Cumberland Falls (Aubrite)

13.8g crusted part slice

Cumberland Falls (Whitley County, Kentucky, USA) Aubrite (stone) - fell 9th April 1919:
Total known weight: 14kg

A SMALL SLICE OF THE METEOR, CUMBERLAND FALLS

"Several stones fell, the largest, which broke into fragments, estimated to weigh 31lb (14kg), after the appearance of a fireball and detonations" - A.M. Miller (1919).

Cumberland Falls has two different lithologies often not represented on small specimens and fragments - light coloured enstatite and dark black chondritic clasts with sharp boundaries against the light portion. The light portion represents a low temperature assemblage, while the dark chondritic clasts with partial and whole chondrules and bright metal flake has undergone a higher temperature event.
These chondritic clasts are unique to Cumberland Falls and ALH A78113 and represent a primitive chondrite suite whose properties were established during primary nebular accretion and condensation.

This partial slice of Cumberland Falls measures approximately 49x22x5mm and weighs 13.8g.
Several dark chondritic inclusions are evident in the pale matrix, containing chondrules and bright nickel iron flakes. The top edge of the slice is natural with some patches of light "muddy" brown fusion crust remaining.

                  PHOTO BY V. SCOGGIN

Another meteor impact area at Salt Lick Creek. Jackson Co. Tn.