The chondrites take their name from chondrules, the nearly spherical, silicate-rich particles they contain.  They are the most abundant type of stony meteorite, and contain some of the first objects to have formed in the Solar System, including calcium-aluminum-rich particles and chondrules.

Chondrites have never undergone melting.  Their chemistry is very primitive because they have had very few chemical interactions with other objects since their formation. 

The most common meteorites found on Earth, chondrites account for approximately 86% of all meteorites recovered.