Lunar Meteorite: Dhofar 1629

Two sides of Dhofar 1629 (2.5 g) in the field in Oman. Photo credit: anonymous finder
Lab sample of Dhofar 1629. Photo credit: Randy Korotev

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 101

Dhofar 1629

Zufar, Oman
Found: 2007 Mar 2
Mass: 2.512 g (1 piece)

Lunar meteorite (basalt/anorthosite)

History: Found by a prospector on March 2, 2007, and subsequently purchased by Norbert Classen at the Ensisheim Show in June 2011.

Physical characteristics: A single black stone (2.512 g) devoid of fusion crust.

Petrography: (A. Irving and S. Kuehner, UWS). Fine regolithic breccia composed of olivine, anorthite, augite, pigeonite, ferropigeonite, hedenbergite (associated with Cr-armalcolite), silica polymorph, fayalite, aluminous chromite, troilite and rare shred-like kamacite grains. Portions of the matrix are glassy and contain tiny trapped bubbles.

Geochemistry: Olivine (Fa38.8-47.7, FeO/MnO = 86-106), pigeonite (Fs23.7-24.5Wo10.9-6.4, FeO/MnO = 45), ferropigeonite (Fs52.5-56.5Wo24.7-18.9, FeO/MnO = 62-64), plagioclase (An93.6-94.8Or0.1). Bulk composition (R. Korotev, WUSL): mean values from INAA of subsamples are 9.8 wt.% FeO, 24 ppm Sc, 320 ppm Ni, 8.1 ppm La, 3.7 ppm Sm, 0.75 ppm Eu, 3.2 ppm Yb, 1.7 ppm Th.

Classification: Lunar (mingled breccia). Although this stone is similar in bulk composition to Dhofar 925, Dhofar 960 and Dhofar 961, it differs in appearance from those stones and was found over 100 km away.

Specimens: A total of 0.52 g of material is on deposit at UWBClassen holds the main mass.

Randy Says…

On the basis of its similar composition, Dhofar 1629 may be launch paired with Dhofar 925/960/961 and SaU 449.

More Information

Meteoritical Bulletin Database

Dhofar 1629

Map

Schematic Map of  Find Locations of  Lunar Meteorite from Oman

References

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

All Korotev data on Omani lunar meteorites.

Korotev R. L. and Irving A. J. (2013) Keeping up with the lunar meteorites  201344th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, abstract no. 1216.