Erg Chech 002 (EC 002) is an ancient andesite meteorite discovered in the Erg Chech region of the Sahara Desert in Algeria. It is believed to be a fragment of a chondritic protoplanet that is over 4.566 billion years old, and is believed to be the oldest known volcanic rock on Earth.[2][3][4] It is held at the Maine Mineral and Gem Museum.[5]

Erg Chech 002
Erg Chech 002 End Cut Faces
TypeUngrouped achondrite[1]
Shock stageLow
Weathering gradeLow
CountryAlgeria
Coordinates26°01′55″N 1°36′40″W / 26.032°N 1.611°W / 26.032; -1.611[1]
Observed fallNo
Found dateMay 2020[1]
TKW31.78[1]
Alternative namesEC 002
Related media on Wikimedia Commons

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d "Erg Chech 002". The Meteoritical Society. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  2. ^ Barrat, Jean-Alix; Chaussidon, Marc; Yamaguchi, Akira; Beck, Pierre; Villeneuve, Johan; Byrne, David J.; Broadley, Michael W.; Marty, Bernard (2021-03-16). "A 4,566-My-old andesite from an extinct chondritic protoplanet". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 118 (11): e2026129118. arXiv:2105.01911. Bibcode:2021PNAS..11820261B. doi:10.1073/pnas.2026129118. ISSN 0027-8424. PMC 7980472. PMID 33836612.
  3. ^ Beltran, Isabella (2021-03-08). "Erg Chech 002: 4.6 Billion Year Old Meteorite Shed Light on the Evolution of the Solar System". Science Times. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
  4. ^ Crane, Leah (8 March 2021). "4.6-billion-year-old meteorite is the oldest volcanic rock ever found". New Scientist.
  5. ^ Weisberger, Mindy (2021-03-08). "4.6-billion-year-old meteorite belongs to Earth's long-lost baby cousin". livescience.com. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
edit