Meteorite Djoua 001
In February and March 2021, a meteorite was found in the Illizi region of Algeria, attracting the attention of the scientific community. This meteorite, known as Djoua 001, proved to be not only an exceptional find, but also a key to new questions about the origin of some of the bodies in our solar system.
Djoua 001 is a meteorite classified as an aubrite, a type of achondrite. Achondrites are meteorites that do not contain stone spheres (chondrules), which is typical of most meteoric bodies. Aubrite is even more exceptional, however, because its composition and structure suggest that it comes from planetary bodies that experience extreme conditions. Djoua 001 could therefore come from the planet Mercury, a theory that scientists cannot yet confirm but which is very likely.
What does the meteorite Djoua 001 look like ?
The Djoua 001 meteorite catches the eye at first sight with its light grey to beige colour, which is typical of aubrites. The exterior of the meteorite is covered with a black layer that may be the remnants of a fusion crust - a thin layer formed when meteorites pass through the atmosphere and their surface is heated to high temperatures and melted. In Djoua 001, this layer is visible in several places, indicating that the meteorite passed through the atmosphere at high speed.
Inside the meteorite there is a marble texture, with alternating beige and grey tones. This appearance is interrupted by darker and rust-coloured patches, which are probably the result of chemical reactions during the meteorite's long stay in space. Some pieces of the meteorite show the presence of very small metallic grains, which is quite rare in a meteorite, indicating the presence of nickel metal.
Composition and origin
Aubrite, such as Djoua 001, consists mainly of large white crystals of orthopyroxene, specifically enstatite, which is poor in iron and rich in magnesium. This mineral is formed under the high temperature and pressure conditions that prevail in the inner parts of planets such as Mercury. In addition to enstatite, the meteorite also contains minor amounts of olivine, nickel metal and troilite, a mineral that is characteristic of meteorites formed under extreme magmatic conditions.
Although the origins of aubrites, and therefore of Djoua 001, are not entirely clear, there is a strong theory that it could have come from the planet Mercury. This hypothesis is supported not only by the composition of the meteorite, but also by the fact that two probes are targeting this planet, which are due to arrive on Mercury in 2025 and bring us more information about its geology and history. If this theory is confirmed, it would mean that Djoua 001 is one of the most interesting meteors ever found on Earth.
Djoua 001 is therefore not only a fascinating meteorite, but also a key to further research and understanding of the universe. This find shows how little we know about the planets in our solar system and the exciting challenges that lie ahead in exploring their history and origins.