Chergach

Chergach^[1] is a meteorite found at southwest of El Mokhtar, Erg Chech, Timbuktu district, Mali. It fell on 2 or 3 July 2007, in daytime, and was composed of ordinary chondrite (H5).

Chergach
Chergach, 601 grams
Type	Chondrite
Structural classification	impact melt breccia
Class	Ordinary chondrite
Group	H5
Composition	Olivine Fa18.2, pyroxene Fs15.5 Wo1.2
Shock stage	S3
Weathering grade	W0
Country	Mali
Region	Timbuktu district
Coordinates	23°41′47″N 5°00′53″W[1]
Observed fall	Yes
Fall date	2 or 3 July 2007, daytime
TKW	100 kg[1]
Strewn field	Yes

History

During 2007 fall and winter about 100 kilograms (220 lb) of meteorites were collected in the Erg Chech, north of Taoudenni.^[2] Desert nomads reported that during daytime in July 2007 several detonations were heard over a wide area, a smoke cloud was seen and several stones fell from the sky, however no fireball was reported. Ouled Bleila was the finder of the first meteorites, but he died in October 2007 in a car accident on his way back from the trip to the Chergach strewn field. According to the Tuareg people, the elliptical strewn field stretches for more than 20 kilometres (12 mi).^[2]

See also

• Glossary of meteoritics