Lunar Meteorite: Northwest Africa 16277

Photomicrograph of a thin section of NWA 16277 showing schlieren. Image credit: Ansgar Greshake
Backscattered electron image of NWA 16277 showing schlieren and vesicles. Image credit: Ansgar Greshake

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 112

Northwest Africa 16277 (NWA 16277)

(Northwestern Africa)
Purchased:  2023 September
Mass: 2031 g (1 piece)

Lunar meteorite (melt breccia)

History: The meteorite was purportedly found January 2022 in northern Mauritania, purchased February 18, 2023, by a Moroccan meteorite dealer in Tucson and finally acquired by the main mass holder.

Physical Characteristics: Dark-grayish rock lacking fusion crust.

Petrography: (A. Greshake, MNB) The meteorite is a melt breccia composed of rare up to 1.5 cm sized mostly angular anorthositic clasts and sparse up to 700 µm sized mineral clasts in abundant melt rock matrix showing pronounced schlieren and vesicles. Dominant minerals are anorthite, olivine, and Ca-pyroxene. Minor phases include ilmenite, chromite, and troilite. Contains secondary calcite and barite.

Geochemistry: olivine: Fa36.0±0.3 (Fa35.5-36.5, FeO/MnO=86±6, n=7); Ca-pyroxene: Fs16.5±1.6Wo38.1±3.2 (Fs15.2-19.5Wo31.7-41.3, FeO/MnO=43±5, n=6); anorthite: (An97.4±0.5, n=8).

Classification: Lunar (melt breccia).

Specimens: 23.1 g at MNB; main mass with Moritz Karl.

Randy Says…

I have not studied Northwest Africa 16277.

More Information

Meteoritical Bulletin Database

NWA 16277

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