Lunar Meteorite: Jiddat al Harasis 838

Jiddat al Harasis 838 (JaH 838)

Al Wusta, Oman
Find: 2003 Feb 28
Mass: 34.36 g (1 piece)

Classification: Lunar meteorite

History: One stone of 34.36 g was discovered about 28 km south of Al Ghaftain on a desert expedition on Feb. 28, 2003.

Physical characteristics: (R. Bartoschewitz, Bart) The meteorite lacks an obvious fusion crust but has the frosted, ablated exterior typical of Omani lunar stones. The interior is black-gray with many white, brown, and gray inclusions. Terrestrial weathering is negligible.

Petrography: (R. Bartoschewitz, Bart; P. Appel, B. Mader, Kiel) Fragmental breccia composed of a variety of lithic clasts and mineral fragments of plagioclase, augite, pigeonite, poor-Ca pyroxene, and olivine set in a fine-grained matrix. Lithic clasts include anorthosite, fragmental breccia, gabbro, norite, basalt, pyroxenite, and regolith (chondritic and lunar metal; HASP spherule) set in a fine-grained dark gray matrix, and with Ni-iron, troilite, pyrrhotite, pentlandite, ilmenite, chromite, zirconolite, baddeleyite, and zircon.

Geochemistry:(R. Bartoschewitz, Bart., P. Appel and B. Mader, Kiel) Fa_39.7 (mg# = 74-53, Fe/Mn = 90, n=3); low-Ca pyroxene Fs₅₆Wo₃ (mg# = 51-32); pigeonite Fs₃₆Wo₁₁ (mg# = 36-58, n=13); subcalcic augite Fs₃₂Wo₁₇ (n=1); augite Fs₂₂Wo₃₃ (mg# = 52-44, n=7); ferro-augite Fs₄₁Wo₂₇ (mg# = 29-33, n=9; Fe/Mn = 55); An₉₃Or₁ (An_63-97, n=63). Kamacite Ni 5-76, Co 12-5 (mg/g, n=3); taenite Ni 192, Co 15 (mg/g); awaruite Ni 636, Co 18 (mg/g); pyrrhotite; troilite; pentlandite Ni 331, Co 11 (mg/g).

Bulk composition: (R. Korotev, WUSL): FeO 4.9, K₂O 0.3 wt%; Sc 8.99, Ni 229, Zr 138, La 9.8, Ce 24.5, Nd 14.9, Sm 4.43, Eu 0.986, Ta 0.447, Ir 0.0094, Au 0,0074, Th 2.3, U 0.64 (all in ppm).

Classification: Lunar (mingled regolith breccia). Classified as a mingled regolith breccia rather than a feldspathic fragmental breccia based as well on the presence of mare and KREEPy material as of HASP and chondritic metal.

Specimens: A total of 6.9 g is on deposit at Kiel. Thin section and 3.5 g at Bart. The main mass is held by the finder.

Randy Says…

JaH 838 is a moderately KREEP-rich feldspathic lunar meteorite. It is not paired with JaH 348.

More Information

Meteoritical Bulletin Database

Jiddat al Harasis 838

Map

Schematic Map of  Find Locations of  Lunar Meteorite from Oman

References

Korotev R. L. (2017) Update (2012–2017) on lunar meteorites from Oman. Meteoritics & Planetary Science 52, 1251-1256.

All Korotev data on Omani lunar meteorites.

Korotev R. L. and Irving A. J. (2016) Not quite keeping up with the lunar meteorites – 2016. 47th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, abstract no. 1358.

Schwarz W. H., Hopp J., Bartoschewitz R., and Trieloff M. (2017) U-Pb Dating of zircons from the lunar meteorite Jiddat Al Harasis 838. 80th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society, abstract no. 6262.