A type of meteorite. Approximately 5% of all known meteorites fall into this category. Carbonaceous chondrites are dark stony meteorites showing no evidence of differentiation or brecciation. They are also rich in carbon and water. These appear to be remnants of the early Solar System.
a rare type type of meterorite that is rich in organic material.
Stony meteorite containing chondrules and volatiles.
Meteorite with granules containing carbon-rich matter.
a class of meteorites that contain chondrules imbedded in a material with a large percentage (~4%) of carbon.
A type of meteorite that contains a lot of water and organic compounds.
A fragile class of meteorite containing organic compounds of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen. Bombardment by such bodies may have seeded Earth with the amino acids and other compounds necessary for the origin of life.
A rare type of meteorite containing water, and complex organic compounds. These may be fossils of our early solar system.
A meteorite having embedded pebble-sized granules which contain significant quantities of organic (carbon-rich) matter.
A carbonaceous chondrite or a C-type chondrite is a type of chondritic meteorite which contains high levels of water and organic compounds, representing only a small proportion (~5%) of known meteorites. Their bulk composition is mainly silicates, oxides and sulfides, while the minerals olivine and serpentine are characteristic. The presence of volatile organic chemicals and water indicates that they have not undergone significant heating (>200°C) since they formed, so their composition is considered to be representative of the solar nebula from which the solar system condensed.