The Winchcombe meteorite, a unique and pristine witness from the outer solar system
Authors: King Ashley J. , Daly Luke , Rowe James , Joy Katherine H. , Greenwood Richard C. , Devillepoix Hadrien A. R. , Suttle Martin D. , Chan Queenie H. S. , Russell Sara S. , Bates Helena C. , Bryson James F. J. , Clay Patricia L. , Vida Denis , Lee Martin R. , O’Brien Áine , Hallis Lydia J. , Stephen Natasha R. , Tartèse Romain , Sansom Eleanor K. , Towner Martin C. , Cupak Martin , Shober Patrick M. , Bland Phil A. , Findlay Ross , Franchi Ian A. , Verchovsky Alexander B. , Abernethy Feargus A. J. , Grady Monica M. , Floyd Cameron J. , Van Ginneken Matthias , Bridges John , Hicks Leon J. , Jones Rhian H. , Mitchell Jennifer T. , Genge Matthew J. , Jenkins Laura , Martin Pierre-Etienne , Sephton Mark A. , Watson Jonathan S. , Salge Tobias , Shirley Katherine A. , Curtis Rowan J. , Warren Tristram J. , Bowles Neil E. , Stuart Finlay M. , Di Nicola Luigia , Györe Domokos , Boyce Adrian J. , Shaw Kathryn M. M. , Elliott Tim , Steele Robert C. J. , Povinec Pavel , Laubenstein Matthias , Sanderson David , Cresswell Alan , Jull Anthony J. T. , Sýkora Ivan , Sridhar Sanjana , Harrison Richard J. , Willcocks Francesca M. , Harrison Catherine S. , Hallatt Daniel , Wozniakiewicz Penny J. , Burchell Mark J. , Alesbrook Luke S. , Dignam Aishling , Almeida Natasha V. , Smith Caroline L. , Clark Brett , Humphreys-Williams Emma R. , Schofield Paul F. , Cornwell Luke T. , Spathis Vassilia , Morgan Geraint H. , Perkins Mark J. , Kacerek Richard , Campbell-Burns Peter , Colas Francois , Zanda Brigitte , Vernazza Pierre , Bouley Sylvain , Jeanne Simon , Hankey Mike , Collins Gareth S. , Young John S. , Shaw Clive , Horak Jana , Jones Dave , James Nick , Bosley Steve , Shuttleworth Alan , Dickinson Paul , McMullan Ian , Robson Derek , Smedley Andrew R. D. , Stanley Ben , Bassom Richard , McIntyre Mark , Suttle Adam A. , Fleet Richard , Bastiaens Luc , Ihász Míra B. , McMullan Sarah , Boazman Sarah J. , Dickeson Zach I. , Grindrod Peter M. , Pickersgill Annemarie E. , Weir Colin J. , Suttle Fiona M. , Farrelly Sarah , Spencer Ieun , Naqvi Sheeraz , Mayne Ben , Skilton Dan , Kirk Dan , Mounsey Ann , Mounsey Sally E. , Mounsey Sarah , Godfrey Pamela , Bond Lachlan , Bond Victoria , Wilcock Cathryn , Wilcock Hannah , Wilcock Rob 
Published: November 2022

Direct links between carbonaceous chondrites and their parent bodies in the solar system are rare. The Winchcombe meteorite is the most accurately recorded carbonaceous chondrite fall. Its pre-atmospheric orbit and cosmic-ray exposure age confirm that it arrived on Earth shortly after ejection from a primitive asteroid. Recovered only hours after falling, the composition of the Winchcombe meteorite is largely unmodified by the terrestrial environment. It contains abundant hydrated silicates formed during fluid-rock reactions, and carbon- and nitrogen-bearing organic matter including soluble protein amino acids. The near-pristine hydrogen isotopic composition of the Winchcombe meteorite is comparable to the terrestrial hydrosphere, providing further evidence that volatile-rich carbonaceous asteroids played an important role in the origin of Earth’s water.