Ragland - An LL3.4 chondrite find from New Mexico
The Ragland, New Mexico, chondrite was found in 1978. It consists of a single stone of 12.16 kg that broke into three pieces. The stone is moderately weathered and has a pronounced chondritic texture. Bulk composition favors an LL classification, and modal analysis and oxygen isotopic composition are consistent with this. The thermoluminescence sensitivity of 0.056 + or - 0.020 normalized to Dhajala, compositional variability of olivine (mean Fa 18.3, sigma = 10.1) and low-Ca pyroxene (mean Fs 14.6, sigma = 6.7), and Ca concentrations in olivine indicate metamorphic subtype 3.4 + or - 0.1. The isotopically heavy oxygen composition, which is characteristic of subtypes 3.0-3.1, may be a primary characteristic and not a result of weathering. Low concentrations of radiogenic Ar-40 and planetary Ar-36 suggest noble gas loss.