| Itqiy meteorite | |
| Type: | Chondrite (ongoing scientific debate) |
| Class: | Enstatite chondrite (ongoing scientific debate) |
| Group: | EH7-an (ongoing scientific debate) |
| Parent Body: | NWA2526-Itqiy[1] |
| Composition: | Enstatite (78 %), meteoric iron (22 %), sulfides. |
| Country: | Western Sahara[2] |
| Lat Long: | 26.5908°N -12.9522°W |
| Observed Fall: | Yes |
| Fall Date: | 1990 |
| Found Date: | 1990 + 2000-07 |
| Tkw: | + |
The Itqiy meteorite is an enstatite-rich stony-iron meteorite. It is classified as an enstatite chondrite of the EH group that was nearly melted and is therefore very unusual for that group.[3] [4] Other classifications have been proposed and are an ongoing scientific debate.
Itqiy was initially attributed to a 1990 fireball in Western Sahara. One stone was recovered by a nomad, and a second stone was recovered in July 2000 by Marc, Luc, and Jim Labenne who were searching for meteorites in the same location. The meteorite was analyzed in 2001.[5] Later work showed that the meteorite had fallen nearly 6,000 years ago and was not associated with any recent fireball.[6]
Itqiy is a stony meteorite consisting of 78% enstatite and 22% meteoric iron. The meteoric iron is kamacite with 5.77% nickel. Small amounts of other minerals include troilite, Mg-Mn-Fe sulfides and Fe-Cr sulfides.[7]
The meteorite was described as an "ungrouped stony meteorite" in 2000, and reclassified as an "ungrouped enstatite meteorite" in 2001. In 2006, Itqiy was classified as a member of the EH enstatite chondrites, with a petrologic type of 7, emphasizing that it was a strongly metamorphosed EH chondrite.
Itqiy represents a rock that formed through partial melting of an EH chondrite. This process removed the more volatile minerals like plagioclase.[8] In 2010-1 it was proposed that Itqiy, QUE 94204, QUE 97289, QUE 97348, NWA 2526 and possibly Yamato 793225 form a new group from the same parent body that should be called "primitive enstatite achondrites".[9]