SKU: 41989605877

NWA 17496 L3 Chondrite Meteorite End Cut, 21.75g, Riker Display Case, Primitive Unequilibrated

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Description

NWA 17496 L3 Chondrite Meteorite End Cut, 21.75g, Riker Display Case, Primitive UnequilibratedPrimitive solar system material in display ready format This 21. 75g polished end cut from NWA 17496 exposes the internal architecture of an L3 ordinary chondrite recovered from Algeria in 2024. The polished surface reveals well preserved chondrules suspended in a fine grained matrix, documenting conditions in the early solar nebula before planetary differentiation began. The end cut geometry provides a cross sectional view through the meteorite's

Primitive solar system material in display-ready format

This 21.75g polished end cut from NWA 17496 exposes the internal architecture of an L3 ordinary chondrite recovered from Algeria in 2024. The polished surface reveals well-preserved chondrules suspended in a fine-grained matrix, documenting conditions in the early solar nebula before planetary differentiation began. The end cut geometry provides a cross-sectional view through the meteorite's structure while preserving the natural exterior along the specimen's edges.

The included riker display case positions this specimen for immediate presentation without requiring additional mounting hardware. The shallow case depth and transparent cover protect the polished surface while maintaining visual access to the chondrule distribution and matrix textures that characterize primitive chondritic material.

Chondrule preservation and matrix structure

The polished face displays individual chondrules ranging from sub-millimeter to several millimeters in diameter, each representing a discrete melting event in the solar nebula 4.567 billion years ago. The Type 3 classification confirms these spherules retain their original compositions and boundaries without the thermal metamorphism that would homogenize their chemistry in higher petrologic types.

The matrix surrounding the chondrules consists of fine-grained silicate minerals, metal grains, and sulfides that accreted in the cooler regions of the protoplanetary disk. This unequilibrated texture preserves chemical and mineralogical gradients that were erased in more thermally processed meteorites, making L3 chondrites valuable records of nebular conditions before parent body assembly.

Scientific context

L chondrites formed in the asteroid belt from material that accreted before planets completed their growth. The "L" designation indicates low total iron content (19-22% by mass) compared to H and LL chondrite groups, reflecting formation in a region of the nebula with reduced metal abundance. Type 3 specimens like NWA 17496 experienced minimal heating after accretion, preserving original textures that were destroyed in chondrites that underwent parent body metamorphism.

The preservation of distinct chondrules and unequilibrated mineral compositions makes Type 3 chondrites critical for understanding nebular processes. These specimens retain isotopic and chemical heterogeneities present in the earliest solid materials, providing constraints on the temperature, pressure, and timescales of dust aggregation in the protoplanetary disk. Learn About Meteorites for additional context on chondrite formation and classification.

Frequently asked questions

Is this meteorite authenticated? NWA 17496 is classified in the Meteoritical Bulletin as an L3 ordinary chondrite. You can verify this classification through the Meteoritical Bulletin database. This specimen includes a certificate of authenticity documenting its classification and provenance.

What does "unequilibrated" mean for Type 3 chondrites? Unequilibrated indicates the meteorite never experienced temperatures high enough to homogenize the chemical compositions of its minerals. Individual chondrules retain distinct compositions, and olivine grains show variable iron-magnesium ratios rather than the uniform chemistry seen in equilibrated (Type 4-6) chondrites. This preservation of original chemical gradients makes Type 3 specimens valuable for studying nebular conditions.

What is included with this specimen? You receive the 21.75g polished end cut presented in a protective riker display case and a certificate of authenticity confirming the classification and specimen details.

How does the L group differ from H and LL chondrites? The L (low iron) group contains 19-22% total iron by mass, intermediate between the H (high iron, 25-31%) and LL (low iron, low metal, 10-19%) groups. This iron content reflects the oxidation state and metal abundance in the nebular region where L chondrite parent bodies formed, approximately 2.8 AU from the sun based on orbital mechanics of recovered L chondrite falls.

Display-ready specimen for collectors and educators

The polished end cut format optimizes visibility of internal structures while the riker case provides immediate display capability without additional preparation. The 21.75g mass represents a size that clearly shows chondrule distribution and matrix textures without requiring magnification for initial examination, though detailed inspection reveals additional fine-scale features.

Type 3 chondrites occupy a specific position in collections focused on primitive materials or systematic representations of chondrite petrologic types. The unequilibrated nature of this specimen contrasts with the metamorphosed textures of higher-type ordinary chondrites, illustrating the range of thermal histories experienced by asteroidal parent bodies. Browse additional primitive specimens in our Chondrites collection.

Meteoritical Bulletin entry: NWA 17496 | Classification: L3 Ordinary Chondrite | Find, Algeria, 2024

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SKU: 41989605877

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Amazon Customer
Chelsea, US
★★★★★ 5
My dogs favorite toy EVER
Color: Crinkle Chicken (Brown), Size: Large
I have a Belgian Malinois who loves any and every toy, but this one is definitely her favorite. She will walk around the house constantly carrying it in her mouth, which is honestly adorable to watch. The squeakers only lasted a couple of months, but I don’t really consider that a downside—I’m kind of grateful they didn’t last forever given how much she plays with it. It still remains one of her most-loved toys even without them. My only word of caution is that if you work from home, this toy makes a lot of crinkling noise. And I mean A LOT. It’s great for keeping the dog entertained, but it can definitely get a little frustrating for humans trying to focus or take calls. Overall, it’s been a big hit in our house and easily one of her favorite toys.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2026
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Amazon Customer
Birmingham, US
★★★★★ 5
Super cute
Color: Bunny (Mauve), Size: Small
Super cute and fuzzy. Definitely perfect size for a puppy and not too loud. The fur is very soft and the nose is sown on not a hard piece that can be chewed on. Very good quality too.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2026
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Buyer
Los Angeles, US
★★★★★ 4
Normally amazing
Color: Spiky Ball (Blue, Orange), Size: Medium
We have purchased these slightly spiky dog balls several times for our very strong jaw heavy chewer dogs and they’ve been amazing. They don’t break down they don’t get torn apart the squeakers don’t even pop out of them. So we ordered another package because we’ve lost a few outside to the lawnmower… oops and the package that got delivered today had only one ball that squeaks and the other does not. THIS IS A PROBLEM ! Unfortunately my female dog got to the new squeaking ball first and my male got to the non-squeaking ball and he was NOT happy. Basically once they claim a ball it’s theirs and the other dogs don’t go near the ball they claimed. So he’s following my female around and every time she squeaks the ball and I’m just waiting for him to attempt to take it from her causing damage to her. Normally… These are amazingly fun, tough, durable but also squeaking balls (that’s rare in a tough ball) that my dogs absolutely love. This time just got a bad batch I guess. When they squeak the dogs LOVE them. After several months of play the squeaker might break inside of the ball but the ball never comes apart or gets damaged. And we as the owners love that they don’t break down are not able to be ripped or torn even by our very strong jawed and big jaw muscle dogs. They are also great for in the house play because they’re small enough that they fit completely inside our dog‘s mouth but obviously not small enough to get swallowed so when we throw them in the house for fetch the dogs can jump up and catch them fully in their mouth so they don’t cause any damage to the walls when they hit the walls. They’re not super heavy but they’re incredibly durable. Definitely worth the price especially if you have heavy chewers or big jaw muscle dogs.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2026
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MADDY
Battle Creek, US
★★★★★ 5
Best fun indestructible toy
Color: Crinkle Duck (Yellow), Size: Large
Truly indestructible no matter how much our oittie tries. She has owned it for three months works at destroying every day with no success. She carries it everywhere. Best purchase for chewer, more fun than the popular rubber heavy duty toy. Do not hesitate your pup will thank you for this fun distraction.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2026
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peter contino
Dallas, US
★★★★★ 5
My dog loves this toy!
Color: Bunny (Gray), Size: Large, Color: Bunny (Gray), Size: Large
High quality, big toy, perfect for a medium to large size dog. After a few months of serious chewing I had to buy another one, but well worth the money! Rocky loves it.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2026

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