GAO-GUENIE METEORITE (75.6 grams) (complete stone with fusion crust) - Burkina Faso, Africa

Stony meteorite

(Olivine-bronzite chondrite)

16 kilometres north of Leo,

Burkina Faso, Africa.

Fell 6th March 1960

A perfect example of a small meteorite. Melting due to atmospheric friction has rounded the corners and it is completely covered with a typical brown 'fusion crust'.    

The meteorite broke into fragments causing three separate detonations that were heard as far as 100 kilometres away. Several thousand stones rained down over an area of about 70 square kilometres.

The meteorite’s original name was Gao, after a nearby town. In 1998 it was decided that another meteorite known as Guenie, that fell nearby, was identical in composition and so the fall is now known as Gao-Guenie.

Supplied with the original label from the meteorite dealer David Baker.