Lunar Meteorite: Northwest Africa 7834 clan

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 102

Northwest Africa 7834 (NWA 7834)

(Northwest Africa)
Purchased: 2013 February
Mass: 905 g (1 piece)

Classification: Lunar meteorite (feldspathic breccia)

History: Purchased jointly by Darryl Pitt and David Gheesling in February 2013 from a dealer in Zagora, Morocco.

Petrography: (A. Irving and S. Kuehner, UWS) Breccia consisting of numerous mineral fragments and rare ophitic-textured mare basalt clasts in a vesicular, glassy matrix. Minerals are anorthite, olivine, unexsolved pigeonite, subcalcic augite, exsolved pigeonite, Ti-bearing chromite, Cr-bearing ulvöspinel, ilmenite, troilite, minor silica polymorph and tiny shred-like grains of kamacite.

Geochemistry: Olivine (Fa_32.3, FeO/MnO = 93; Fa_92.9, FeO/MnO = 83), pigeonite (Fs_28.8-35.4Wo_9.9-5.7; FeO/MnO = 52-56), subcalcic augite (Fs_18.0Wo_37.9; FeO/MnO = 46).

Bulk composition: (R. Korotev, WUSL): INAA of subsamples gave mean abundances of FeO 12.9 wt.%, and (in ppm) Sc 25, La 6.4, Sm 3.1, Eu 0.81, Yb 2.3, Th 0.9.

Classification: Lunar (mingled regolithic breccia).

Specimens: 20.2 g are at UWB. The remainder is with the owners.

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 102

Northwest Africa 7948 (NWA 7948)

(Northwest Africa)
Purchased: 2013 April
Mass: 59.8 g (1 piece)

Classification: Lunar meteorite (feldspathic breccia)

History: Purchased by Eric Twelker in April 2013 from a dealer in Zagora, Morocco.

Petrography: (A. Irving and S. Kuehner, UWS) Fresh specimen composed of angular clasts (some lithic clasts up to 1.2 cm across, but mostly mineral fragments) in a finer grained, dark matrix. Minerals present are anorthite, olivine, pigeonite, subcalcic augite, Ti-chromite, troilite, rare silica polymorph and a shred-like grain of kamacite. A thin vesicular, glassy shock vein was found.

Geochemistry: Olivine (Fa_37.8-61.2; FeO/MnO = 90-107), pigeonite (Fs_27.1-28.1Wo_13.3-11.0; FeO/MnO = 56-58), subcalcic augite (Fs_17.1-22.3Wo_35.9-29.9; FeO/MnO = 41-53), ferroan subcalcic augite (Fs_44.0Wo_39.4; FeO/MnO = 74), anorthite (An_90.4-92.0Or_0.3-0.4). Bulk composition (R. Korotev, WUSL): INAA of subsamples gave mean abundances of FeO 8.8 wt.%, and (in ppm) Sc 16, La 6.5, Sm 3.1, Eu 0.92, Yb 2.2, Th 1.0.

Classification: Lunar (mingled regolithic breccia).

Specimens: 12.2 g are at UWB. The remainder is with Twelker.

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 103

Northwest Africa 8306 (NWA 8306)

(Northwest Africa)
Purchased: 2014 February
Mass: 1389 g (1 piece)

Classification: Lunar meteorite (feldspathic breccia)

History: Purchased by Darryl Pitt in February 2013 from a Moroccan dealer at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show.

Physical characteristics: Single stone (1389 g) lacking fusion crust and composed of pale gray, pale yellow and white clasts in a very dark gray matrix.

Petrography: (A. Irving and S. Kuehner, UWS) Breccia composed of angular clasts in a partly glassy matrix containing trapped microbubbles. Minerals are olivine, pigeonite, fayalite, anorthite, silica (as separate clasts), hedenbergite, Ti-poor chromite, Ti-rich chromite, ilmenite, and minor exsolved pigeonite, baddeleyite, kamacite and barite. One fine grained, quenched-textured basaltic clast was found.

Geochemistry: Olivine (Fa_26.5-36.0; FeO/MnO = 102-116, N = 3), pigeonite (Fs_19.8-24.0Wo_19.9-17.0; FeO/MnO = 47-56; Fs_28.8Wo_6.5; FeO/MnO = 55), fayalite (Fa_72.6; FeO/MnO = 104). Bulk composition (R. Korotev, WUSL) INAA of subsamples gave the following mean abundances (in wt.%) FeO 8.9, Na₂O 0.41; (in ppm) Sc 17.1, Ni 230, La 7.3, Sm 3.30, Eu 0.93, Yb 2.30, Lu 0.317, Hf 2.4, Th 1.0.

Classification: Lunar (feldspathic regolithic breccia).

Specimens: A 20.2 g specimen with one polished surface is at UWB. The main mass is held by DPitt.

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 104

Northwest Africa 10149 (NWA 10149)

Northwestern Africa
Purchased: 2015 April
Mass: 1815 g (1 piece)

Lunar meteorite (feldspathic breccia)

History: Purchased by Darryl Pitt in April 2015 from a dealer in Ouarzazate, Morocco.

Petrography: (A. Irving and S. Kuehner, UWS) Fragmental breccia composed of mineral clasts of anorthite, olivine, pigeonite, subcalcic augite, augite, fayalite, silica polymorph, exsolved pigeonite, Al-Ti-chromite and Ti-rich chromite, along with sparse glass fragments, in a finer-grained matrix.

Geochemistry: Olivine (Fa_35.1; Fa_87.0-89.9; FeO/MnO = 91-93, N = 3), pigeonite (Fs_41.0Wo_7.3; Fs_58.3Wo_21.3; Fs_21.8Wo_24.8; FeO/MnO =57-67, N = 3), augite (Fs_14.5Wo_40.2, FeO/MnO = 45).

Classification: Lunar (feldspathic breccia).

Specimens: 20.1 g included a polished endcut at UWB. The remainder is held by DPitt.

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 104

Northwest Africa 10172 (NWA 10172)

Northwestern Africa
Purchased: 2015 April
Mass: 788 g (several pieces)

Lunar meteorite (feldspathic breccia)

History: Purchased by Ali and Mohammed Hmani in April 2015, reportedly from Mauritania.

Physical characteristics: Several identically appearing pieces, 320, 328, and 140 g in several smaller pieces. Irregular exterior. A saw cut reveals a breccia with numerous fragmental feldspathic clasts set in a dark-gray groundmass.

Petrography: (C. Agee, UNM) This meteorite is mixture of a fine-grained cataclastic domains, large fragmental plagioclase and pyroxene crystals, smaller olivine fragments, symplectites, and shock melt veins. Accessory Fe-metal, silica, ilmenite, and chromite were observed.

Geochemistry: (C. Agee and N. Muttik, UNM) olivine Fa_36.8±5.3, Fe/Mn=98±5, n=7; pigeonite Fs_39.2±12.0Wo_13.9±5.1, Fe/Mn=61±5, n=10; augite Fs_35.8±16.2Wo_36.0±5.1, Fe/Mn=66±9, n=4; plagioclase An_93.3±3.7Ab_6.1±3.4Or_0.5±0.5, n=9; Shock melt (10 µm defocused electron beam, proxy for bulk meteorite composition): SiO₂=45.0±1.5, TiO₂=0.34±0.14, Al₂O₃=24.9±6.0, Cr₂O₃=0.17±0.12, MgO=7.8±3.9, FeO=7.7±4.1, MnO=0.11±0.06, CaO=14.2±2.5, NiO=0.01±0.02, Na₂O=0.43±0.14, K₂O=0.10±0.02 (all wt%), Fe/Mn=75±17, Mg#=64±5, MgO+FeO=15.6±7.8 (wt%), n=23.

Classification: Lunar (feldspathic breccia).

Specimens: 20.6 g including a probe mount on deposit at UNM; Ali and Mohammed Hmani hold the main mass.

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 104

Northwest Africa 10203 (NWA 10203)

Northwestern Africa
Purchased: 2015
Mass: 3300 g (27 pieces)

Lunar meteorite

History: Purchased by Aziz Habibi in 2015; reportedly found in near the border between Mauritania and Mali.

Physical characteristics: Twenty-seven identically appearing pieces reportedly found together. Irregular exterior, no fusion crust. A saw cut reveals a polymict breccia with numerous fragmental light and dark clasts.

Petrography: (C. Agee, UNM) This polymict breccia has at least four distinct lithologies. 1) unbrecciated olivine gabbro with zoned clinopyroxene (~75%), acicular, plumose plagioclase (~15%), olivine (~5%), and minor titanomagnetite; 2) fragmental anorthositic gabbro breccia with ~75% plagioclase; 3) fragmental gabbroic breccia with approximately equal proportions of plagioclase, pyroxene and olivine; 4) shock melt veins and pools, some of which are vesicular. Accessory FeNi-metal, silica, ilmenite, troilite, chromite, and phosphate were observed in the fragmental breccias.

Geochemistry: (C. Agee and N. Muttik, UNM) Olivine gabbro: olivine Fa_52.9.8±7.1, Fe/Mn=100±12, n=6; clinopyroxene Fs_31.1±15.8Wo_22.1±7.6, Fe/Mn=41±10, n=7; plagioclase An_89.9±3.8Ab_8.9±3.4Or_1.1±0.8, n=3; anorthositic gabbro breccia: olivine Fa_30.6±3.0, Fe/Mn=104±7, n=21; clinopyroxene Fs_39.4±15.8Wo_21.7±10.9, Fe/Mn=66±11, n=21; plagioclase An_96.2±0.8Ab_3.5±0.8Or_0.2±0.1, n=6; gabbroic breccia: olivine Fa_40.3±2.9, Fe/Mn=98±5, n=6; clinopyroxene Fs_35.4±14.3Wo_23.3±10.0, Fe/Mn=63±10, n=9; plagioclase An_93.0±1.6Ab_6.6±1.6Or_0.4±0.1, n=4; Shock melt (10 µm defocused electron beam, proxy for bulk meteorite composition): SiO₂=45.1±2.0, TiO₂=0.54±0.38, Al₂O₃=24.3±6.2, Cr₂O₃=0.21±0.19, MgO=6.5±2.9, FeO=8.2±3.8, MnO=0.11±0.05, CaO=14.9±1.9, NiO=0.03±0.07, Na₂O=0.49±0.13, K₂O=0.10±0.03 (all wt%), n=40.

Classification: Lunar (polymict breccia).

Specimens: 24 g including a probe mount on deposit at UNM; Aziz Habibi holds the main mass.

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 104

Northwest Africa 10253 (NWA 10253)

Northwestern Africa
Purchased: 2015
Mass: 6674.1 g (several pieces)

Lunar meteorite

History: Purchased by Darryl Pitt from a Moroccan meteorite dealer, reportedly found in Mauritania near the Algerian border.

Physical characteristics: Weathered irregular exterior. Saw cuts reveal a fragmental breccia with numerous feldspathic and mafic clasts set in a gray groundmass.

Petrography: (C. Agee, UNM) This meteorite is a very heterogeneous polymict breccia consisting of numerous microgabbro clasts, shock melt pools and veins, fragmental plagioclase, pyroxene, and olivine. Accessory Fe-oxide, troilite, Ti-chromite, ilmenite, and silica were observed. Thin calcite weathering veins are present.

Geochemistry: (C. Agee and N. Muttik, UNM) olivine Fa_38.3±2.7, Fe/Mn=102±5, n=14; pigeonite Fs_39.9±14.7Wo_12.7±5.5, Fe/Mn=63±9, n=14; augite Fs_42.7±14.2Wo2_7.0±7.9, Fe/Mn=69±11, n=10; anorthite plagioclase An_95.3±1.8Ab_4.4±1.7Or_0.2±0.1, n=6; labradorite plagioclase An_55.5Ab_43.2Or_1.3, n=1; Shock melt (10 µm defocused electron beam, proxy for bulk meteorite composition): SiO₂=46.1±1.6, TiO₂=0.63±0.46, Al₂O₃=23.1±4.8, Cr₂O₃=0.16±0.09, MgO=6.8±3.5, FeO=7.1±3.2, MnO=0.09±0.05, CaO=14.0±2.0, NiO=0.03±0.03, Na₂O=0.55±0.21, K₂O=0.12±0.08 (all wt%), Fe/Mn=81±23, Mg#=61±8, MgO+FeO=13.9±6.0 (wt%), n=31.

Classification: Lunar feldspathic breccia

Specimens: 32.5 g including a probe mount on deposit at UNM, DPitt holds the main mass.

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 104

Northwest Africa 10258 (NWA 10258)

Northwestern Africa
Purchased: 2015
Mass: 58 g (1 piece)

Lunar meteorite

History: Purchased by Steve Arnold from Morocco, 2015.

Physical characteristics: Single stone, dark irregular surface, no fusion crust. A saw cut reveals numerous light-colored clasts set in a dark groundmass.

Petrography: (C. Agee, UNM) This meteorite is mixture of a fine-grained cataclastic domains, fragmental plagioclase and pyroxene crystals, fragmental anorthosite clasts, and shock melt veins; some of the veins have ~200 µm-size vesicles. Accessory troilite, ilmenite, and chromite were observed.

Geochemistry: (C. Agee and N. Muttik, UNM) olivine Fa_37.9±1.3, Fe/Mn=98±7, n=6; pigeonite Fs_38.9±13.7Wo_11.5±6.0, Fe/Mn=62±10, n=5; augite Fs_22.7Wo_40.0, Fe/Mn=57±5, n=1; plagioclase An_96.2±0.5, n=3; Shock melt (20 µm defocused electron beam, proxy for bulk meteorite composition): SiO₂=46.3±1.8, TiO₂=0.44±0.18, Al₂O₃=26.9±5.3, Cr₂O₃=0.014±0.10, MgO=5.6±2.7, FeO=6.4±3.2, MnO=0.08±0.05, CaO=14.4±2.0, NiO=0.03±0.03, Na₂O=0.54±0.24, K₂O=0.14±0.07 (all wt%), MgO+FeO=12.1±5.5 (wt%), n=11.

Classification: Lunar (feldspathic breccia)

Specimens: 11.7 g including a probe mount on deposit at UNM, Steve Arnold holds the main mass.

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 104

Northwest Africa 10263 (NWA 10263)

Mauritania
Purchased: 2015 May
Mass: 1015 g (2 pieces)

Classification: Lunar meteorite (feldspathic breccia)

History: Two identical stones found together in Mauritania were purchased by Darryl Pitt in May 2015 from a dealer in Zagora, Morocco.

Physical characteristics: No fusion crust is evident. The interior of each stone consists of white to light gray clasts set in a dark gray matrix.

Petrography: (A. Irving and S. Kuehner, UWS) Fragmental breccia composed of angular mineral clasts of anorthite, pigeonite, olivine, orthopyroxene, subcalcic augite, augite, fayalite, silica polymorph, ilmenite, kamacite, rare zircon and rare taenite in a finer grained matrix.

Geochemistry: Olivine (Fa_32.6-33.8, FeO/MnO = 87-102, N = 3), orthopyroxene (Fs_26.1Wo_4.0, FeO/MnO = 53), pigeonite (Fs_27.5-41.8Wo_11.2-11.4, FeO/MnO = 55-59; Fs_61.8Wo_21.0, FeO/MnO = 68; N = 3), subcalcic augite (Fs_41.5-51.7Wo_30.9-32.6, FeO/MnO = 64, N = 2), fayalite (Fa_93.6, FeO/MnO = 84), plagioclase (An_93.2-94.8Or_0.2-0.5, N = 3).

Bulk composition: (R. Korotev, WUSL) INAA of subsamples gave the following mean abundances (in wt.%) FeO 11.6, Na₂O 0.43; (in ppm) Sc 23.4, La 8.7, Sm 4.0, Eu 0.91, Yb 2.7, Lu 0.40, Th 1.3.

Classification: Lunar (feldspathic fragmental breccia).

Specimens: 20.65 g including one polished endcut at UWB; main mass with DPitt.

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 104

Northwest Africa 10272

(Northwestern Africa)
Purchased: 2015 May
Mass: 74.25 g (1 piece)

Lunar meteorite (feldspathic breccia)

History: Purchased by Pierre-Marie Pelé and Fabien Kuntz in May 2015 from a dealer in Agadir, Morocco.

Physical characteristics: No fusion crust is evident. The interior consists of white to light-gray clasts set in a dark-gray matrix.

Petrography: (A. Irving and S. Kuehner, UWS) Fragmental breccia composed of angular mineral clasts of calcic plagioclase, pigeonite, olivine, orthopyroxene, subcalcic augite, augite, fayalite, silica polymorph, Ti-Cr-rich spinel, Al-Ti-chromite, ilmenite, rare baddeleyite and rare troilite in a finer grained matrix.

Geochemistry: Olivine (Fa_18.5-35.8, FeO/MnO = 90-109, N = 3), orthopyroxene (Fs_44.9Wo_1.8, FeO/MnO = 70), pigeonite (Fs_30.3Wo_5.7; Fs_25.8Wo_12.1; FeO/MnO = 55-54), subcalcic augite (Fs_56.5Wo_25.1, FeO/MnO = 65), augite (Fs_18.0Wo_37.1, FeO/MnO = 56), fayalite (Fa_95.6, FeO/MnO = 96), plagioclase (An_88.0-96.9Or_0.5-0.2, N = 3).

Classification: Lunar (feldspathic breccia).

Specimens: 15.15 g including one polished endcut at PSF; main mass is held jointly by Mr. P. Pelé and Kuntz.

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 104

Northwest Africa 10291 (NWA 10291)

(Northwestern Africa)
Purchased: 2015 May
Mass: 10.01 g (3 pieces)

Lunar meteorite (feldspathic breccia)

History: Purchased by Fabien Kuntz in May 2015 from a dealer in Erfoud, Morocco.

Physical characteristics: No fusion crust is present on these three small very similar stones. The interior of each one consists of sparse white to beige clasts in a dark gray matrix containing vesicles.

Petrography: (A. Irving and S. Kuehner, UWS) Mineral fragments of plagioclase, olivine, orthopyroxene, pigeonite (some exsolved), augite, fayalite, silica polymorph, ilmenite, Ti-chromite and troilite, plus rare intersertal basalt clasts, are set in a finer grained vesicular matrix.

Geochemistry: Olivine (Fa_30.1-33.7, FeO/MnO = 87-90, N = 3), orthopyroxene (Fs_29.2Wo_3.6, FeO/MnO = 59), pigeonite (Fs_26.4Wo_10.3, FeO/MnO = 61), augite (Fs_17.9-52.1Wo_38.0-40.0, FeO/MnO = 43-75, N = 2), clinopyroxene host (Fs_26.9Wo_35.8, FeO/MnO = 49), low-Ca pyroxene exsolution lamellae (Fs_44.0Wo_6.5, FeO/MnO = 63), fayalite (Fa_71.0, FeO/MnO = 100), plagioclase (An_93.6Or_0.1; An_61.5Or_2.0).

Classification: Lunar (feldspathic regolithic breccia)

Specimens: 2.52 g including a polished slice at PSF; remainder with Kuntz.

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 104

Northwest Africa 10317 (NWA 10317)

Morocco
Purchased: 6 Jul 2015
Mass: 11.0 g (1 piece)

Classification: Lunar meteorite

History: The single individual of 11.0 g was found Morocco and purchased in Dakhla, Morocco, July 6, 2015.

Petrography: (A. Bischoff and S. Ebert, IfP) Fine-grained breccia consisting of small mineral and lithic clasts of anorthositic rocks, impact melt rocks and breccias, granulitic lithologies, anorthite, olivine, pyroxenes, and opaques embedded in a fine-grained, well-lithified matrix.

Geochemistry: Mineral compositions and geochemistry: Olivine (Fa_34.1±2.3, range: Fa_28.8-36.9; mean Fe/Mn =96, n = 10), low-Ca pyroxene (Fs_28.2-69.2Wo_3.8-19.5, mean Fe/Mn = 46.2, n = 5), Ca-pyroxene (Fs_16.9-63.2Wo_24.8-39.2, Fe/Mn = 57.4), plagioclase (An_96.0±1.5; range: An_92.8-97.3; n = 9)

Classification: Lunar (feldspathic breccia)

Specimens: 2.2 g including one polished thin section at IfP; main mass with S. Decker (Meteorite-Museum, 55430 Oberwesel, Germany.

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 104

Northwest Africa 10376 (NWA 10376)

(Northwestern Africa)
Purchased: 2015
Mass: 20 g (1 piece)

Lunar meteorite

History: The meteorite was purchased from the meteorite dealer Med Lamine Ahmed.

Physical characteristics: One small grayish individual lacking any fusion crust was found in the northern Sahara.

Petrography: The meteorite is a polymict breccia composed of lithic and mineral clasts consolidated in a fine-grained clastic, partly molten and recrystallized matrix. Lithic clasts are dominantly basaltic and gabbroic, mineral clasts include up to 200 μm sized olivine, exsolved pyroxene, and feldspar grains. Accessories are Ti-chromite, pyrrhotite, ilmenite, and silica. Some calcite weathering veins are present.

Geochemistry: low-Ca pyroxene: Fs_29.3Wo_4.8 FeO/MnO=51; Ca-pyroxene: Fs_16.3±1.3Wo_36.3±2.5 (Fs_4.1-18.8Wo_31.1-40, n=11, FeO/MnO=41-65); feldspar: An_86.3±11.4Ab_13.1±11 (An_56-93.6Ab_6.3-42.3, n=16).

Classification: Lunar meteorite

Specimens: 4.1 g at MNP; main mass with Philippe Schmitt-Kopplin, Germany.

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 105

Northwest Africa 10546 (NWA 10546)

(Northwest Africa)
Purchased: 2015 Nov
Mass: 43.35 g (1 piece)

Classification: Lunar meteorite (feldspathic breccia)

History: Purportedly found near the border between Mauritania and Mali. Purchased by Pierre-Marie Pelé in November 2015 from a dealer in Ouarzazate, Morocco.

Petrography: (A. Irving and S. Kuehner, UWS) Fragmental breccia composed of mineral clasts of anorthite, olivine, pigeonite, augite, subcalcic augite, silica polymorph, ilmenite (with inclusions of baddeleyite), Ti-Al-chromite and rare zircon. Microbubbles are present in parts of the finer grained matrix along with minor secondary barite.

Geochemistry: Olivine (Fa_23.1-39.3; Fa_86.9; FeO/MnO = 83-95; N = 4), pigeonite (Fs_21.7Wo_13.9; Fs_54.2Wo_21.9; FeO/MnO = 52-65; N = 2), augite (Fs_13.0Wo_37.8, FeO/MnO = 39), subcalcic augite (Fs_32.8Wo_31.9, FeO/MnO = 49), ferroan augite (Fs_51.5Wo_40.5, FeO/MnO = 72), plagioclase (An_90.3-93.3Or_0.4-0.1, N = 2).

Classification: Lunar (feldspathic breccia).

Specimens: A 9.72 g polished endcut piece is at PSF; remainder with Mr. P. Pelé.

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 105

Northwest Africa 10599 (NWA 10599)

(northwestern Africa)
Purchased: 2015
Mass: 77.8 g (1 piece)

Classification: Lunar meteorite (feldspathic breccia)

History: Purchased from Youssef Ait El Caid, Morocco, 2015.

Physical characteristics: One piece, no fusion crust, irregular weathered exterior, saw cut reveals prominent white feldspathic clasts set in a dark-gray groundmass.

Petrography: (C. Agee, UNM) Microprobe examination shows a polymict breccia with fragmental plagioclase, pyroxene, and olivine grains, lithic fragments, shock melt domains, and small vesicles. Pyroxenes are subcalcic augite and pigeonite with iron enrichment trends. Most olivine is approximately Fa₃₇ however there were also a few fayalitic olivines (Fa₆₂) observed. Likewise, anorthite is the predominate plagioclase composition, but there were also a few bytownite (An₈₅) grains observed.

Geochemistry: (C. Agee and M. Spilde, UNM). Olivine Fa_37.1±2.4, Fe/Mn=95±8, n=7; pigeonite Fs_46.3±9.2Wo_6.4±1.7, Fe/Mn=65±1, n=3; augite Fs_36.5±12.2Wo_24.6±2.7, Fe/Mn=59±4, n=3; plagioclase An_95.6±1.1, n=4; Shock melt (20 μm defocused electron beam, proxy for bulk meteorite composition): SiO₂=44.03±0.87, TiO₂=0.50±0.21, Al₂O₃=26.95±2.82, Cr₂O₃=0.14±0.04, MgO=5.51±1.57, FeO=6.75±1.84, MnO=0.09±0.03, CaO=15.36±1.12, NiO=0.03±0.02, Na₂O=0.54±0.08, K₂O=0.09±0.02 (all wt%), FeO/MnO=80±16, n=10.

Classification: Achondrite (lunar feldspathic breccia)

Specimens: A total of 16 g including a probe mount on deposit at UNM. Frank Carroll holds the main mass.

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 105

Northwest Africa 10644 (NWA 10644)

(Northwest Africa)
Purchased: 2016
Mass: 166 g (1 piece)

Lunar meteorite (feldspathic breccia)

History: Purchased by Dustin Dickens, February 2016, from a Moroccan dealer and sold to Mendy Ouzillou.

Physical characteristics: Single stone, irregular exterior, no fusion crust. A saw cut reveals light-gray feldspathic clasts (up to 1 cm) and some smaller, fragmental, white plagioclase grains set in a dark-gray groundmass.

Petrography: (C. Agee, UNM) This is a feldspathic breccia showing several different textural domains: 1) poikilitic plagioclase with olivine and pyroxene inclusions, 2) zones of fragmental plagioclase, olivine, and pyroxene, 3) cataclastic zones of fine-grained (~20 μm) silicates, 4) vesicular shock melt veins and pockets. Pigeonite and augite show significant igneous, iron-enrichment trends.

Geochemistry: (C. Agee and S. Spilde, UNM) Olivine Fa_37.9±1.6, Fe/Mn=98±6, n=13; pigeonite Fs_39.3±13.9Wo_17.0±4.1, Fe/Mn=66±9, n=11; augite Fs_32.0±22.7Wo_37.4±1.1, Fe/Mn=60±20, n=2; plagioclase An_97.6±0.5, n=5; Shock melt (20 μm defocused electron beam, proxy for bulk meteorite composition): SiO₂=44.7±0.1, TiO₂=0.5±0.1, Al₂O₃=29.2±2.5, Cr₂O₃=0.09±0.05, MgO=4.0±1.4, FeO=5.3±1.7, MnO=0.06±0.02, CaO=16.4±1.0, NiO=0.03±0.02, Na₂O=0.48±0.01, K₂O=0.10±0.01 (all wt%), n=5.

Classification: Lunar (feldspathic breccia).

Specimens: 20.73 g including a probe mount on deposit at UNM; Mendy Ouzillou holds the main mass.

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 105

Northwest Africa 10782 (NWA 10782)

(Northwestern Africa)
Purchased: 2015 May 01
Mass: 39.0 g (1 piece)

Lunar (regolith breccia)

History: Found in the region of Almabas near the frontier between Morocco and Algeria.

Physical characteristics: One stone with no visible fusion crust. Recognized as a lunar breccia by L. Labenne.

Petrography: (R. Hewins, S. Pont, B. Zanda, MNHNP) This is a breccia composed mainly of crystal clasts a few hundred μm in size, with a few glassy to dendrite-bearing spherules about 1 mm in size. Matrix is very fine-grained, in some cases glass with schlieren, with vugs or vesicles. There are a few breccia clasts up to 4 mm, very fine grained (1-2 μm) and in some cases with igneous textures (i.e. clast-laden melt rock clasts). Breccia clasts contain feldspathic igneous clasts with intersertal textures resembling Apollo 14310 but finer, as well as crystal clasts and rare lithic chips. Some pyroxene clasts show exsolution. Accessory minerals include troilite, ilmenite, a silica phase and, in the largest melt-rock, Ni-bearing metal.

Geochemistry: Mineral compositions and Geochemistry: (R. Hewins ans S. Pont, MNHNP) The pyroxene compositions are Fs_36.7Wo_7.6 to Fs_55.3Wo_19.6, and the atomic Fe/Mn falls just below the UNM lunar line with average ratio 71. Both magnesian and ferroan olivine clasts are present, with FeO/MnO of 103 falling just below the lunar value. Spinel contains ~40 wt% Cr₂O₃. Plagioclase is An_93.6Ab_6.2Or_0.2. The glassy matrix is basaltic (sensu lato).

Classification: (R. Hewins MNHN) Lunar breccia. The meteorite contains anorthite with olivine and pyroxene Fe/Mn ratios matching lunar. As it contains Ni-rich metal, glass spherules and breccia clasts it is classified as a regolith breccia.

Specimens: The main mass (31 g) is held by Labenne. The type specimen consists of 0.977 g and 6.88 g at MNHNP.

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 105

Northwest Africa 10810 (NWA 10810)

Mauritania
Purchased: 2015
Mass: 402.4 g (2 pieces)

Classification: Lunar meteorite (feldspathic breccia)

History: Two stones weighing 126.2 and 276.2 g were found in Mauritania and subsequently purchased in Rissani in 2015. J. Donald Cline and John Sinclair acquired the samples from a meteorite prospector at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show in February 2016.

Physical characteristics: Sample has an irregular-ovoid shape and lacks fusion crust. The exterior surface is weathered and light orangish-gray in color. One half of the stone shows an obvious brecciated texture composed of dominant light-colored clasts in a dark matrix. The other half appears to have been buried and contains an orangish layer of caliche. One edge has a window cut into the stone showing a mixture of rounded dark and light-colored lithic and mineral clasts in a dark brown matrix. One slice contains an FeNi grain.

Petrography: Description and classification (A. Love, App): Sample is a polymict breccia composed of 5 mm sub-rounded to angular lithic clasts and mineral clasts set within a micro-vesicular black glassy matrix. Up to 5 mm subrounded to subangular clasts of olivine gabbro with exsolved pyroxenes, troctolite, subophitic olivine basalt and exsolved pyroxenes, granulitic anorthosite and poikolitic crystalline impact melt breccia are the dominant lithic fragments represented in the sample. Additionally, the sample contains mineral grains, and symplectites composed of fayalite, Si-rich grains and Ca-pyroxene in addition to glassy spherules and flow-banded agglutinates. Accessory minerals ilmenite, ferroan chromite, fayalite and a silica polymorph.

Geochemistry: (A. Love, App): Olivine (Fa_23.1-45.3; FeO/MnO=95.8-114.7, N=20), pigeonite (Fs_25.8-30.1Wo_16.3-7.3 N=14; Fs_46.4-57.2Wo_20.0-7.8; FeO/MnO=54.4-73.5, N=4); augite (Fs_16.5-21.5Wo_23.8-38.5; FeO/MnO=47.2-52.0, N=9); fayalite (Fa_90.7-97.6; FeO/MnO=93.3-96.8, N=6); plagioclase An_95.0±2.7Or_0.2±0.2, N=13).

Bulk Composition: (R. Korotev, WUSL): INAA of 100 mg gave (in wt%) Na₂O 0.4, FeO 10.9; (in ppm) Sc 19.7, Cr 17.8, Co 42.1, Ni 220, La 7.3, Sm 3.3, Eu 0.91, Yb 2.3, Lu 0.3, Hf 2.5, Th 1.1.

Classification: Lunar (mingled regolith breccia)

Specimens: PARI holds the main masses (276.2 and 89.07 g). A slice and an end cut weighing 20.82 g and one polished thin section are on deposit at App.

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 105

Northwest Africa 10989 (NWA 10989)

(Northwest Africa)
Purchased: 2015
Mass: 14.4 g (1 piece)

Classification: Lunar meteorite

History: This stone was one of a group found in northwest Africa, near to the Morocco/Algeria border; exact date and weights of other stones is unknown. Purchased in 2015 from a Moroccan Dealer in Morocco.

Physical characteristics: The total mass of the single stone was 14.4 g, and is dark brown in color with a dark brown/black fusion crust.

Petrography: H. Ashcroft, M. Anand, OU. A fragmental breccia containing a variety of mineral (up to 1 mm) and lithic (up to 1 × 3 mm) fragments in a dark matrix composed of finer-grained crystals and a dark, vesicular glass. Both basaltic and feldspathic fragments are present in roughly equal proportions. The breccia has a seriate fabric and the proportion of glass and crystals in the matrix varies throughout the sample. Some crystals exhibit evidence for shock and alteration (offset pyroxene lamellae, recrystallized and maskelynitised plagioclase). Minor secondary calcite veins and barite are seen throughout the sample. Minerals are Olivine (forsteritic and fayalitic), Pyroxene (Orthopyroxene, Pigeonite, Augite), Anorthite and trace amounts of ilmenite, chromite, kamacite, schreibersite, apatite, merrilite, silica.

Geochemistry: Feldspar crystals are anorthitic and vary between An_80-90, with an average of An₉₄ (N = 184). Some feldspars are recrystallized, and others have been maskelynitised. A continuum of pyroxene compositions (pigeonite to augite) are observed with a range in Fs_15-64, and Wo_5-43. Four main clusters in olivine composition are observed with Fa₃₇, Fa₅₁ and Fa₇₀. Some Fayalite (Fa₉₀) is also observed. One mafic clast contains orthopyroxene (Wo₃En₇₅Fs₂₂), Olivine, (Fa₇₅) and anorthite (An₉₅). One hedenbergite-fayalite-silica symplectite is observed. The oxygen isotopes (R. Greenwood and I. Franchi, OU) are consistent with a lunar origin with δ¹⁷O 3.42 ‰, δ¹⁸O 6.51 ‰, Δ¹⁷O 0.03 ‰. Average FeO/MnO for Olivine is 105, and Pyroxene is 66.

Classification: Lunar (mixed fragmental breccia)

Specimens: Main mass resides with G. Ensor. The type specimen (3.4 g) is deposited in the OU meteorite collection.

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 106

Northwest Africa 11109 (NWA 11109)

Morocco
Find: 2016
Mass: 77 g (10 pieces)

Classification: Lunar meteorite

History: Purchased by Ke Zuokai in Dec. 2016 from a Moroccan dealer.

Physical characteristics: The meteorite has a black fusion crust and is partially covered with weathering product.

Petrography: (Li Y., PMO) Mineral fragments with minor lithic clasts (0.1 to 1.5 mm) set in a poorly recrystallized anorthositic matrix. Vesicular shock melt veins and pockets are present.The lithic clasts include rocks of anorthositic, gabbroic and noritic composition. Mineral fragments consists of pyroxene, olivine, plagioclase grains, and minor quartz grains. Other accessory minerals include chromite, ilmenite and troilite.

Geochemistry: Plagioclase An_90.5-97.0Ab_2.8-9.1Or_0.4; pigeonite Fs_23.1-57.0Wo_4.9-21.2, Fe/Mn=46.6-74.6; augite Fs_13.6-55.1Wo_27.0-43.7, Fe/Mn=43.3-85.4; olivine Fa_31.1-45.7, Fe/Mn=81.1-108.4.

Classification: Lunar, breccia

Specimens: 16 g is on deposit at PMO, Ke Zuokai holds the main mass.

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 106

Northwest Africa 11185

(Northwest Africa)
Purchased: 2016 June
Mass: 94.02 g (4 pieces)

Classification: Lunar meteorite (feldspathic breccia)

History: Purchased by Ben Hoefnagels in June 2016 from a dealer in Taliouine, Morocco.

Physical characteristics: Four stones (total weight 94.02 g) of very similar appearance purchased together from the same dealer exhibit the same types of white clasts in a dark-gray matrix.

Petrography: (A. Irving and S. Kuehner, UWS) Breccia composed of angular mineral grains of anorthite, olivine, pigeonite, exsolved pigeonite, subcalcic augite, augite, Ti-Al-chromite, ilmenite and fayalite in a finer grained matrix containing low-Ni kamacite, taenite, troilite, baddeleyite and Mg-ilmenite. A quench-textured melt rock clast was also observed.

Geochemistry: Olivine (Fa_34.1, FeO/MnO = 107; Fa_91.2, FeO/MnO = 82; N = 2), pigeonite (Fs_22.4-28.6Wo_15.0-8.1, FeO/MnO = 64-68, N = 2), subcalcic augite (Fs_20.7Wo_30.7, FeO/MnO = 58), augite (Fs_50.2Wo_37.5, FeO/MnO = 65), plagioclase (An_93.5Or_0.4; An_85.5Or_1.2; N = 2).

Bulk composition: (R. Korotev, WUSL): INAA of subsamples of two stones gave INAA of subsamples gave the following mean abundances (in wt.%) FeO 10.0, Na₂O 0.43; (in ppm) Sc 18.9, Ni 300, La 8.3, Sm 3.86, Eu 0.98, Yb 2.64, Lu 0.37, Hf 2.8, Th 1.2.

Classification: Lunar (feldspathic breccia)

Specimens: 19.1 g including a 10.3 g polished endcut from one stone at UWB; remainder with Mr. B. Hoefnagels.

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 106

Northwest Africa 11249 (NWA 11249)

(Northwestern Africa)
Purchased: 2017 January
Mass: 73.6 g (1 piece)

Lunar meteorite (feldspathic breccia)

History: Purchased by Ben Hoefnagels in January 2017 from a dealer in Zagora, Morocco.

Physical characteristics: A single stone (73.6 g) with a brownish weathered exterior and a fresh, mostly very dark gray interior with some whitish clasts.

Petrography: (A. Irving and S. Kuehner, UWS) Breccia composed of angular mineral fragments and sparse, fragmented glass spheres in a finer grained matrix containing some vesicles. Minerals are anorthite, olivine, pigeonite, ferropigeonite, fayalite, kamacite, Al-Cr-Fe-Mg spinel, zircon and minor barite. The specimen is crosscut by some glass-rich shock veins.

Geochemistry: Olivine (Fa_15.5-50.5, FeO/MnO = 75-91, N = 4), pigeonite (Fs_25.5-35.2Wo_10.6-18.8, FeO/MnO = 58-69, N = 4), ferropigeonite (Fs_63.2Wo_24.4, FeO/MnO = 72), anorthite (An_93.9-96.6Or_0.3, N = 2).

Classification: Lunar (feldspathic regolith breccia).

Specimens: 15.1 g including a polished endcut and one polished mount at UWB; remainder with Mr. B. Hoefnagels.

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 107

Northwest Africa 11563 (NWA 11563)

(Northwestern Africa)
Purchased: 2016 June
Mass: 54.5 g (1 piece)

Lunar meteorite (feldspathic breccia)

History: Purchased by Ben Hoefnagels in June 2016 from a Moroccan dealer.

Petrography: (A. Irving and S. Kuehner, UWS) Breccia composed of mineral clasts of anorthite, labradorite, olivine, orthopyroxene, pigeonite, subcalcic augite, exsolved pigeonite, ilmenite, fayalite and silica polymorph in a finer grained, partly vesicular matrix containing minor troilite and kamacite.

Geochemistry: Olivine (Fa_23.0-37.4, FeO/MnO = 94, N = 2), orthopyroxene (Fs_29.5Wo_4.5, FeO/MnO = 45), pigeonite (Fs_29.6Wo_7.4, FeO/MnO = 83), subcalcic augite (Fs_22.7Wo_25.1; Fs_34.2Wo_32.4, FeO/MnO = 71-77, N = 2), anorthite (An_95.0Or_0.2), labradorite (An_50.9-54.1Or_3.6-1.0, N = 2).

Classification: Lunar (feldspathic regolith breccia).

Specimens: 11.8 g in the form of a polished endcut at UWB; remainder of the stone with Mr. B. Hoefnagels.

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 105

Galb Inal

Inchiri, Mauritania
Find: January 2011
Mass: 4050 g

Classification: Lunar meteorite (feldspathic breccia)

History: (H. Chennaoui Aoudjehane, A. Jambon) Found in 2011 by nomads, in a sandy area close to the village of Inal, Mauritania, south of Tichla. The stone was found north of the railway and south of the frontier.  The stone was given the provisional name “Northwest Africa 7173” in Jan 2012, prior to documentation of the find location.

Physical characteristics: A 4 kg crust-free and minimally weathered stone, broken in two pieces. The black lustered stone has up to centimeter-sized white lithic clasts. The surface is sand blasted. Magnetic susceptibility (UPVI): log χ (× 10^-9 m³/kg)= 3.93.

Petrography: (A. Jambon, O. Boudouma, UPVI) Feldspathic breccia with a significant melt matrix containing petrographically diverse areas. Lithic (ferro anorthosite, troctolite, spinel troctolite, norite; hedenbergite-fayalite-silica; rare clasts of silica associated with K-feldspar) and mineral fragments, shocked clasts, impact melt pockets, devitrified glassy clasts and glass beads. Contains ilmenite, ulvöspinel, chromite, ilmenite, rutile, (F-Cl) apatite. Rare small grains of troilite, kamacite and schreibersite.

Geochemistry: (A. Jambon, UPVI and R. Korotev, WUSL) Orthocumulate olivine Fa₁₉ (FeO/MnO = 90), plagioclase An₉₄, subcalcic augite Fs₂₂Wo₃₀, Pigeonite Fs_27-33Wo_5-15 and Fs_35-4Wo_12-19, Ca-pyroxene core, Fs₁₆Wo₃₁ and rim, Fs₄₁Wo₁₄.

Bulk composition: XRF (UPVI) INAA (WUSL). INAA : Na₂O = 0.45 wt %; Sc = 21 ppm; Cr = 1400 ppm; FeO = 9.5 wt %; Ni = 200 ppm; Sm = 3.5 ppm, Eu = 0.95 and Ba = 250 ppm. XRF wt %: SiO₂ = 45.7; Al₂O₃ = 21.6; Cr₂O₃ = 0.2; TiO₂ = 0.48; FeO = 9.6; MgO = 4.1; CaO = 17.4; K₂O = 0.41. Oxygen isotopes (R. Greenwood, OU) : δ₁₇O‰= 3.238, δ₁₈O‰= 6.198, Δ₁₇O‰= 0.015.

Classification: Lunar regolith breccia. Despite a chemical kinship with NWA 2995 the physical aspect and texture do not favor pairing of these two finds.

Specimens: A 21.5 g type specimen is on deposit at UPVI. Anonymous finder holds the main mass.

Randy Says…

The Northwest Africa 7834 clan is a moderately mafic, KREEP-bearing feldspathic breccia. By number (N=24) and mass (21.2 kg), this is one of the largest pair groups.

More Information

Meteoritical Bulletin Database

NWA 7834 | 7948 | 8306 | 10149 | 10172 | 10203 | 10253 | 10258 | 10263 | 10272 | 10291 | 10317 | 10376 | 10509 | 10546 | 10644 | 10782 | 10810 | 10989 | 11109 |  11185 | 11249 |
Galb Inal

References

Anand M. and Stephant A. 2018. Probing the volatile reservoirs in the Moon using lunar meteorites. European Planetary Science Congress 2018, abstract: id.EPSC2018-530

Ashcroft H. O., Anand M., Korotev R. L., Greenwood R. C., Franchi I. A., and Strekopytov S. (2017) NWA 10989 – A new lunar meteorite with equal proportions of feldspathic and VLT material. Lunar and Planetary Science XLVIII, abstract no. 1481.

Boyle S., Gross J., and Prissel T. C. (2018) Understanding the magnesium-suite lithology and lunar highlands terrain through a detailed investigation of lunar meteorites Northwest Africa (NWA) 10291 and 11182. 49th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, abstract no. 2346.

Korotev R. L. and Irving A. J. (2014) Keeping up with the lunar meteorites – 2014. 45th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, abstract no. 1405.

Korotev R. L. and Irving A. J. (2014) Lunar meteorites from northern Africa. 77th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society, abstract no. 5063.

Korotev R. L. and Irving A. J. (2015) Keeping up with the lunar meteorites – 2015. 46th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, abstract no. 1942.

Korotev R. L. and Irving A. J. (2016) Not quite keeping up with the lunar meteorites – 2016. 47th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, abstract no. 1358.

Korotev R. L. and Irving A. J. (2017) Still not keeping up with the lunar meteorites – 2017. Lunar and Planetary Science XLVIII, abstract no. 1498.

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

Morland Z. S., Joy K. H. , Gholinia A., and Degli Alessandrini G. (2019) Metal in lunar meteorite Northwest Africa 10989: Insight into survivability of impactor material delivered to the Moon. 50th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, abstract no. 1275.

Ranjith P. M., He H., Smith T. M., Su F., Lin Y., and Zhu R. (2019) Noble gas components in the lunar meteorite Northwest Africa 10203. 82nd Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society, abstract no. 6175.

Schuindt S., Darling J. R., Staddon L. G., Schwarz W. H., Dunlop J., White L. F., Storey C. D., and Tait K. T. (2021) Microstructural geochronology of lunar feldspathic breccia Northwest Africa 10272: A major event at ~3.48 GA in the lunar crust? 52nd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, abstract no. 2021.

Stephant A., Anand M., Ashcroft H. O., Zhao X., Hu S., Korotev R. L., Strekopytov S., Greenwood R. C., Humphreys-Williams E., Liu Y., Tang G., Li Q., and Franchi I. A. (2019). An ancient reservoir of volatiles in the Moon sampled by lunar meteorite Northwest Africa 10989. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 266, 163-183.

Zeng X., Joy K. H., Li S., Pernet-Fisher J., Li X., Martin D. J. P., Li Y. and Wang S. (2018) Multiple lithic clasts in lunar breccia Northwest Africa 7948 and implication for the lithologic components of lunar crust. Meteoritics and Planetary Science 53, 1030‒1050.