Lunar Meteorite: Gadamis 002 clan

The Gadamis 002 clan consists of paired stones 002, 003, 005, & 006

**Two sides of a 15.4-g slice of Gadamis 003. Photo credit: Craig Zlimen**

**Two sides of a 5.4-g slice of Gadamis 003. Photo credit: Craig Zlimen**

**Two sides (top polished?) of an 18.4-g slice of of Gadamis 003. Photo credit: Spaceballs79**

**Three 3-5-g slices of Gadamis 004. Image credit: The Meteorite Exchange.**

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 110

Gadamis 002

Nalut, Libya
Find: 2020
Mass: 712 g (3 pieces)

Classification: Lunar meteorite (anorthosite)

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 An_96.7±0.5Ab_3.1±0.6Or_0.2±0.1, n=6; olivine Fa_42.7±0.6, Fe/Mn=101±5, n=7; pigeonite Fs_23.9±5.8Wo_9.4±0.8, Fe/Mn=74±6, n=3; augite Fs_12.8±10.7Wo_35.0±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.

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 110

Gadamis 003

Ghadamis, Libya
Find: 2021
Mass: 1270 g (2 pieces)

Classification: Lunar meteorite (anorthosite)

History: This meteorite was reportedly found in Libya at the same location as Gadamis 002 in 2021, purchased by Abdelhadi Aithiba in 2021.

Physical characteristics: Two identically appearing stones (670 and 600 g) found together at the Gadamis 002 site. The stones have a light green sand-blasted exterior, patches of smoothed dark fusion crust, as well as some light tan desert weathering. Polished sawcut surfaces reveal a brecciated, very fine-grained light gray interior with a few scattered white grains.

Geochemistry: (A. Ross, UNM) Plagioclase An_96.1±0.4Ab_3.8±0.4Or_0.2±0.1, n=6; olivine Fa_39.1±0.8, Fe/Mn=105±5, n=6; pigeonite Fs_32.9±4.9Wo_6.1±2.5, Fe/Mn=59±4, n=5.

Specimens: 24.32 g on deposit at UNM, Mark Lyon and Craig Zlimen hold the main masses.

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 111

Gadamis 004

Ghadamis, Libya
Purchase: 2022
Mass: 12.66 kg (1 piece)

Classification: Lunar meteorite (anorthosite)

History: This meteorite was found in Libya at the same location as Gadamis 002 and 003, purchased by Mark Lyon in 2022.

Physical characteristics: Single stone with patches of dark fusion crust and smooth, light green-colored patches. One side is more irregular with a weathered surface that was fractured at some time in the past. Polished sawcut surfaces reveal cm-size clasts of anorthosite bounded by darker, fine-grained, cataclastic zones.

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.

Geochemistry: (C. Agee, UNM) Plagioclase An_96.0±0.1Ab_3.8±0.1Or_0.2±0.1, n=4; olivine Fa_38.9±1.0, Fe/Mn=105±3, n=4; pigeonite Fs_34.0±4.8Wo_5.4±2.3, Fe/Mn=60±3, n=4; augite Fs_5.7Wo_46.1, Fe/Mn=32.

Specimens: 21 g on deposit at UNM, Mark Lyon holds the main mass.

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 111

Gadamis 005

Ghadamis, Libya
Purchase: 2022
Mass: 10 kg (1 piece)

Classification: Lunar meteorite (anorthosite)

History: This meteorite was found in Libya at the same location as Gadamis 002, 003 and 004, purchased by Mark Lyon in 2022.

Physical characteristics: Single stone with patches of dark fusion crust and smooth, light green-colored patches. Polished sawcut surfaces reveal cm-size clasts of anorthosite bounded by darker, fine-grained, cataclastic zones.

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.

Geochemistry: (A. Ross, UNM) Plagioclase An_96.6±0.7Ab_3.1±0.7Or_0.2±0.1, n=6; olivine Fa_30.7±1.7, Fe/Mn=109±10, n=5; pigeonite Fs_27.8±5.2Wo_7.2±8.0, Fe/Mn=53±3, n=3; augite Fs_15.3±4.7Wo_39.4±5.1, Fe/Mn=44±9, n=3.

Specimens: 20.5 g on deposit at UNM, Mark Lyon holds the main mass.

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 112

Gadamis 006

Ghadamis, Libya
Purchase: 2022
Mass: 113 g (1 piece)

Classification: Lunar meteorite (anorthosite)

History: This meteorite was found in Libya at the same location as Gadamis 002, 003, and 004, purchased by Ziyao Wang in 2022.

Physical characteristics: Single stone with patches of dark fusion crust and smooth, light green-colored patches. Exposed surfaces reveal cm-size clasts of anorthosite bounded by darker, fine-grained, cataclastic zones.

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, minor amounts of zircon, spinel, and silica were also detected.

Geochemistry: (A. Ross, UNM) Plagioclase An_96.0±0.6Ab_3.8±0.5Or_0.2±0.1, n=4; olivine Fa_39.5±0.3, Fe/Mn=103±5, n=6; pigeonite Fs_39.2±3.2Wo_5.6±3.7, Fe/Mn=61±3, n=3; augite Fs_18.2±11.1Wo_33.1±11.8, Fe/Mn=54±6, 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. Paired with Gadamis 002, Gadamis 003, Gadamis 004, and Gadamis 005.

Specimens: 20 g on deposit at UNM, Ziyao Wang holds the main mass.

Randy Says…

I have not studied Gadamis clan. I assume that this is a new meteorite because none of the other lunar meteorites from Libya are described as anorthosites. Gadamis 001 is a martian meteorite (shergottite).

More Information

Meteoritical Bulletin Database

Gadamis 002 | 003 | 004 | 005 | 006

References

Warren P.H. (1993) A concise compilation of petrologic information on possibly pristine nonmare Moon rocks. American Mineralogist 78 (3-4), 360-376.

Warren P. H. (2022) Ferroan anorthosite: A widespread and distinctive, high-olivine/pyroxene, lunar rock type. 85th Annual Meeting of The Meteoritical Society, abstract no. 6047.

Lunar Meteorites

List – ABC123 Order

List – Al₂O₃ Order