Lunar Meteorite: Gadamis 002
| from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 109 Gadamis 002Nalut, Libya Classification: Lunar meteorite (anorth) History: This meteorite was reportedly found in Libya in the vicinity of Ghadames in 2020, purchased by Jay Piatek in 2021. Physical characteristics: Three identically appearing stones found together (448 g, 182 g, 82 g). The stones have a light green sand-blasted exterior, some smoothed dark fusion crust is also present. Broken surfaces reveal a very fine-grained light-gray interior with a few scattered white grains. Some very thin shock melt veins are visible. Petrography: (C. Agee,UNM) Microprobe analysis reveals a significantly brecciated, cataclastic anorthitic plagioclase host making up 98-99% of this meteorite. Poikiolitically enclosed in the plagioclase are sparse, very small olivine and pyroxene blebs (most in the range 5-10 μm). Larger pyroxene grains are scarce with two larger grains in size range of 300 μm observed in the microprobe mount. Together, olivine and pyroxene make up a total of ~1-2% of this meteorite. Tiny (<1 μm) sulfide blebs are ubiquitous. Scattered titaniferous chromite (1-5 μm) were also observed. Geochemistry: (C. Agee, UNM) Plagioclase An96.7±0.5Ab3.1±0.6Or0.2±0.1, n=6; olivine Fa42.7±0.6, Fe/Mn=101±5, n=7; pigeonite Fs23.9±5.8Wo9.4±0.8, Fe/Mn=74±6, n=3; augite Fs12.8±10.7Wo35.0±9.4, Fe/Mn=82±13, n=3. Classification: Lunar ferroan anorthosite, cataclastic. Olivine, pigeonite and plagioclase compositional values plot within the FAN suite field (after Warren, 1993). The very high anorthite content (98-99%) and cataclastic texture is similar to Apollo 16 cataclastic FANs. Specimens: 20.5 g on deposit at UNM, Jay Piatek holds the main masses. |
| Randy Says… I have not studied Gadamis 002. I assume that this is a new meteorite because none of the other lunar meteorites from Libya are described as anorthosites. |
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