Daule Stone Meteorite
Find / Fall: Fell 23 March 2008
Location: Guayas, Ecuador
Classification: Ordinary chondrite (L5)
Total Known Weight: 6.58 kg.
The Daule stone meteorite fell on March 23, 2008, near the town of Daule in the Guayas Province of Ecuador. Residents across the region reported hearing a series of loud, thunder-like detonations before witnessing stones descending from the sky. This event was particularly significant as it marked the first officially recorded and classified meteorite fall in Ecuador’s history, with stones recovered shortly after impact, including one that landed in a local rice field.
Classified as an L5 ordinary chondrite, Daule specimens typically exhibit a fresh, matte-black to dark brownish fusion crust. The interior reveals a light grey matrix populated with clearly defined chondrules and scattered flakes of reflective nickel-iron metal. Some fragments show evidence of shock veins from its journey through space, and while fresh pieces are pristine, they can show minor weathering if left in the humid coastal environment of Ecuador before recovery.
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