Lunar Meteorite: El Milhas 002

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 111

El Milhas 002

Tiris Zemmour, Mauritania
Purchased: 2022
Mass: 9853 g (many pieces)

Lunar meteorite (feldspathic breccia)

History: The meteorite was found in northern Mauritania close to the Algerian border and subsequently purchased by the main mass holder from a meteorite dealer in Morocco.

Physical Characteristics: Many brownish fragments without fusion crust.

Petrography: The meteorite displays a light brownish interior and is a breccia with up to 5 mm sized basaltic, melt, and mineral clasts in abundant feldspathic melt-rich matrix. Main minerals are olivine, low-Ca pyroxene, and calcic plagioclase. Minor phases include chromite and ilmenite. Contains secondary barite and calcite filled cracks.

Geochemistry: olivine: Fa24.9±4.2 (Fa17.4-28.9, FeO/MnO=81±7, n=15); low-Ca pyroxene: Fs19.1±0.1Wo4.1±0.5 (Fs18.9-19.2Wo3.9-5.7, FeO/MnO=51±4, n=10); calcic plagioclase: An96.8±0.8 (An95.4-97.7, n=10).

Classification: Lunar meteorite (feldspathic breccia).

Specimens: 22.2 g at MNB. Main mass with Mohamed Aid.

Randy Says…

I have not studied El Milhas 002. The meteorite was found 73 km north of El Milhas 001 and the petrographic description differ significantly, so the two meteorites are unlikely paired.

More Information

Meteoritical Bulletin Database

El Milhas 002