Murchison Meteorite.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murchison_meteorite

The Murchison meteorite is named after Murchison, Victoria, in Australia. It is one of the most studied meteorites due to its large mass (>100 kg), the fact that it was an observed fall, and that it belongs to a group of meteorites rich inorganic compounds.

History

On 28 September 1969 at about 10:58 local time, near the town of Murchison, Victoria, in Australia, a bright fireballwas observed to separate into three fragments before disappearing,leaving a cloud of smoke. About 30 seconds later, a tremor was heard. Many fragments were found over an area larger than 13 km², with individual mass up to 7 kg; one, weighing 680 g, broke through a roof and fell in hay.^[1] The total collected mass exceeds 100 kg.

Classification and composition

The meteorite belongs to the CM group of carbonaceous chondrites . Like most CM chondrites, Murchison is petrologic type 2, which means that it experienced extensive alteration by water-rich fluids on its parent body before falling to Earth. CM chondrites, together with the CI group, are rich in carbon and are among the most chemically primitive meteorites.Like other CM chondrites, Murchison contains abundant CAIs. 

Over 15 amino acids (some of the basic components of life) have been identified in the meteorite. 

All the amino acids found in the Murchison meteorite have been synthesized in laboratory experiments by the action of electric discharge on a mixture of methane, nitrogen, and water with traces of ammonia.

A Murchison meteorite specimen at the National Museum of Natural History (Washington).