Brachinites are a group of meteorites that are classified either as primitive achondrites or as asteroidal achondrites. Like all primitive achondrites, they have similarities with chondrites and achondrites. Brachinites contain 74 to 98% (volume) olivine.
Naming and history
Brachinites are named after the Brachina meteorite, the type specimen of this group, which in turn is named after
Brachina,
South Australia.
Description
Brachinites consist almost entirely of
olivine (74 to 98% by volume). Other minerals include
plagioclase (6.7 to 12.9%), iron sulfides (1.8 to 4.0%),
clinopyroxene (1.5 to 8.2%) and
orthopyroxene (0 to 2.4%). Trace minerals include phosphates and
meteoric iron. The only deviation from
chondrites is the very high olivine/orthopyroxene ratio.
Specimens
As of 2022, there were 56 meteorites classified as brachinites.
A notable example is the type specimen, the Brachina meteorite.
See also
