Eucrite

Eucrite
— Group —
Stannern eucrite, found in the Czech Republic.
Compositional type	Stony
Type	Achondrite
Class	Asteroidal achondrite
Clan	HED meteorite
Subgroups	Non-cumulate eucrites Main series eucrites Stannern trend eucrites Nuevo Laredo trend eucrites Cumulate eucrites Polymict eucrites
Parent body	4 Vesta and others
Composition	Basaltic rock, mostly Calcium-poor pyroxene, pigeonite, and Calcium-rich plagioclase (anorthite)
Total known specimens	>100
GRA98033 a brecciated eucrite about 5 cm across, found in the Graves Nunataks region of Antarctica.

Eucrites are achondritic stony meteorites, many of which originate from the surface of the asteroid 4 Vesta and as such are part of the HED meteorite clan. They are the most common achondrite group with well over 100 distinct finds at present.

Eucrites consist of basaltic rock from the crust of 4 Vesta or a similar parent body. They are mostly composed of Ca-poor pyroxene, pigeonite, and Ca-rich plagioclase (anorthite).

Based on differences of chemical composition and features of the component crystals, they are subdivided into several groups:

Eucrites get their name from the Greek word eukritos meaning "easily distinguished". This refers to the silicate minerals in them, which can be easily distinguished because of their relatively large grain size.

Eucrite is also a now obsolete term for bytownite-gabbro, an igneous rock formed in the Earth's crust. The term was used as a rock type name for some of the Paleogene igneous rocks of Scotland.