El Hammami Meteorite Specimen Official H5 Chondrite Mauritania Meteorite Historic Desert Find

An authentic specimen of the officially classified El Hammami meteorite, a historic H5 ordinary chondrite discovered in Mauritania in 1997 and associated with one of the more fascinating recovery stories in modern Saharan meteorite history.

El Hammami became widely known among collectors after fresh meteorite material began appearing through North African nomad trading networks during the late 1990s. Subsequent field investigations traced the meteorites to the El Hammami Mountains region of Mauritania, where large fresh stones totaling hundreds of kilograms were ultimately recovered.

Officially classified in Meteoritical Bulletin 82, El Hammami is now recognized as the collective official name for material that had previously circulated under the unofficial names:

• Mhamid
• Hamada du Draa

Scientific analysis determined the various materials likely originated from the same meteorite fall event.

Official Classification

• Name: El Hammami
• Country: Mauritania
• Year Found: 1997
• Classification: Ordinary Chondrite (H5)
• Shock Stage: S2
• Total Known Weight: Approximately 240 kg
• Official Publication: Meteoritical Bulletin 82

Mineralogy

Scientific examination identified:

• Olivine Fa18.8–19.2
• Pyroxene Fs16.7–17.4
• Conspicuous metal-rich veins
• Relatively fresh preservation
• Petrologic type 5 characteristics

Why El Hammami Is Especially Desirable

• Fresh desert preservation
• Visible metal-rich veins
• Classic H-chondrite structure
• Historic North African recovery history
• Strong collector recognition

Specimen Features

Depending on preparation and specimen type, El Hammami material may display:

• Fusion crust remnants
• Bright metal grains
• Metal-rich shock veins
• Gray to tan matrix coloration
• Regmaglypts and atmospheric features

Specimen Details

• Size: 24 × 15 × 6 mm
• Weight: 4.7 g
• Provenance: Ex: Jensen; Ex: Farmer

Ideal For

• Ordinary chondrite collectors
• Saharan meteorite collectors
• H-chondrite enthusiasts
• Planetary science collections
• Museum and educational displays
• Historic North African meteorite collections

A genuine extraterrestrial artifact formed during the earliest stages of solar system history and preserved within the deserts of Mauritania for eventual recovery and scientific classification.

Condition

Please review all photos carefully for overall condition, weathering, fusion crust, oxidation, fractures, cut surfaces, and natural structural features, as they are considered part of the description. Meteorites are natural extraterrestrial objects and commonly display oxidation, weathering, and impact-related structural variation.