description Chassigny Overview
Chassigny is a Martian meteorite that fell near Chassigny, France, in 1815. It is composed predominantly of olivine-rich dunite and gives its name to the chassignites, a rare group within the SNC meteorites from Mars. Researchers study its minerals, isotopes, and trapped gases to investigate the Martian mantle, the crystallization of igneous rocks, and the geological history recorded by material ejected from the planet.
insights Ranking position
Chassigny ranks #25 of 213 in the Meteorite ranking, behind Willamette, ahead of Peekskill.
help Chassigny FAQ
Why is Chassigny important among Martian meteorites?
Chassigny is the meteorite after which the chassignite group is named. It fell in Haute-Marne, France, on October 3, 1815, making it an unusually old observed Martian fall.
What is Chassigny made of?
It is an olivine-dominated igneous rock called a dunite. That composition distinguishes chassignites from basaltic shergottites and clinopyroxene-rich nakhlites.
How was Chassigny linked to Mars?
Its noble gases, mineral chemistry, and relationship to other SNC meteorites support a Martian origin. The SNC label joins the type specimens Shergotty, Nakhla, and Chassigny.
Are there other chassignites besides Chassigny?
Yes, a very small number of other meteorites have been classified as chassignites or closely related olivine-rich Martian rocks. Chassigny remains the defining specimen and the source of the group's name.
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