Grapevine Mesa - CBa Carbonaceous Chondrite

Grapevine Mesa is a rare CBa Carbonaceous Chondrite found on 6 February 2021 on Grapevine Mesa, east of Meadview in Mohave County, Arizona, USA. It was discovered by Todd Parker and Robert Ward while metal detecting, with 550.3 g recovered from a small area. As a CBa meteorite, it belongs to the Bencubbin-like Carbonaceous Chondrites, an uncommon group known for high metal content and unusual early solar system formation history.

 

Specimens of Grapevine Mesa are notably metal-rich, with silicate fragments set among abundant iron-nickel metal. Published descriptions note rounded to angular silicate fragments hosted by metal grains, with the metal-rich texture closely resembling Bencubbin. Natural pieces may show rusty exteriors with patches of fusion crust, while prepared fragments can reveal the striking contrast between bright metal and darker silicate material.

 

Studying Grapevine Mesa provides valuable insight into metal-rich Carbonaceous material and high-energy processes in the early solar system. Its rare CBa classification, limited recovered mass, and American provenance make it especially desirable for specialist Chondrite and USA meteorite collections. Each specimen represents an unusual metal-rich pathway of early solar system material formation.

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