NWA 17708 Howardite Meteorite Part Slice, Achondrite, 6.15g, Partial Fusion Crust

Sanded howardite slice with partial fusion crust coverage

This 6.15g part slice of NWA 17708 preserves approximately 50% fusion crust coverage along its edge surfaces, offering direct visual evidence of atmospheric entry heating. The single sanded face reveals brecciated internal structure characteristic of howardites, while the untouched exterior maintains its ablation texture. The fusion crust's preservation at this percentage is significant for a slice, as most cutting removes all atmospheric heating traces. This specimen provides both surface ablation features and interior breccia texture in a single piece.

NWA 17708 was recovered in Mali in 2024 and classified as a howardite, placing it within the HED (Howardite-Eucrite-Diogenite) achondrite group. The specimen's fresh condition indicates minimal terrestrial weathering since recovery. The sanded face allows examination of clast distribution and matrix composition, while the fusion crust sections document the meteorite's descent through Earth's atmosphere.

Brecciation and surface features

The sanded face exposes a heterogeneous breccia containing clasts of varying composition embedded in a fine-grained matrix. These clasts represent different rock types mixed by impact processes on the parent body surface. The contrast between lighter eucritic material and darker diogenitic components creates visible textural variation across the slice. This mixing pattern distinguishes howardites from the more uniform eucrites and diogenites.

The preserved fusion crust displays the glassy, blackened texture formed when atmospheric friction melted the meteorite's surface during entry. This ablation coating formed at temperatures exceeding 1600°C as the stone decelerated from cosmic velocities. The crust's thickness and distribution pattern reflect the orientation and tumbling behavior of the fragment during atmospheric passage. The boundary between fusion crust and interior material marks the depth of heating penetration.

Scientific context

Howardites formed on asteroid 4 Vesta through impact gardening processes that mixed eucritic basalts and diogenitic orthopyroxenites across the surface regolith. These impacts excavated material from different crustal depths and combined them into polymict breccias. NASA's Dawn spacecraft confirmed Vesta as the HED parent body through spectroscopic matching and crater analysis between 2011 and 2012. Vesta is the only definitively identified asteroid source for meteorite groups, making howardites among the few meteorites with spacecraft-confirmed origins.

The brecciated texture records billions of years of impact bombardment on Vesta's surface. Each impact event fragmented and mixed existing rock types, creating the complex assemblages seen in howardites. This process parallels lunar regolith formation, offering insights into surface evolution on airless bodies. Learn About Meteorites to understand how impact processes shape planetary surfaces throughout the solar system.

Frequently asked questions

Is this meteorite authenticated? NWA 17708 is classified as a howardite in the Meteoritical Bulletin Database. You can verify this classification at: Meteoritical Bulletin NWA 17708 entry. The specimen includes a certificate of authenticity from Treasure Coast Meteorite Co. documenting its classification, weight, and provenance.

What does howardite mean? Howardites are polymict breccias composed of mixed eucritic and diogenitic material from asteroid Vesta. The name refers to impact-generated mixtures that combine basaltic eucrite and orthopyroxenite diogenite fragments. These breccias formed in Vesta's regolith through billions of years of meteorite impacts that excavated and combined different crustal lithologies.

What is included with this specimen? This listing includes the 6.15g NWA 17708 part slice, certificate of authenticity, specimen information card, and protective gembox display case. The slice measures sufficient size to display both fusion crust and interior brecciation features clearly.

Why is the fusion crust important? Fusion crust proves atmospheric entry and distinguishes meteorites from terrestrial rocks. On a slice, fusion crust preservation is uncommon because cutting typically removes all surface material. This specimen's 50% crust coverage allows study of both the ablation surface formed during entry and the internal structure revealed by cutting.

Can I see the different rock types in the breccia? The sanded face reveals clast and matrix variations representing different lithologies mixed by impact. While the individual mineralogy requires magnification or thin section analysis to fully characterize, the textural heterogeneity is visible to the naked eye as variations in grain size and tone across the slice surface.

Accessible Vesta material for HED collectors

This 6.15g slice provides entry-level access to confirmed Vesta material at $45.00. The combination of preserved fusion crust and exposed interior structure offers more observational value than many slices at this price point. For collectors building HED suites, howardites represent the regolith component alongside the crustal eucrites and mantle diogenites. The specimen's size accommodates standard display cases while remaining affordable for educational collections.

NWA 17708's 2024 classification makes this among the most recently studied howardites available to collectors. The fresh find status and minimal weathering preserve original textures without desert oxidation effects common in older Saharan finds. Browse additional specimens from the same parent body in our Howardites collection, or explore the complete range of Vesta meteorites in our HED Meteorites section.

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