Lunar Meteorite: Northwest Africa 6721

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 100

Northwest Africa 6721 (NWA 6721)

Morocco
Find: 2010 November
Mass: 184 g (16 pieces)

Lunar meteorite (feldspathic breccia)

History: Multiple stones were found together on Hamada du Drâa, Morocco, in late 2010 and purchased by Jack Schrader in April 2010 from a dealer in Taliouine, Morocco.

Physical characteristics: A total of 17 dark gray, uncrusted stones (combined weight 184 g) containing small white clasts.

Petrography: (A. Irving and S. Kuehner, UWS) A fine grained, heterogeneous, fragmental breccia composed of mineral clasts and ophitic-textured lithic clasts. Mineral clasts include anorthitic plagioclase, orthopyroxene, subcalcic augite, pigeonite, olivine (some very fayalitic), sparse intergrowths of hedenbergite+fayalite+silica (after former pyroxferroite), ilmenite, irregular kamacite grains and troilite.

Geochemistry: Pigeonite (Fs_21.6-27.8Wo_5.9-12.4, FeO/MnO=49-58), orthopyroxene (Fs_32.3Wo_3.1, FeO/MnO=61), subcalcic augite (Fs_18.2-29.8Wo_33.2-27.9, FeO/MnO=42-47), olivine (Fa_52.2-85.5, FeO/MnO=90-100), plagioclase (An_95.9-97.9Or_0.1-0.2).

Bulk composition: (R. Korotev, WUSL): FeO 5.0 wt%, La 3.5 ppm, Sm 1.6 ppm, Yb 1.25 ppm, Th 0.60 ppm.

Classification: Achondrite (lunar, feldspathic breccia).

Specimens: A total of 20.2 g of sample (3 stones) are on deposit at UWS. The main masses are held by J. Schrader.

Randy Says…

Northwest Africa 6721 is a feldspathic lunar meteorite.

More Information

Meteoritical Bulletin Database

NWA 6721

References

Korotev R. L. and Irving A. J. (2021) Lunar meteorites from northern Africa. Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 206–240. 

Korotev R. L., Irving A. J., and Bunch T. E. (2012) Keeping Up With the Lunar Meteorites – 2012. 43rd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, abstract no. 1152.