The Golden meteorite fall: Fireball trajectory, orbit, and meteorite characterization

• DOI: 10.1111/maps.14100
• Publication Date: 2023-11-25T00:52:21Z
• Authors: P. G. Brown; P. J. A. McCausland; A. R. Hildebrand; L. T. J. Hanton; L. M. Eckart; H. Busemann; D. Krietsch; C. Maden; K. Welten; M. W. Caffee; M. Laubenstein; D. Vida; F. Ciceri; E. Silber; C. D. K. Herd; P. Hill; H. Devillepoix; Eleanor K. Sansom; Martin Cupák; Seamus Anderson; R. L. Flemming; A. J. Nelson; M. Mazur; D. E. Moser; W. J. Cooke; D. Hladiuk; Barbara Malečić; Maja Telišman Prt...; R. Nowell
• Keywords: Ordinary chondrite

Abstract The Golden (British Columbia, Canada) meteorite fall occurred on October 4, 2021 at 0534 UT with the first recovered fragment (1.3 kg) landing an occupied bed. associated fireball was recorded by numerous cameras permitting reconstruction of its trajectory and orbit. entered atmosphere a 54° angle from horizontal speed 18 km s −1 . reached peak brightness −14, having become luminous height >84 ending altitude. Analysis infrasonic record bolide produced estimated mass kg while modeling light curve suggests initial near 70 kg. experienced major flare 31 altitude where more than half lost in form dust gram‐sized fragments under dynamic pressure 3.3 MPa. strength fragmentation behavior were similar to those reported for other meteorite‐producing fireballs (Borovička et al., 2020). Seven days after occurred, additional 0.9 during second day dedicated searching guided dark flight calculations. Additional spring 2021–2022 located no fragments. is unbrecciated, low‐shock (S2) ordinary chondrite intermediate composition, typed as L/LL5 grain density ~3530 k gm −3 , average bulk 3150 m calculated porosity ~10%. From noble gas measurements, cosmic ray exposure age 25 ± 4 Ma retention ages are all >2 Ga. Short‐lived radionuclides measurements pre‐atmospheric size overlap estimates infrasound producing preferred 70–200 orbit has high inclination (23.5°) consistent delivery inner main belt. highest probability (60%) origin Hungaria group. We propose that may originate among background S‐type asteroids found interspersed region. current collection L/LL—chondrite orbits shows strong preference origins belt, suggesting multiple parent bodies be required explain diversity CRE shock states.