NWA 17708 Howardite Meteorite Part Slice, Achondrite, 6.15g, Partial Fusion Crust
SKU: 79991163825

NWA 17708 Howardite Meteorite Part Slice, Achondrite, 6.15g, Partial Fusion Crust

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Description

NWA 17708 Howardite Meteorite Part Slice, Achondrite, 6.15g, Partial Fusion CrustSanded howardite slice with partial fusion crust coverage This 6. 15g part slice of NWA 17708 preserves approximately 50% fusion crust coverage along its edge surfaces, offering direct visual evidence of atmospheric entry heating. The single sanded face reveals brecciated internal structure characteristic of howardites, while the untouched exterior maintains its ablation texture. The fusion crust's preservation at this percentage is significant for a

Sanded howardite slice with partial fusion crust coverage

This 6.15g part slice of NWA 17708 preserves approximately 50% fusion crust coverage along its edge surfaces, offering direct visual evidence of atmospheric entry heating. The single sanded face reveals brecciated internal structure characteristic of howardites, while the untouched exterior maintains its ablation texture. The fusion crust's preservation at this percentage is significant for a slice, as most cutting removes all atmospheric heating traces. This specimen provides both surface ablation features and interior breccia texture in a single piece.

NWA 17708 was recovered in Mali in 2024 and classified as a howardite, placing it within the HED (Howardite-Eucrite-Diogenite) achondrite group. The specimen's fresh condition indicates minimal terrestrial weathering since recovery. The sanded face allows examination of clast distribution and matrix composition, while the fusion crust sections document the meteorite's descent through Earth's atmosphere.

Brecciation and surface features

The sanded face exposes a heterogeneous breccia containing clasts of varying composition embedded in a fine-grained matrix. These clasts represent different rock types mixed by impact processes on the parent body surface. The contrast between lighter eucritic material and darker diogenitic components creates visible textural variation across the slice. This mixing pattern distinguishes howardites from the more uniform eucrites and diogenites.

The preserved fusion crust displays the glassy, blackened texture formed when atmospheric friction melted the meteorite's surface during entry. This ablation coating formed at temperatures exceeding 1600°C as the stone decelerated from cosmic velocities. The crust's thickness and distribution pattern reflect the orientation and tumbling behavior of the fragment during atmospheric passage. The boundary between fusion crust and interior material marks the depth of heating penetration.

Scientific context

Howardites formed on asteroid 4 Vesta through impact gardening processes that mixed eucritic basalts and diogenitic orthopyroxenites across the surface regolith. These impacts excavated material from different crustal depths and combined them into polymict breccias. NASA's Dawn spacecraft confirmed Vesta as the HED parent body through spectroscopic matching and crater analysis between 2011 and 2012. Vesta is the only definitively identified asteroid source for meteorite groups, making howardites among the few meteorites with spacecraft-confirmed origins.

The brecciated texture records billions of years of impact bombardment on Vesta's surface. Each impact event fragmented and mixed existing rock types, creating the complex assemblages seen in howardites. This process parallels lunar regolith formation, offering insights into surface evolution on airless bodies. Learn About Meteorites to understand how impact processes shape planetary surfaces throughout the solar system.

Frequently asked questions

Is this meteorite authenticated? NWA 17708 is classified as a howardite in the Meteoritical Bulletin Database. You can verify this classification at: Meteoritical Bulletin NWA 17708 entry. The specimen includes a certificate of authenticity from Treasure Coast Meteorite Co. documenting its classification, weight, and provenance.

What does howardite mean? Howardites are polymict breccias composed of mixed eucritic and diogenitic material from asteroid Vesta. The name refers to impact-generated mixtures that combine basaltic eucrite and orthopyroxenite diogenite fragments. These breccias formed in Vesta's regolith through billions of years of meteorite impacts that excavated and combined different crustal lithologies.

What is included with this specimen? This listing includes the 6.15g NWA 17708 part slice, certificate of authenticity, specimen information card, and protective gembox display case. The slice measures sufficient size to display both fusion crust and interior brecciation features clearly.

Why is the fusion crust important? Fusion crust proves atmospheric entry and distinguishes meteorites from terrestrial rocks. On a slice, fusion crust preservation is uncommon because cutting typically removes all surface material. This specimen's 50% crust coverage allows study of both the ablation surface formed during entry and the internal structure revealed by cutting.

Can I see the different rock types in the breccia? The sanded face reveals clast and matrix variations representing different lithologies mixed by impact. While the individual mineralogy requires magnification or thin section analysis to fully characterize, the textural heterogeneity is visible to the naked eye as variations in grain size and tone across the slice surface.

Accessible Vesta material for HED collectors

This 6.15g slice provides entry-level access to confirmed Vesta material at $45.00. The combination of preserved fusion crust and exposed interior structure offers more observational value than many slices at this price point. For collectors building HED suites, howardites represent the regolith component alongside the crustal eucrites and mantle diogenites. The specimen's size accommodates standard display cases while remaining affordable for educational collections.

NWA 17708's 2024 classification makes this among the most recently studied howardites available to collectors. The fresh find status and minimal weathering preserve original textures without desert oxidation effects common in older Saharan finds. Browse additional specimens from the same parent body in our Howardites collection, or explore the complete range of Vesta meteorites in our HED Meteorites section.

Meteoritical Bulletin entry: NWA 17708 | Classification: Howardite | Find, Mali, 2024

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SKU: 79991163825

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Lisa B.
Fort Morgan, US
★★★★★ 5
OUTSTANDING
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This was very, very good. The world is vast and characters are complex. There is a good plot with a whole lot going on. This is well written. Good twists and turns and some heart breaking moments. You will love these characters, they have heart and loyalty. I am hoping that there will be several more books. We've yet to see anything from the Sea Court but only a mention of them here and there. The Wood Court was given a quick couple of scenes, and only as far as some warriors, we've yet to enter their court and the Shadow Court, I'm not sure if they will be a force for good or bad, but they definitely will play a much bigger role moving forward. This is primarily the Ice and Air Courts. Told in multiple views, which I loved, it gives you a chance to see things from different eyes. There's alot of political maneuvering and deception. I loved it and will pick up the next book as it becomes available. If you like The Fae and the courts, you should love this. I think the author has mucn in store for us.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2020
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Jessika
New York, US
★★★★★ 4
Definitely worth the read!
Format: Kindle
After taking a deep breath and taking in that wicked twist of an ending, I have finally composed myself. My first thought when I started this book was that I love Reyna's character. I was intrigued by her connection with her familiar and the Ruin that is plaguing her land. It came as no surprise that she took her sister's place in an attempt to protect her. When they reach the Air Court everything slows down. This is where it was iffy for me. First of all, I like multiple POV's in books however 7 is a bit much. It starts to interrupt the story line. I felt like I was finally making progress connecting with one character, then it was switched to another person. I felt they all had necessary or pertinent information but not necessarily were they all POV worthy. The only other thing that annoyed me was that Reyna constantly was " trapped." She would rush off without thinking, only to need rescuing. She is brilliant in a fight, but she really doesn't think through anything. Lorcan is amazing. I know he might be on the "bad" list, but his background is so interesting. Eislyn(Reyna's sister) is really so sweet, but calculating. I enjoyed her and Thane's dialogue. The author did an amazing job with the imagery in this book. Everything was so detailed it was easy to fall into the scene. I love unexpected twists and while part of the ending I expected, I wasn't expecting how it took place. All in all, I found it very entertaining and I am very invested in continuing this series. Favorite quotes: "The truth may be twisted but never false." "Who was she if she was not the enemy of the Air Court? What was her purpose of she no longer has that?" "In a war-torn land, love was always a lie."
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Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2020
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KAB
Massapequa, US
★★★★★ 5
Great Read!!! Great story!!!
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Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2021
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Elisa
West Palm Beach, US
★★★★★ 3
Sadly, DNF
Format: Kindle
I read this thru KU. I LOVED the synopsis. And then I began reading... and it was a DNF at 68% after picking it up and putting it down several times because I really loved the main female character. *****SPOILERS***** Pros: The world is unique, intriguing and fun. The primary female character is bad-a** but not a b*tech or a mary sue. The primary female has depth. I really want to know what happens to her even tho it's been weeks and I don't remember her name. The villains to the point I read are pretty good -- an ever present threat of mysterious and possibly many culprits. Cons: Way, way too many points of view. I stopped counting at 7. It's the prime reason why I don't care about most of the characters or remember their names even when I like them. There's just too many points of view so almost none of the characters have enough book space for the author to properly develop them. This literally killed the book for me. Actually it killed my desire to read. For weeks. The main male is more villain than hero. He agreed to marry the main female then locks her up & eschews her for her sister, all while bad mouthing her as unfit to rule when he never spent any time with her getting to know her. He is actually unfit to rule as he is blind to the woes of his own kingdom and starts off a peace mission to secure a ceasefire through marriage by murdering an inn full of people in her country for no real reason. Plus, he constantly makes promises he does not keep. And it's gross of him to pine for the sister behind the main female's back. ***** As much as I really wanted to see what happened to the main female character, it wasn't enough for me to keep trying to slog thru this book. There was a lot of potential here that just fell short. Hence, 3 stars.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2021
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MaryBeth K
Birmingham, US
★★★★★ 5
Fae Courts with High Intrigue
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