NWA 17708 Howardite Meteorite Slice, 34.51g, Rippled Fusion Crust, HED Achondrite from Vesta

Fresh fusion crust with rippling flow texture

This 34.51g slice of NWA 17708 preserves approximately 50% fresh fusion crust along its edge, displaying the characteristic rippling flow texture formed as molten surface material solidified during atmospheric entry. The sanded face reveals the heterogeneous interior structure typical of howardites, with visible clasts of contrasting lithologies set within a fine-grained impact-generated matrix. The fusion crust coverage and texture make this specimen particularly suitable for display and study of atmospheric heating effects on asteroidal material.

The slice format provides direct visual access to both the external fusion crust and internal brecciated structure in a single specimen. The contrast between the dark, glassy fusion crust and the lighter interior lithologies demonstrates the thermal gradient experienced during atmospheric passage. This specimen shows the regolith breccia nature of howardites, recording multiple impact events on the surface of asteroid 4 Vesta.

Brecciated structure and impact mixing

The sanded surface reveals the polymict nature of this howardite, showing clasts of varying composition embedded within the matrix. These clasts represent fragments of both eucrites and diogenites, the two other members of the HED clan, physically mixed by impact gardening processes on Vesta's surface. The fine-grained matrix filling the spaces between clasts formed from comminuted rock and impact melt during the collisions that created this material.

Howardites exhibit very weak to no magnetic attraction, consistent with their composition dominated by pyroxene and plagioclase minerals rather than metallic iron-nickel. This lack of magnetism distinguishes them from chondrites and iron meteorites, reflecting the differentiated nature of their parent body. The specimen shows the textural complexity that results from billions of years of impact processing in the asteroid belt.

Scientific context: Vesta's regolith breccias

Howardites represent the regolith layer of asteroid 4 Vesta, formed by repeated meteoroid impacts that mixed and brecciated material from deeper crustal layers. NASA's Dawn spacecraft mission confirmed the HED-Vesta connection through spectroscopic analysis and direct imaging of Vesta's surface between 2011 and 2012, verifying what meteorite researchers had proposed for decades based on compositional studies. Howardites specifically sample the impact-processed surface layer where eucritic basalts and diogenitic orthopyroxenites were physically combined.

The formation of howardites requires energetic impact events sufficient to excavate material from different crustal depths and mix them together. This process creates the heterogeneous texture visible in NWA 17708, recording the collisional history of the asteroid belt's second-largest body. Howardites provide direct samples of a planetary surface shaped by 4.5 billion years of bombardment. Learn About Meteorites

Frequently asked questions

Is this meteorite authenticated? NWA 17708 is classified as a howardite in the Meteoritical Bulletin Database. Meteoritical Bulletin entry: NWA 17708. Every specimen includes a certificate of authenticity from Treasure Coast Meteorite Co.

What does howardite mean? Howardites are polymict breccias composed of mixed fragments of eucrites and diogenites, the other two members of the HED achondrite group. They formed in the regolith layer of asteroid 4 Vesta through impact mixing processes.

What is included with this specimen? This listing includes the 34.51g NWA 17708 slice, certificate of authenticity, specimen card with classification details, and gembox display case.

Why does this meteorite have fusion crust on only part of its surface? This specimen is a cut slice taken from a larger individual. The fusion crust visible on approximately 50% of the edge represents the original exterior surface of the meteorite, while the sanded face exposes the interior structure for study and display.

What makes NWA 17708 significant? Classified in 2024, NWA 17708 is among the most recently recognized howardites available to collectors. It provides fresh material from Vesta's surface with excellent preservation of both fusion crust and interior brecciated texture.

Display-ready specimen from Vesta

The combination of fresh fusion crust and prepared interior surface makes this slice well-suited for display and educational purposes. At 34.51g, the specimen provides substantial visual impact while remaining practical for handling and storage. The visible brecciation demonstrates the impact processes that shaped the surface of a differentiated asteroid, offering direct evidence of regolith formation in the asteroid belt.

Howardites remain relatively scarce in meteorite collections compared to chondrites, representing less than 5% of all recovered meteorite falls and finds. The material from asteroid 4 Vesta provides samples of a planetary body that survived intact from the early solar system, avoiding the complete disruption that scattered the material from many other differentiated asteroids. This specimen joins a collection representing confirmed samples from one of the largest intact protoplanets. Howardites

Classification reference

Meteoritical Bulletin entry: NWA 17708 | Classification: Howardite | Find, Mali, 2024