Lunar Meteorite: Al Qaryah al Sharqiyah 001

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 113

Al Qaryah al Sharqiyah 001 (AQS 001)

Gharyan, Libya
Purchased: 2024 January
Mass: 9025 g (1 piece)

Lunar meteorite (melt breccia)

History: The meteorite was found January 2024 during a search west of the village of Qaryat, Libya, and subsequently purchased by the main mass holder.

Physical Characteristics: Single grayish fragment lacking fusion crust.

Petrography: The meteorite is a melt breccia composed of abundant up to 3 cm sized lithic clasts and mineral fragments set in a dominant plagioclase-rich melt rock matrix. Predominant minerals are anorthite, olivine, pigeonite, and Ca-pyroxene. Minor phases include ilmenite, troilite, and Ti-chromite. Contains secondary calcite.

Geochemistry: (Ansgar Greshake, MNB) olivine: Fa_27.8±0.3 (Fa_27.3-28.2, FeO/MnO=90±4, n=7); more magnesian olivine: Fa_22.1±0.3 (Fa_22.0-22.5, FeO/MnO=85±2, n=7); pigeonite: Fs_23.9±0.2Wo_8.7±0.7 (Fs_23.7-24.3Wo_7.4-9.6, FeO/MnO=51±5, n=7); Ca-pyroxene: Fs_13.8±1.5Wo_40.0±2.4 (Fs_11.6-15.8Wo_36.2-42.6, FeO/MnO=45±6, n=7); calcic plagioclase: An_95.0±0.8 (An_93.9-96.2, n=7).

Classification: Lunar

Specimens: 24.9 g at MNB; main mass with Jiang Wie.

Randy Says…

I have not studied Al Qaryah al Sharqiyah 001. The reported find location is 13 km south of that of NEA 003, a mare basalt and basaltic breccia.

More Information

Meteoritical Bulletin Database

AQS 001