH designation places it in the high-iron enstatite group, and the type 3 grade reflects minimal thermal metamorphism, based on the silicon content of its kamacite, its well-defined chondrules, and preserved feldspathic glass. Its weathering grade is W0, the freshest category. Background on how classifications are recorded is available in understanding the Meteoritical Bulletin.

Frequently asked questions

Is this meteorite classified? Yes. Ait Saoun is an official meteorite name, classified as EH3 in Meteoritical Bulletin 113 (2025).

What does oriented mean? An oriented meteorite held a stable position as it passed through the atmosphere, so its front and back surfaces were shaped differently by heating and ablation.

Why is a fall different from a find? A fall was observed arriving, so its time on Earth is known. This specimen was recovered the day after the fall, and the Bulletin grades Ait Saoun's weathering as W0.

What is included? The 0.67g individual and a certificate of authenticity. Display cubes shown in photographs are for scale and are not included.

Who is the seller? Treasure Coast Meteorite Co. is a member of the International Meteorite Collectors Association, IMCA #3323.

Collector significance

Ait Saoun combines three verifiable points: a confirmed fall with an exact date, an official EH3 classification, and a W0 weathering grade. This specimen comes from the initial finds made the day after the fall. Complete, crusted individuals keep the surface formed during atmospheric entry, and oriented stones record how that entry happened. Browse more specimens in our chondrites collection or the learn hub.

Meteoritical Bulletin entry: Ait Saoun. Classification: EH3. Confirmed fall, South, Morocco, 6 August 2024.