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Meteorites
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L6
· Katagum
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| Location: |
Nigeria Bauchi State |
| Category: |
L6 |
| Fall: |
01 Sep 1999
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| TKW: |
9kg |
| S: |
4 |
| W: |
1 |
| Description: |
Meteoritical Bulletin No 90)
Katagum fell at about 4 pm in the early days of September 1999 in a village called Gadai, south of Zaki Local Government Area of Bauchi State, Nigeria.
The fall was preceded by loud thunderous noises as it burned, passing through the air with intense bright light. The villagers described the event, as a star brighter than the sun. Investigations showed that the inhabitants of another town approximately 150 km away from Gadai heard the noise and saw bright light in the sky. It was observed that when the noise and light ceased, vibration through the Earths crust was also felt. According to a shepherds (called Haliru) report, as soon as he heard a loud noise he felt the earth moving from under him, and the next thing he remembered was being at home.
After the meteorite fall Mohammed Auwai Sule, the village chief (
Serki
) took the mysterious stone to the local government secretariat. Since then the stone has been in the custody of the Chairman of the local Government. Although the time, year and month were recorded the day/date was not properly noted.
Description:
The meteorite described above has a weight of 2.387 kg and is covered with black fusion crust and regmaglypted. The matrix is light grey and friable. Metal phases are distributed evenly and small chondrules are sparse. The Matrix reveals also some very thin black melt veins.
Subsequently a second stone was found in 2004 (the main mass) with a weight of 6.650 kg. It is also covered (80%) with black brownish fusion crust and regmaglypted. The inner part is more weathered with light staining around metal phases and along the thin melt veins. The fall site lies in the middle of a mine field. Thats why it took so long to recover the main mass. |
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| Weight: |
2292g |
| Nature: |
Complete |
| Description: |
About 70% crusted. As the main mass seems lost, this may be it now. |
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Side view
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Crust view
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