‘Rare, unique’: Diyodar meteorite in 2022 was India’s first aubrite in 170 years

• A recent analysis by a group of scientists at the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad, has revealed that two villages in Gujarat were hit by Aubrite meteorites.
• Two villages have been named the Diyodar meteorite, after the taluka in which the villages are located.
• This is only the second recorded crash of an aubrite in India. The last was on December 2, 1852, in Basti, Uttar Pradesh.

Aubrite meteorites

• Aubrite meteorites are coarse-grained igneous rocks that are formed in oxygen-poor conditions.
• They contain a variety of exotic minerals that are not found on Earth.
• The recently found aubrite meteorite in Gujarat is composed of orthopyroxene.

What are Pyroxenes?

• Pyroxenes are silicates consisting of single chains of silica tetrahedra (SiO4)
• Pyroxenes such as diopside and jadeite have been used as gems.
• Spodumene was historically used as lithium ore and rocks with pyroxene have also been used to make a crushed stone that is used in construction.