Mokoia

Mokoia is classified as a CV3 carbonaceous chondrite, which is a very primitive type of stony meteorite. It is highly regarded by scientists and serves as a key reference sample for the oxidized subgroup of CV chondrites. This group is famous for containing some of the oldest materials in the solar system.

The Mokoia meteorite fell in New Zealand in 1908. Because it was a witnessed fall, researchers were able to recover meteoritic material before it was heavily contaminated by Earth's environment. It remains one of the most significant meteorite recoveries in the region's history.

As an oxidized CV3 carbonaceous chondrite, Mokoia contains complex organic compounds and presolar grains that date back to the formation of the solar system. Studying its composition helps scientists understand the early building blocks of planets. It also contains famous calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions (CAIs).

Carbonaceous chondrites like Mokoia typically have a dark, blackened crust and a fragile, matrix-rich interior. They are visually distinct because they contain abundant small, spherical silicate structures known as chondrules. Collectors and researchers value them for their distinct, primitive texture.