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Holyoke meteorite, Phillips County, Colorado, USAi

Regional Level Types
Holyoke meteorite	Meteorite Fall Location
Phillips County	County
Colorado	State
USA	Country

Ordinary chondrite, xenolithic (H4)
Found, 1935; 11.2 kg


In 1935 individual stones from the Holyoke chondrite and Phillips County pallasite were reported and obtained by Nininger after articles about meteorites had been published in the local Holyoke Enterprise. Two additional Holyoke stones were recovered over the next few years. Along with the expected chondrules, chondrule fragments, and matrix found in all ordinary chondrites, the meteorite is also characterized by an unusual carbonaceous chondrite inclusion. Olivine (Fa19) and Ca-poor pyroxene ('bronzite') compositions indicate an ordinary H chondrite. Several opaques — Fe-Ni metal, accessory chromite, copper and ilmenite — are also consistent with expectations. However, the graphite and primary magnetite and pyrrhotite within the carbonaceous inclusion add some mineralogical diversity to the overall mineral inventory. A 3.65 Ga U-He age and a 6.7 Ma cosmic ray exposure (CRE) age provide initial chronological markers to constrain the actual timing of the mineralogical record.

The H-group (relatively high in total iron) chondrites represent the largest group of ordinary chondrite finds — representing ~40% of well classified recovered meteorites. While a large number of the H4 subtype (n > 5000) have been recorded most of them are quite small. Holyoke's mass is well within the 2nd percentile for those meteorites classified exactly as an H4 ordinary chondrite at the Meteoritical Bulletin Database (37th most massive in mid-March 2017).

A large proportion of the 1st stone (1.5408 kg) is currently held at Arizona State University's Center for Meteorite Studies (Tempe).

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References

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