Hassi Khebi 001 - C3 Carbonaceous Chondrite

Hassi Khebi 001 is a rare Ungrouped C3 Carbonaceous Chondrite found near Hassi Khebi in Tindouf Province, Algeria, and purchased in 2022. Its classification as C3-ung places it among primitive Carbonaceous Chondrites that preserve early solar system material, while also indicating that it does not fit neatly into established Carbonaceous groups. This makes Hassi Khebi 001 especially interesting for understanding the diversity of primitive asteroid material and the limits of current meteorite classification.

Hassi Khebi 001 specimens typically show a dark matrix with well-preserved chondrules, reflecting its type 3 status and relatively low degree of thermal metamorphism. Some material also contains calcium-aluminium-rich inclusions, known as CAIs, which are among the oldest solid materials formed in the solar system. This combination of primitive texture, Carbonaceous chemistry, and ungrouped status gives it strong scientific and visual interest.

Studying Hassi Khebi 001 provides valuable insight into early solar system processes, including the formation of chondrules, CAIs, and primitive dust-rich material. For collectors, it offers a scarce and distinctive Carbonaceous Chondrite with an unusual classification and recent recovery history. Each specimen represents ancient asteroid material formed over 4.5 billion years ago, preserving a record of the earliest stages of planetary formation.