NWA 18497 CVox3 Carbonaceous Chondrite Endcut 15.64g

NWA 18497 CVox3 Carbonaceous Chondrite Endcut 15.64gAn oxidized CV3 carbonaceous chondrite with a visible calcium aluminum rich inclusion NWA 18497 is an oxidized CV3 carbonaceous chondrite, one of the most chemically primitive classes of stony meteorite. The cut face carries the texture that defines the CV group: abundant rounded chondrules set in a dark, olivine rich matrix, together with a pale calcium aluminum rich inclusion, the kind of object that ranks among the oldest dated solids in the solar

An oxidized CV3 carbonaceous chondrite with a visible calcium-aluminum-rich inclusion

NWA 18497 is an oxidized CV3 carbonaceous chondrite, one of the most chemically primitive classes of stony meteorite. The cut face carries the texture that defines the CV group: abundant rounded chondrules set in a dark, olivine-rich matrix, together with a pale calcium-aluminum-rich inclusion, the kind of object that ranks among the oldest dated solids in the solar system. This specimen is a 15.64 gram end cut, with one face cut and polished to open the interior and the natural exterior retained on the reverse.

The meteorite was classified by J. Garcia at ADARA in the Canary Islands and is listed in the Meteoritical Bulletin as NWA 18497, CVox3, with a total known mass of 725 grams. Its workname during classification was BMD 038.

Structure and features

The polished face shows the two parts of the CV texture clearly. Well-defined chondrules, averaging close to 1.2 millimeters across and reaching larger sizes, sit packed within a dark, fine-grained matrix built mainly from micrometer-scale olivine and opaque phases. The chondrules run through shades of copper, orange, and tan, the result of low-level oxidation of dispersed metal and sulfides, while the matrix holds the dark gray to black background of the stone. Most chondrules carry porphyritic textures, with crystals of olivine and pyroxene set in finer material.

A pale, irregular calcium-aluminum-rich inclusion (CAI) is visible on the cut face. CAIs are refractory clumps that condensed from the early solar nebula before the chondrules formed, and the largest one recorded in the studied section of this meteorite measures about 9 millimeters. Amoeboid olivine aggregates, another early-formed component, are also present in the matrix. Fine fractures and thin light veins cross the surface, a record of the time the stone spent in the desert. As an end cut, the piece keeps one fully prepared face for viewing while the reverse holds its weathered natural crust.

Discovery and provenance

NWA 18497 was purchased in 2024 from an Algerian dealer and carries the regional Northwest Africa designation used for material recovered across the Sahara. It was classified by J. Garcia at ADARA, Petrography and Curation of Astromaterials, in the Canary Islands, Spain, and submitted by Jose Garcia. The classification is published in the Meteoritical Bulletin, no. 115. The type specimen is held at the Museo de la Naturaleza y Arqueologia (MUNA) in Tenerife, a thin section is retained at ADARA, and the main mass is recorded to Brian McDonald. The Meteoritical Bulletin lists the meteorite as a find with a low weathering grade.

Scientific context

CV chondrites are a group of carbonaceous chondrites known for large chondrules, a substantial dark matrix, and a high abundance of calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions. The best known member of the group is Allende, which fell in Mexico in 1969 and became one of the most studied meteorites in science. The group is divided into oxidized and reduced subgroups, and NWA 18497 belongs to the oxidized branch, recorded as CVox and assigned to the oxidized subgroup following the metal and sulfide chemistry described by Gattacceca and colleagues in 2020.

The petrographic type 3 records a primitive state in which the chondrules and matrix have seen little thermal change since they formed, so the original mineral chemistry survives. In NWA 18497 the chondrule population is dominated by FeO-poor Type I chondrules, with iron-rich Type II chondrules present only in small numbers. Olivine in the chondrules averages Fa8.6, the matrix olivine is far more iron-rich, and the dispersed metal carries a nickel content near 66 weight percent. Together these features place the stone in the CV3 group and give it a weak magnetic response. For background on how these stones are studied and named, see what is a chondrite and how meteorites are classified.

Frequently asked questions

What is a CV3 carbonaceous chondrite?
It is a primitive stony meteorite from the CV group, defined by large chondrules, a dark olivine-rich matrix, and abundant calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions. The 3 marks a low petrographic type, meaning the material has changed little since it formed in the early solar system.

What is the pale inclusion on the cut face?
It is a calcium-aluminum-rich inclusion, or CAI. CAIs are refractory solids that condensed from the early solar nebula and rank among the oldest dated materials in the solar system at about 4.567 billion years.

Is this specimen magnetic?
It contains dispersed metal and sulfides, so it shows a weak response to a magnet. It is far less magnetic than an iron meteorite or a metal-rich chondrite.

How should the end cut be stored and handled?
Handle it with clean hands or gloves and keep it in a dry place. As a desert find that contains some metal, low humidity helps protect the polished face and limits any further rust.

Why this matters to a collection

A CV3 oxidized chondrite puts several of the oldest objects in the solar system into a single specimen: chondrules that formed as molten droplets, a matrix of fine early dust, and calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions that predate the planets. An end cut shows both a full polished face and the natural exterior of the stone, and a visible CAI makes the connection to the early solar system easy to point out. As of June 2026, the Meteoritical Bulletin lists this as 1 of 64 approved meteorites classified as CVox3. This specimen is offered by Treasure Coast Meteorite Co., IMCA Member #3323. Browse more carbonaceous chondrites and stony meteorites in the collection.

Classification and provenance for this specimen follow the official Meteoritical Bulletin entry for NWA 18497, viewable at the Meteoritical Bulletin Database. Unless specifically stated in titles and descriptions, all meteorites sold by Treasure Coast Meteorite Co. are scientifically classified specimens with Meteoritical Bulletin citations.