The Braunschweig meteorite − a recent L6 chondrite fall in Germany

On April 23rd 2013 at 2:07a.m., a 1.3kg meteorite fell in the Braunschweig suburb Melverode (52° 13′ 32.19″ N. 10° 31′ 11.60″ E). Its estimated velocity was 250km/h and it formed an impact pit in the concrete fall site with a diameter of 7cm and a depth of 3cm. Radial dust striae are present around the impact pit. As a result of the impact, the meteorite disintegrated into several hundred fragments with masses up to 214g. The meteorite is a typical L6 chondrite, moderately shocked (S4) – but with a remarkably high porosity (up to 20vol%). The meteorite was ejected from its parent body as an object with a radius of about 10–15cm (15–50kg). The U,Th-He gas retention age of ∼550 Ma overlaps with the main impact event on the L-chondrite parent body ∼470 Ma ago that is recorded by many shocked L chondrites. The preferred cosmic-ray exposure age derived from production of radionuclides and noble gas isotopes is (6.0±1.3) Ma.