The average hydrogen isotopic composition of water belonging to CCMs, D/H = (152.0 ± 4.8) × 10−6 (1c3;m), is similar to that of Antarctic micrometeorites (AMMs), D/H = (161.2 ± 3.8) × 10−6 (1c3;m). The similarity, in terms of mineralogy and hydrogen isotopic composition, between CCMs and AMMs demonstrates that the composition of the micrometeorites has not been modified over the whole history of the Solar System. It indicates that the composition of the micrometeorite flux onto Earth has been, and is, dominated by a mixture of CM2-like; magnetite-rich, olivine-poor; magnetite-rich, olivine-rich carbonaceous chondritic matter exemplified by CCMs found in howardites. Because CCMs have not suffered atmospheric entry, they provide an abundant source of pristine micrometeorites.
The average D/H ratio of the whole population of CCMs is identical within errors to that of the Earth (149 ± 3 × 10−6). The match between the CCMs D/H ratio and that of the Earth is especially remarkable because 1) three different populations of CCMs are needed to make the D/H ratio of the Earth; 2) there is no single carbonaceous chondrite group for which a similar match exists. This observation suggests that CCMs population might be representative of the late veneer agent(s) that delivered water to the Earth.