Title: The Machinga, Malawi, meteorite - A recent L6 fall Authors: Graham, A. L.; Crow, M. J.; Chatupa, J. C.; Mndala, A. T.
The Machinga meteorite fell in the Southern Province of Malawi on January 22, 1981, at approximately 1000 hours local time. The fall site is about 7.5 km SW. of Machinga and has the coordinates 15 deg 12 min 44 sec S, 35 deg 14 min 32 sec E. A single crusted mass weighing 93.2 kg was recovered. The Machinga meteorite is an L6 chondrite with olivine Fa(24.5) and orthopyroxene Fs(21.1). The silicates have a granular texture and the stone has been shocked.
Name: MACHINGA Place of fall: Close to Mlelemba village, about 7 km SW. of Machinga, Malawi. 15°12'44"S., 35°14'32"E. Date of fall: January 22, 1981, 1000 hrs. Class and type: Stone. Olivine-hypersthene chondrite (L6). Number of individual specimens: 1 Total weight: 93.2 kg Circumstances of fall: The flight of the stone was heard, but not seen, in Zomba and Malosa. The impact was heard and observed as a fountain of soil and grass. Source