Achondrites

Achondrites are a type of stony meteorite that lack chondrules. Chondrules are the small, round inclusions seen in most stony meteorites in the chondrite family. These meteorites formed through a melting and recrystallization processes on their parent bodies, such as asteroids, the Moon, or Mars. This makes them significantly more 'evolved' compared to chondrites, which are considered 'primitive'.

 

Achondrites come from differentiated celestial bodies, meaning their parent bodies experienced enough internal heat to separate into distinct layers, with heavy metals forming a core and lighter silicate materials forming a crust and mantle. Achondrites represent materials from the outer layers of these differentiated bodies, often resembling volcanic or igneous rocks found on Earth. They formed as molten rock cooled and solidified, erasing the original chondrule structures that would have existed before melting occurred. As a result, these meteorites provide valuable information about planetary processes such as volcanism, impacts, and crust formation.

 

There are several important subgroups of achondrites, each associated with specific parent bodies. HED meteorites (howardites, eucrites, and diogenites) are believed to come from Asteroid 4 Vesta. Lunar meteorites come from the Moon, and Martian meteorites originate from Mars. Each of these subtypes offers crucial insights into the geological history of their parent body, including volcanic activity, surface impacts, and the internal structure of these objects.

 

Whilst achondrites make up only about 8% of all known meteorites, they are particularly important for planetary science. Because they come from bodies that have undergone differentiation, achondrites help researchers understand the processes that shaped not only these individual objects but also the larger mechanisms of planetary formation and evolution in the early solar system. Their study helps scientists piece together the history of planets and large asteroids, providing clues to their structure and development.

Achondrite Sub-Groups

Lunar Meteorites

Lunar Meteorites

Martian Meteorites

Martian Meteorites

HED Achondrites

HED Achondrites

Ungrouped Achondrites

Ungrouped Achondrites

Primitive Achondrites

Primitive Achondrites

Aubrites

Aubrites

Angrites

Angrites

150 products

Save 33%
Bechar 003 - Lunar Feldspathic Breccia - End Cut - 8.38g - Algeria

Bechar 003 - Lunar Feldspathic Breccia - End Cut - 8.38g - Algeria
$426.00
$426.00
$640.00
Save 34%
Bechar 003 - Lunar Feldspathic Breccia - End Cut - 4.55g - Algeria

Bechar 003 - Lunar Feldspathic Breccia - End Cut - 4.55g - Algeria
$231.00
$231.00
$348.00
Save 34%
Bechar 003 - Lunar Feldspathic Breccia - End Cut - 1g - Algeria

Bechar 003 - Lunar Feldspathic Breccia - End Cut - 1g - Algeria
$51.00
$51.00
$77.00
Save 33%
Bechar 003 - Lunar Feldspathic Breccia - End Cut - 1.24g - Algeria

Bechar 003 - Lunar Feldspathic Breccia - End Cut - 1.24g - Algeria
$64.00
$64.00
$96.00
Save 34%
Bechar 003 - Lunar Feldspathic Breccia - End Cut - 1.31g - Algeria

Bechar 003 - Lunar Feldspathic Breccia - End Cut - 1.31g - Algeria
$66.00
$66.00
$100.00
Save 32%
Bechar 003 - Lunar Feldspathic Breccia - End Cut - 1.09g - Algeria

Bechar 003 - Lunar Feldspathic Breccia - End Cut - 1.09g - Algeria
$57.00
$57.00
$84.00
Save 33%
Bechar 003 - Lunar Feldspathic Breccia - End Cut - 1.26g - Algeria

Bechar 003 - Lunar Feldspathic Breccia - End Cut - 1.26g - Algeria
$64.00
$64.00
$96.00
Save 33%
Bechar 003 - Lunar Feldspathic Breccia - Fragment - 1.19g - Algeria

Bechar 003 - Lunar Feldspathic Breccia - Fragment - 1.19g - Algeria
$49.00
$49.00
$73.00
Save 33%
Bechar 003 - Lunar Feldspathic Breccia - Fragment - 1.42g - Algeria

Bechar 003 - Lunar Feldspathic Breccia - Fragment - 1.42g - Algeria
$58.00
$58.00
$86.00
Save 33%
Bechar 003 - Lunar Feldspathic Breccia - Fragment - 1.86g - Algeria

Bechar 003 - Lunar Feldspathic Breccia - Fragment - 1.86g - Algeria
$77.00
$77.00
$115.00
Save 33%
Bechar 003 - Lunar Feldspathic Breccia - Fragment - 1.44g - Algeria

Bechar 003 - Lunar Feldspathic Breccia - Fragment - 1.44g - Algeria
$59.00
$59.00
$88.00
Save 33%
Bechar 003 - Lunar Feldspathic Breccia - Fragment - 1.88g - Algeria

Bechar 003 - Lunar Feldspathic Breccia - Fragment - 1.88g - Algeria
$77.00
$77.00
$115.00
Save 33%
Bechar 003 - Lunar Feldspathic Breccia - Fragment - 1.32g - Algeria

Bechar 003 - Lunar Feldspathic Breccia - Fragment - 1.32g - Algeria
$54.00
$54.00
$81.00
Save 32%
Bechar 003 - Lunar Feldspathic Breccia - Fragment - 1.47g - Algeria

Bechar 003 - Lunar Feldspathic Breccia - Fragment - 1.47g - Algeria
$61.00
$61.00
$90.00
Save 33%
Tatahouine - Diogenite - Fragment - 1.64g - Tunisia

Tatahouine - Diogenite - Fragment - 1.64g - Tunisia
$53.00
$53.00
$79.00
Save 33%
Tatahouine - Diogenite - Fragment - 1.53g - Tunisia

Tatahouine - Diogenite - Fragment - 1.53g - Tunisia
$49.00
$49.00
$73.00
Save 33%
Tatahouine - Diogenite - Fragment - 1.79g - Tunisia

Tatahouine - Diogenite - Fragment - 1.79g - Tunisia
$58.00
$58.00
$86.00
Save 33%
Tatahouine - Diogenite - Fragment - 1.63g - Tunisia

Tatahouine - Diogenite - Fragment - 1.63g - Tunisia
$53.00
$53.00
$79.00
Save 33%
Tatahouine - Diogenite - Fragment - 1.67g - Tunisia

Tatahouine - Diogenite - Fragment - 1.67g - Tunisia
$54.00
$54.00
$81.00
Save 33%
Tatahouine - Diogenite - Fragment - 2.33g - Tunisia

Tatahouine - Diogenite - Fragment - 2.33g - Tunisia
$74.00
$74.00
$111.00
Save 32%
Tatahouine - Diogenite - Fragment - 1.76g - Tunisia

Tatahouine - Diogenite - Fragment - 1.76g - Tunisia
$57.00
$57.00
$84.00
Save 33%
Tatahouine - Diogenite - Fragment - 2.33g - Tunisia

Tatahouine - Diogenite - Fragment - 2.33g - Tunisia
$74.00
$74.00
$111.00
Save 33%
Tatahouine - Diogenite - Fragment - 1.84g - Tunisia

Tatahouine - Diogenite - Fragment - 1.84g - Tunisia
$59.00
$59.00
$88.00
Save 33%
Tatahouine - Diogenite - Fragment - 1.56g - Tunisia

Tatahouine - Diogenite - Fragment - 1.56g - Tunisia
$50.00
$50.00
$75.00
Save 34%
Taoudenni - Diogenite - Fragment - 7.6g - Mali

Taoudenni - Diogenite - Fragment - 7.6g - Mali
$86.00
$86.00
$130.00
Save 34%
Taoudenni - Diogenite - Fragment - 15.2g - Mali

Taoudenni - Diogenite - Fragment - 15.2g - Mali
$174.00
$174.00
$262.00
Save 33%
Taoudenni - Diogenite - Fragment - 19.4g - Mali

Taoudenni - Diogenite - Fragment - 19.4g - Mali
$223.00
$223.00
$334.00
Save 33%
Taoudenni - Diogenite - Fragment - 16.3g - Mali

Taoudenni - Diogenite - Fragment - 16.3g - Mali
$188.00
$188.00
$281.00
Save 33%
Taoudenni - Diogenite - Fragment - 15.8g - Mali

Taoudenni - Diogenite - Fragment - 15.8g - Mali
$181.00
$181.00
$271.00
Save 33%
Taoudenni - Diogenite - Fragment - 38g - Mali

Taoudenni - Diogenite - Fragment - 38g - Mali
$435.00
$435.00
$653.00
Save 34%
Taoudenni - Diogenite - Fragment - 54g - Mali

Taoudenni - Diogenite - Fragment - 54g - Mali
$617.00
$617.00
$928.00
Save 33%
Taoudenni - Diogenite - Fragment - 14.1g - Mali

Taoudenni - Diogenite - Fragment - 14.1g - Mali
$162.00
$162.00
$243.00
Save 34%
Taoudenni - Diogenite - Fragment - 15.5g - Mali

Taoudenni - Diogenite - Fragment - 15.5g - Mali
$178.00
$178.00
$268.00
Save 33%
Taoudenni - Diogenite - Slice - 15g - Mali

Taoudenni - Diogenite - Slice - 15g - Mali
$172.00
$172.00
$258.00
Save 34%
Errachidia 004 - Winonaite-an - 3pc Diff. Lithologies - Slices - 0.879 g - Morocco

Errachidia 004 - Winonaite-an - 3pc Diff. Lithologies - Slices - 0.879 g - Morocco
$89.00
$89.00
$134.00
Save 34%
Errachidia 004 - Winonaite-an - 3pc Diff. Lithologies - Slices - 0.637 g - Morocco

Errachidia 004 - Winonaite-an - 3pc Diff. Lithologies - Slices - 0.637 g - Morocco
$65.00
$65.00
$98.00
Save 34%
Errachidia 004 - Winonaite-an - 3pc Diff. Lithologies - Slices - 0.737 g - Morocco

Errachidia 004 - Winonaite-an - 3pc Diff. Lithologies - Slices - 0.737 g - Morocco
$75.00
$75.00
$113.00
Save 34%
Errachidia 004 - Winonaite-an - 3pc Diff. Lithologies - Slices - 0.702 g - Morocco

Errachidia 004 - Winonaite-an - 3pc Diff. Lithologies - Slices - 0.702 g - Morocco
$71.00
$71.00
$107.00
Save 33%
Sebkha el Melah 001 - Aubrite (Enstatite Crystal) - Complete Individual - 3.66 g - Mali

Sebkha el Melah 001 - Aubrite (Enstatite Crystal) - Complete Individual - 3.66 g - Mali
$158.00
$158.00
$237.00
Save 33%
Sebkha el Melah 001 - Aubrite (Enstatite Crystal) - Complete Individual - 3.62 g - Mali

Sebkha el Melah 001 - Aubrite (Enstatite Crystal) - Complete Individual - 3.62 g - Mali
$157.00
$157.00
$235.00
Save 33%
Sebkha el Melah 001 - Aubrite (Enstatite Crystal) - Complete Individual - 6.76 g - Mali

Sebkha el Melah 001 - Aubrite (Enstatite Crystal) - Complete Individual - 6.76 g - Mali
$292.00
$292.00
$439.00
Save 34%
Sebkha el Melah 001 - Aubrite (Enstatite Crystal) - Complete Individual - 11.16g - Mali

Sebkha el Melah 001 - Aubrite (Enstatite Crystal) - Complete Individual - 11.16g - Mali
$481.00
$481.00
$724.00
Save 33%
Sebkha el Melah 001 - Aubrite (Enstatite Crystal) - Complete Individual - 5.75g - Mali

Sebkha el Melah 001 - Aubrite (Enstatite Crystal) - Complete Individual - 5.75g - Mali
$250.00
$250.00
$375.00
Save 33%
Sebkha el Melah 001 - Aubrite (Enstatite Crystal) - Complete Individual - 2.75g - Mali

Sebkha el Melah 001 - Aubrite (Enstatite Crystal) - Complete Individual - 2.75g - Mali
$120.00
$120.00
$180.00
Save 34%
Sebkha el Melah 001 - Aubrite (Enstatite Crystal) - Complete Individual - 1.99g - Mali

Sebkha el Melah 001 - Aubrite (Enstatite Crystal) - Complete Individual - 1.99g - Mali
$86.00
$86.00
$130.00
Save 34%
Sebkha el Melah 001 - Aubrite (Enstatite Crystal) - Complete Individual - 2.93g - Mali

Sebkha el Melah 001 - Aubrite (Enstatite Crystal) - Complete Individual - 2.93g - Mali
$127.00
$127.00
$191.00
Save 34%
Sebkha el Melah 001 - Aubrite (Enstatite Crystal) - Complete Individual - 5.41g - Mali

Sebkha el Melah 001 - Aubrite (Enstatite Crystal) - Complete Individual - 5.41g - Mali
$234.00
$234.00
$352.00
Save 33%
Sebkha el Melah 001 - Aubrite (Enstatite Crystal) - Complete Individual - 2.81g - Mali

Sebkha el Melah 001 - Aubrite (Enstatite Crystal) - Complete Individual - 2.81g - Mali
$123.00
$123.00
$184.00

Popular Collections

Lunar Meteorites

Lunar Meteorites

Martian Meteorites

Martian Meteorites

Carbonaceous Chondrites

Carbonaceous Chondrites

Iron Meteorites

Iron Meteorites

Meteorite & Tektite Jewelry

Meteorite & Tektite Jewelry

Tektites & Impactites

Tektites & Impactites