• Type: HED Achondrite / Howardite
• Location: Bechar, Algeria
• Weight: 4.9g
• Size: 2.2 x 1.5 x 0.9 cm
• Year of discovery: 2022
• Known total weight: 1700 g
• Surface treatment: none – Raw
• DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Bechar 008 Meteorite – Howardite Achondrite from Vesta asteroid The Bechar 008 meteorite is a howardite-type achondrite meteorite, discovered in 2022 in the Bechar region of Algeria. This meteorite belongs to the HED group (Howardites, Eucrites, and Diogenites), which is believed to be composed of fragments from the asteroid (4) Vesta, the second-largest object in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Bechar 008 is a polymict breccia, meaning it is composed of different fragments of minerals and rocks, particularly eucritic pyroxenes, diogenetic pyroxenes, garnets, and others. These fragments are embedded in a fine-grained matrix of similar material. The total mass of the meteorite is approximately 1700 grams. The meteorite shows a moderate degree of shock metamorphism and a low degree of alteration, indicating that it has not been exposed to Earth's atmospheric conditions for a long time. This meteorite is scientifically significant because it provides valuable information about the composition and geological history of asteroid 4 Vesta.