Carbonaceous Chondrites

Carbonaceous chondrites are among the most primitive and scientifically important meteorites, representing some of the oldest material formed in the early solar system. Unlike meteorites that originate from differentiated bodies, these specimens come from ancient, unaltered asteroids that have remained largely unchanged for over 4.5 billion years. They formed from the original dust and gas cloud that surrounded the young Sun, and were later incorporated into small parent bodies that never experienced significant melting. Over time, collisions between these bodies sent fragments into space, with a small number eventually crossing Earth’s orbit and surviving their passage through the atmosphere to reach the surface. Although relatively rare compared to ordinary chondrites, carbonaceous chondrites are highly valued for the unique record they preserve of the solar system’s earliest history.

 

Carbonaceous chondrites are classified as chondrites, meaning they contain small, round silicate inclusions known as chondrules, embedded within a fine-grained matrix rich in carbon and volatile compounds. They are further divided into several groups, such as CI, CM, CV, and CO, each with distinct mineral compositions and histories of aqueous alteration. Many of these meteorites contain water-bearing minerals and organic compounds, including amino acids, making them of particular interest in the study of prebiotic chemistry. Their dark, often fragile appearance reflects their high carbon content and relatively low density compared to other meteorite types.

 

Studying carbonaceous chondrites provides critical insights into the conditions present during the formation of the solar system, including the role of water and organic molecules in the development of planets. These meteorites are thought to have contributed to the early Earth’s inventory of water and the building blocks of life, offering clues about how habitable environments may arise. Because they sample some of the most pristine material available, carbonaceous chondrites are invaluable to scientists and are often the focus of sample-return missions such as OSIRIS-REx and Hayabusa 2. For collectors, they represent a direct connection to the primordial solar nebula, ancient, complex, and rich with cosmic history.

Carbonaceous Chondrite Classifications

C Carbonaceous Chondrites

C Carbonaceous Chondrites

CB Carbonaceous Chondrites

CB Carbonaceous Chondrites

CH Carbonaceous Chondrites

CH Carbonaceous Chondrites

CI Carbonaceous Chondrites

CI Carbonaceous Chondrites

CK Carbonaceous Chondrites

CK Carbonaceous Chondrites

This Collection Is Currently Unavailable

This Collection Is Currently Unavailable

CM Carbonaceous Chondrites

CM Carbonaceous Chondrites

CO Carbonaceous Chondrites

CO Carbonaceous Chondrites

CR Carbonaceous Chondrites

CR Carbonaceous Chondrites

CV Carbonaceous Chondrites

CV Carbonaceous Chondrites

Carbonaceous Chondrite Collections

NWA 13456 - C2 Carbonaceous Chondrite

NWA 13456 - C2 Carbonaceous Chondrite

Hassi Khebi 001 - C3 Carbonaceous Chondrite

Hassi Khebi 001 - C3 Carbonaceous Chondrite

NWA 4025 - CB Carbonaceous Chondrite

NWA 4025 - CB Carbonaceous Chondrite

Grapevine Mesa - CBa Carbonaceous Chondrite

Grapevine Mesa - CBa Carbonaceous Chondrite

Oued Chebeika 002 - CI1 Carbonaceous Chondrite

Oued Chebeika 002 - CI1 Carbonaceous Chondrite

Hammadah al Hamra 280 - CK4 Carbonaceous Chondrite

Hammadah al Hamra 280 - CK4 Carbonaceous Chondrite

NWA 12671 - CK6 Carbonaceous Chondrite

NWA 12671 - CK6 Carbonaceous Chondrite

Aguas Zarcas - CM2 Carbonaceous Chondrite

Aguas Zarcas - CM2 Carbonaceous Chondrite

Sutters Mill - C Carbonaceous Chondrite

Sutters Mill - C Carbonaceous Chondrite

Winchcombe - CM2 Carbonaceous Chondrite

Winchcombe - CM2 Carbonaceous Chondrite

NWA 16415 - CO3 Carbonaceous Chondrite

NWA 16415 - CO3 Carbonaceous Chondrite

33 products

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NWA 13777 - CK6-an Carbonaceous Chondrite - Slice - 9.24g - Algeria

NWA 13777 - CK6-an Carbonaceous Chondrite - Slice - 9.24g - Algeria
$1,173.00
$1,173.00
$1,764.00
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Grapevine Mesa - CBa Carbonaceous Chondrite - Fragment - 0.21 g - USA (Arizona)

Grapevine Mesa - CBa Carbonaceous Chondrite - Fragment - 0.21 g - USA (Arizona)
$54.00
$54.00
$81.00
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Grapevine Mesa - CBa Carbonaceous Chondrite - Fragment - 0.11g - USA (Arizona)

Grapevine Mesa - CBa Carbonaceous Chondrite - Fragment - 0.11g - USA (Arizona)
$28.00
$28.00
$42.00
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Grapevine Mesa - CBa Carbonaceous Chondrite - Fragment - 0.18g - USA (Arizona)

Grapevine Mesa - CBa Carbonaceous Chondrite - Fragment - 0.18g - USA (Arizona)
$46.00
$46.00
$69.00
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Grapevine Mesa - CBa Carbonaceous Chondrite - Fragment - 0.13g - USA (Arizona)

Grapevine Mesa - CBa Carbonaceous Chondrite - Fragment - 0.13g - USA (Arizona)
$34.00
$34.00
$50.00
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Grapevine Mesa - CBa Carbonaceous Chondrite - Fragment - 0.31g - USA (Arizona)

Grapevine Mesa - CBa Carbonaceous Chondrite - Fragment - 0.31g - USA (Arizona)
$79.00
$79.00
$119.00
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Grapevine Mesa - CBa Carbonaceous Chondrite - Fragment - 0.22g - USA (Arizona)

Grapevine Mesa - CBa Carbonaceous Chondrite - Fragment - 0.22g - USA (Arizona)
$57.00
$57.00
$84.00
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Grapevine Mesa - CBa Carbonaceous Chondrite - Fragment - 0.30g - USA (Arizona)

Grapevine Mesa - CBa Carbonaceous Chondrite - Fragment - 0.30g - USA (Arizona)
$77.00
$77.00
$115.00
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Grapevine Mesa - CBa Carbonaceous Chondrite - Fragment - 0.19g - USA (Arizona)

Grapevine Mesa - CBa Carbonaceous Chondrite - Fragment - 0.19g - USA (Arizona)
$49.00
$49.00
$73.00
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Grapevine Mesa - CBa Carbonaceous Chondrite - Fragment - 0.15g - USA (Arizona)

Grapevine Mesa - CBa Carbonaceous Chondrite - Fragment - 0.15g - USA (Arizona)
$39.00
$39.00
$58.00
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Grapevine Mesa - CBa Carbonaceous Chondrite - Fragment - 0.26g - USA (Arizona)

Grapevine Mesa - CBa Carbonaceous Chondrite - Fragment - 0.26g - USA (Arizona)
$66.00
$66.00
$100.00
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NWA 12671 - CK6 Carbonaceous Chondrite - Fragment - 0.223g - Northwest Africa

NWA 12671 - CK6 Carbonaceous Chondrite - Fragment - 0.223g - Northwest Africa
$34.00
$34.00
$48.00
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NWA 12671 - CK6 Carbonaceous Chondrite - Fragment - 0.249g - Northwest Africa

NWA 12671 - CK6 Carbonaceous Chondrite - Fragment - 0.249g - Northwest Africa
$34.00
$34.00
$48.00
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NWA 12671 - CK6 Carbonaceous Chondrite - Fragment - 0.436g - Northwest Africa

NWA 12671 - CK6 Carbonaceous Chondrite - Fragment - 0.436g - Northwest Africa
$48.00
$48.00
$67.00
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Winchcombe - CM2 Carbonaceous Chondrite - Fragment - 0.054 g - England (Gloucestershire)

Winchcombe - CM2 Carbonaceous Chondrite - Fragment - 0.054 g - England (Gloucestershire)
$240.00
$240.00
$361.00
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Winchcombe - CM2 Carbonaceous Chondrite - Fragment - 0.066 g - England (Gloucestershire)

Winchcombe - CM2 Carbonaceous Chondrite - Fragment - 0.066 g - England (Gloucestershire)
$419.00
$419.00
$630.00
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Winchcombe - CM2 Carbonaceous Chondrite - Fragment - 0.129 g - England (Gloucestershire)

Winchcombe - CM2 Carbonaceous Chondrite - Fragment - 0.129 g - England (Gloucestershire)
$819.00
$819.00
$1,231.00
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Winchcombe - CM2 Carbonaceous Chondrite - Fragment - 0.1343 g - England (Gloucestershire)

Winchcombe - CM2 Carbonaceous Chondrite - Fragment - 0.1343 g - England (Gloucestershire)
$853.00
$853.00
$1,283.00
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Winchcombe - CM2 Carbonaceous Chondrite - Fragment - 0.01 g - England (Gloucestershire)

Winchcombe - CM2 Carbonaceous Chondrite - Fragment - 0.01 g - England (Gloucestershire)
$64.00
$64.00
$96.00
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Winchcombe - CM2 Carbonaceous Chondrite - Fragment - 0.011 g - England (Gloucestershire)

Winchcombe - CM2 Carbonaceous Chondrite - Fragment - 0.011 g - England (Gloucestershire)
$70.00
$70.00
$105.00
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Winchcombe - CM2 Carbonaceous Chondrite - Fragment - 0.0831 g - England (Gloucestershire)

Winchcombe - CM2 Carbonaceous Chondrite - Fragment - 0.0831 g - England (Gloucestershire)
$528.00
$528.00
$794.00
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Winchcombe - CM2 Carbonaceous Chondrite (Fusion Crust 1 Side approx. 40%) - 0.0385 g - England (Gloucestershire)

Winchcombe - CM2 Carbonaceous Chondrite (Fusion Crust 1 Side approx. 40%) - 0.0385 g - England (Gloucestershire)
$293.00
$293.00
$441.00
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Winchcombe - CM2 Carbonaceous Chondrite - Fragment - 0.0415 g - England (Gloucestershire)

Winchcombe - CM2 Carbonaceous Chondrite - Fragment - 0.0415 g - England (Gloucestershire)
$265.00
$265.00
$397.00
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Aguas Zarcas - CM2 Carbonaceous Chondrite - Small Fragment - <0.1g - Costa Rica - Costa Rica

Aguas Zarcas - CM2 Carbonaceous Chondrite - Small Fragment - <0.1g - Costa Rica - Costa Rica
$28.00
$28.00
$42.00
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Aguas Zarcas - CM2 Carbonaceous Chondrite - Small Fragment - <0.1g - Costa Rica - Costa Rica

Aguas Zarcas - CM2 Carbonaceous Chondrite - Small Fragment - <0.1g - Costa Rica - Costa Rica
$21.00
$21.00
$31.00
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Aguas Zarcas - CM2 Carbonaceous Chondrite - Small Fragment - <0.1g - Costa Rica - Costa Rica

Aguas Zarcas - CM2 Carbonaceous Chondrite - Small Fragment - <0.1g - Costa Rica - Costa Rica
$28.00
$28.00
$42.00
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Sutters Mill - C Carbonaceous Chondrite - Mini Fragment - USA (California)

Sutters Mill - C Carbonaceous Chondrite - Mini Fragment - USA (California)
$48.00
$48.00
$67.00
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Sutters Mill - C Carbonaceous Chondrite - Mini Fragment - USA (California)

Sutters Mill - C Carbonaceous Chondrite - Mini Fragment - USA (California)
$48.00
$48.00
$67.00
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Sutters Mill - C Carbonaceous Chondrite - Mini Fragment - USA (California)

Sutters Mill - C Carbonaceous Chondrite - Mini Fragment - USA (California)
$48.00
$48.00
$67.00
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Sutters Mill - C Carbonaceous Chondrite - Mini Fragment - USA (California)

Sutters Mill - C Carbonaceous Chondrite - Mini Fragment - USA (California)
$48.00
$48.00
$67.00
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Sutters Mill - C Carbonaceous Chondrite - Mini Fragment - USA (California)

Sutters Mill - C Carbonaceous Chondrite - Mini Fragment - USA (California)
$48.00
$48.00
$67.00
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Aguas Zarcas - CM2 Carbonaceous Chondrite - Small Fragment - <0.1g - Costa Rica - Costa Rica

Aguas Zarcas - CM2 Carbonaceous Chondrite - Small Fragment - <0.1g - Costa Rica - Costa Rica
$23.00
$23.00
$35.00
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Sutters Mill - C Carbonaceous Chondrite - Mini Fragment - USA (California)

Sutters Mill - C Carbonaceous Chondrite - Mini Fragment - USA (California)
$48.00
$48.00
$67.00

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