Meteorites from Botswana

Abstract

In 1999, the first meteorites from Botswana were recovered. Most samples (seven) were purchased from natives in the small village of Kuke. We suggest that these samples were found close to Kuke in the Kalahari desert. As reported by the finder, the other four samples were recovered during geological field work in various areas of Botswana in April (Mabe), September (Kalahari 008 and 009), and November 1999 (Matisama). Kalahari 008 and Kalahari 009 were found close to the small village of Kuke and are chemically and petrographically different lunar rocks. However, we suggest that both samples represent distinct lithologies of one meteoroid and that the lunar sample broke apart at the find site. The other nine samples are H-group ordinary chondrites. Based on different petrologic types, the degrees of shock metamorphism and weathering pairing of most samples can be ruled out. We conclude that only Kalahari 004 and Kalahari 005 are paired.