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| Aubrite | |
|---|---|
| — Group — | |
 Cumberland Falls, an aubrite | |
| Type | Achondrite |
| Class | Asteroidal achondrite orenstatiteachondrite |
| Parent body | Possibly(3103) Eger |
 Shallowater meteorite, an aubrite | |
Aubrites are a group ofmeteorites named for Aubres,[1] a small achondrite meteorite that fell in 1836 inAubres nearNyons,France. They are primarily composed of theorthopyroxeneenstatite and are often called enstatiteachondrites. Theirigneous origin separates them from primitive enstatite achondrites and means they originated in anasteroid.
Aubrites are typically light-colored with a brownish fusion crust. Most aubrites are heavily brecciated; they are often said to look "lunar" in origin.
Aubrites are primarily composed of large white crystals of the Fe-poor, Mg-rich orthopyroxene, or enstatite, with minor phases of olivine, nickel-iron metal, and troilite, indicating a magmatic formation under extremely reducing conditions. The severebrecciation of most aubrites attests to a violent history for their parent body. Since some aubrites contain chondritic xenoliths, it is likely that the aubrite parent body collided with an asteroid of "F-chondritic" composition.
Comparisons of aubrite spectra to the spectra of asteroids have revealed striking similarities between the aubrite group and theE-type asteroids of theNysa family. A smallnear-Earth object,3103 Eger, is also often suggested as the parent body of the aubrites.[2]
It has been suggested that aubrites may originate from the planetMercury.[1][3]
The aubrite2024 BX1 might on the other hand originate from theHungaria family.[4][5] Its spectrum shows similarities to(434) Hungaria. The composition is however different when compared to(44) Nysa and(64) Angelina, ruling out a linkage.[4] Its orbit orientation does not agree with 3103 Eger, which rules out Eger as a direct origin. The spectrum is also not meaningfully similar when compared to Mercury.[5]
