Lunar Meteorite: Northwest Africa 8673 clan

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 103

Northwest Africa 8673 (NWA 8673)

(Northwest Africa)
Purchased: 2014 August
Mass: 263 g (1 piece)

Classification: Lunar meteorite (feldspathic breccia)

History: Purchased by GHupé in August 2014 from a dealer in Erfoud, Morocco.

Physical characteristics: Dark gray stone (263 g) lacking fusion crust. Interior slices exhibit dispersed, small beige clasts and specks of metal.

Petrography: (A. Irving and S. Kuehner, UWS) Fragmental breccia composed of mineral clasts of anorthite, pigeonite, augite and olivine with accessory troilite and kamacite, plus sparse mare basalt clasts, in a finer matrix.

Geochemistry: Olivine (Fa_23.0-29.3, FeO/MnO = 87-98, N = 3), orthopyroxene (Fs_20.6Wo_3.5, FeO/MnO = 58), pigeonite (Fs_28.7-29.8Wo_8.1-12.0, FeO/MnO = 55-62, N = 2), ferroan pigeonite in mare basalt clast (Fs_51.4Wo_24.1, FeO/MnO = 56), plagioclase (An_93.9-97.8Or_0.1-0.2, N = 2).

Bulk composition: (R. Korotev, WUSL) INAA of subsamples gave the following mean abundances (in wt.%) FeO 7.3, Na₂O 0.31; (in ppm) Sc 18, Ni 370, La 4.2, Sm 1.9, Eu 0.73, Yb 1.75, Lu 0.24, Hf 1.5, Th 0.82.

Classification: Lunar (feldspathic fragmental breccia).

Specimens: 20.1 g including one polished endcut at UWB; main mass with GHupé.

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 104

Northwest Africa 8733 (NWA 8733)

(Northwest Africa)
Found: 2014 April
Mass: 51 g (6 pieces)

Lunar meteorite (basalt/anorthosite)

History: Recovered in April 2014 near the borders of Mauritania, Western Sahara and Algeria. Purchased in Mauritania in June 2014.

Physical characteristics: Six similar stones with irregular dark exteriors. Saw cuts on two of the stones reveal identical textures: a few white plagioclase grains and lithic clasts, set in a dark-gray matrix, also some bright metallic grains up to 1 mm.

Petrography: (C. Agee, UNM) Microprobe examination polished mount shows a polymict breccia with numerous fragmental olivine, pyroxene, and plagioclase crystals; anorthositic and basaltic clasts throughout. Accessory Fe-metal, ilmenite, chromite, silica, and troilite. Calcite weathering products detected.

Geochemistry:(C. Agee and N. Muttik, UNM). Olivine Fa_35.0±10.4, Fe/Mn=96±9, range Fa_17.9-64.0, n=22; clinopyroxene Fs_36.4±11.1Wo_17.0±7.5, Fe/Mn=57±6, range Fs_22.3Wo_5.6-Fs_56.6Wo_29.0, n=18; plagioclase An_95.0±1.4Ab_4.5±1.3Or_0.4±0.2, n=7. Shock melt (proxy for bulk composition) SiO₂=44.0±1.1, TiO₂=0.37±0.10, Al₂O₃=25.1±4.3, Cr₂O₃=0.20±0.12, MgO=7.9±1.7, FeO=7.3±3.0, MnO=0.09±0.04, NiO=0.01±0.01, CaO=14.5±1.6, Na₂O=0.28±0.27, K₂O=0.08±0.03 (wt%), n=3.

Classification: Achondrite (lunar basaltic/anorthositic breccia), moderate weathering grade, high shock stage.

Specimens: A total of 10.5 g including a probe mount on deposit at UNM. DPitt holds the main mass.

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 104

Northwest Africa 8746 (NWA 8746)

(Northwest Africa)
Purchased: 2014 July
Mass: 69.9 g (1piece)

Classification: Lunar meteorite (feldspathic breccia)

History: Purchased by Darryl Pitt in July 2014 from a dealer in Mauritania.

Physical characteristics: Single stone (69.9 g) composed of pale clasts in a dark-gray matrix.

Petrography: (A. Irving and S. Kuehner, UWS) Fragmental breccia composed mainly of mineral clasts (anorthite, pigeonite, olivine, subcalcic augite, minor kamacite) plus rare mare basalt clasts and glass fragments within a finer grained matrix.

Geochemistry: Olivine (Fa_32.0-48.3, FeO/MnO = 85-91, N = 3), pigeonite (Fs_25.6-33.0Wo_6.2-7.0, FeO/MnO = 57-66, N = 3), ferroan pigeonite (Fs_60.6Wo_19.3, FeO/MnO = 79), subcalcic augite (Fs_51.0Wo_33.4, FeO/MnO = 66), plagioclase (An_96.6-97.2Or_0.1-0.3, N = 3).

Bulk composition: (R. Korotev, WUSL) INAA of subsamples gave the following mean abundances (in wt.%) FeO 8.0, Na₂O 0.33; (in ppm) Sc 18.6, La 5.9, Sm 2.6, Eu 0.77, Yb 2.2, Lu 0.30, Th 1.1.

Classification: Lunar (feldspathic fragmental breccia).

Specimens: 14.1 g including one polished endcut at UWB; the remainder is held by DPitt.

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 104

Northwest Africa 10048 (NWA 10048)

(Northwest Africa)
Purchased: 2015 February
Mass: 352.3 g (61 pieces)

Classification: Lunar meteorite

History: Found in December 2014 near the border of Western Sahara and Algeria. Purchased in Mauritania in February 2015.

Physical characteristics: Numerous identical pieces without fusion. Saw cuts show only a few scattered feldspathic clasts and metal grains set in a fairly uniform, dark gray, fine-grained matrix.

Petrography: (C. Agee, UNM) This meteorite is a very fine-grained lunar regolith breccia with some shock melt zones present. Most olivine, pyroxene and plagioclase fragments are less than 50 µm in size. Accessory Fe-Ni metal, iron oxide, chromite, and ilmenite were observed. Thin calcite weathering veins are present.

Geochemistry: (C. Agee and N. Muttik, UNM) olivine Fa_31.2±8.3, Fe/Mn=95±12, n=15; pigeonite Fs_29.3±6.9Wo_10.3±5.4, Fe/Mn=56±5, n=15; augite Fs_24.1±7.2Wo_30.8±8.8, Fe/Mn=48±3, n=4; plagioclase An_96.2±0.5Ab_3.3±0.5Or_0.4±0.1, n=3; Shock melt (20 µm defocused electron beam, proxy for bulk meteorite composition): SiO₂=44.6±0.9, TiO₂=0.33±0.07, Al₂O₃=22.8±2.2, Cr₂O₃=0.20±0.04, MgO=9.1±1.8, FeO=8.0±1.4, MnO=0.11±0.02, CaO=13.9±1.0, NiO=0.03±0.02, Na₂O=0.34±0.03, K₂O=0.10±0.02 (all wt%), Fe/Mn=71±7, Mg#=67±5, n=10.

Classification: Lunar, regolith breccia

Specimens: 20.1 g including a probe mount on deposit at UNM, DPitt holds the main mass.

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 104

Northwest Africa 10065 (NWA 10065)

(Northwest Africa)
Purchased: 2014 June
Mass: 282.8 g (1 piece)

Classification: Lunar meteorite (feldspathic breccia)

History: Purchased by Darryl Pitt in July 2014 from a dealer in Mauritania.

Physical characteristics: Single stone (282.8 g) coated by orange-brown weathering products. The fresh interior is dark gray with white clasts and visible fresh metal grains.

Petrography: (A. Irving and S. Kuehner, UWS) Breccia composed of mineral clasts of anorthite, pigeonite (some exsolved), olivine, orthopyroxene, subcalcic augite, augite, ferropigeonite, Ti-Cr-bearing spinel, kamacite, troilite and rare silica polymorph, together with rare devitrified glass spheres (of anorthite+pyroxene bulk composition), in a finer grained matrix containing sparse vesicles.

Geochemistry: Olivine (Fa_26.4-58.6, FeO/MnO = 94-100, N = 3), orthopyroxene (Fs_11.4-19.2Wo_3.7-3.5, FeO/MnO = 87-68, N = 2), pigeonite (Fs_32.6Wo_8.2, FeO/MnO = 65), ferropigeonite (Fs_45.5-64.8Wo_20.4-22.6, FeO/MnO = 65-73, N = 2), subcalcic augite (Fs_22.1Wo_35.8, FeO/MnO = 58), augite (Fs_13.0-13.9Wo_38.5-41.9, FeO/MnO = 51-56, N = 2), plagioclase (An_95.4-96.3Or_0.2, N = 2).

Bulk composition: (R. Korotev, WUSL) INAA of subsamples gave the following mean abundances (in wt.%) FeO 7.9, Na₂O 0.32; (in ppm) Sc 17.4, Ni 490, La 5.1, Sm 2.29, Eu 0.73, Yb 2.0, Lu 0.28, Hf 1.7, Th 1.1.

Classification: Lunar (feldspathic regolithic breccia). Bulk abundances for many elements overlap with those for NWA 8746, suggesting pairing of these two stones.

Specimens: 21.4 g including one polished endcut at UWB. The remainder is held by DPitt.

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 104

Northwest Africa 10123 (NWA 10123)

(northwestern Africa)
Purchased: 2015 January
Mass: 149.5 g (1 piece)

Classification: Lunar meteorite (feldspathic breccia)

History: Purchased by Darryl Pitt in January 2015 from a dealer in Zagora, Morocco.

Petrography: (A. Irving and S. Kuehner, UWS) Very fine grained fragmental breccia consisting mostly of mineral clasts of olivine, anorthite, orthopyroxene, pigeonite, augite and Al-chromite set in a matrix of the same minerals plus minor kamacite and barite.

Geochemistry: Olivine (Fa_22.2-33.9, FeO/MnO = 82-97, N = 3), low-Ca pyroxene (Fs_20.4-23.4, FeO/MnO = 46-54, N = 2), pigeonite (Fs_33.1Wo_8.2, FeO/MnO = 53), subcalcic augite (Fs_13.0Wo_36.6, FeO/MnO = 45). Plagioclase >An₉₅ by EDS analysis.

Classification: Lunar (feldspathic breccia).

Specimens: 20.1 g including one polished endcut at UWB. The remainder is held by DPitt.

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 105

Northwest Africa 10902 (NWA 10902)

(Northwest Africa)
Purchased: 2015
Mass: 36.28 g (2 pieces)

Lunar meteorite

History: Purchased in 2015 by Brahim Tahiri in Morocco and sent to his partner Sean Tutorow for analysis.

Physical characteristics: Two identical appearing stones, irregular exterior, no fusion crust. A saw cut reveals scattered light-gray feldspathic clasts set in a very dark groundmass.

Petrography: (C. Agee, UNM) This is a polymict breccia showing several different textural domains: 1) basaltic clasts with phenocrysts and quench crystals, 2) zones of fragmental plagioclase, olivine, and pyroxene, 3) cataclastic zones of fine-grained silicates, 4) shock melt veins and pockets.

Geochemistry: (C. Agee and S. Spilde, UNM) Olivine Fa43.1±1.1, Fe/Mn=100±3, n=4; pigeonite Fs_41.0±8.0Wo_16.7±5.7, Fe/Mn=59±5, n=9; augite Fs_29.5Wo_44.1, Fe/Mn=60, n=1; plagioclase An_95.9±0.8, n=4; Shock melt (proxy for bulk meteorite composition): SiO₂=44.2±0.7, TiO₂=0.36±0.07, Al_2O3=24.6±1.5, Cr₂O₃=0.19±0.04, MgO=8.5±1.0, FeO=8.3±1.0, MnO=0.11±0.02, CaO=13.7±0.7, NiO=0.06±0.05, Na₂O=0.36±0.06, K₂O=0.10±0.03 (all wt%), n=9.

Classification: Lunar meteorite. Intermediate breccia based on FeO and Al₂O₃ content.

Specimens: 7.4 g including a probe mount on deposit at UNM, Sean Tutorow holds the main mass.

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 105

Northwest Africa 10964 (NWA 10964)

(Northwestern Africa)
Find: 2015 January
Mass: 26 g (4 pieces)

Classification: Lunar meteorite (feldspathic breccia)

History: Purchased by Dustin Dickens from a nomad in Morocco, 2016.

Petrography: (Z. Guo, UWO) Dark impact melt with xenocrysts of plagioclase, olivine, and pyroxene and igneous clasts. A few metal grains are dispersed within the breccia. Magnetic susceptibility log χ (× 10-9 m3/kg) = 3.38.

Geochemistry: Mineral composition and geochemistry: Fayalitic olivine Fa_93.4±6.1 with Fe/Mn ratio of 77.4±7.4 (N=4); Ferroan olivine Fa49.7±10.4 with Fe/Mn ratio of 53.5±5.8 (N=6). Augite pyroxene Fs27.5±9.9Wo30.5±14.5, with Fe/Mn ratio of 63.0±13.8 (N=10). Plagioclase An_96.6±0.5 (N=11).

Classification: Lunar, feldspathic breccia.

Specimens: 5.3 g at UWO including a thin section.

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 106

Northwest Africa 11110 (NWA 11110)

Morocco
Find: 2016
Mass: 62 g (10 pieces)

Classification: Lunar meteorite (feldspathic breccia)

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 by weathering products.

Petrography: (Li Y., PMO) Fine-grained mineral debris (0.01-0.6 mm), including anorthitic plagioclase, low-Ca pyroxene (Fs_19.1-40.7Wo_2.4-4.8) and olivine clasts (Fa_30.0-38.7), are embedded by very fine-grained recrystallized matrix with anorthositic composition. Few polycrystalline igneous clasts are present. Compared to the clasts, the recrystallized olivine and pyroxene are more Fe-rich (Fa_40.4-42.8) and Ca-rich (Fs_23.0-31.7Wo_15.4-33.6), respectively. Minor unrecrystallized shock melt veins (~50 μm) are also present, which crosscut the recrystallized matrix. Accessory ilmenite, troilite and chromite are present.

Geochemistry: Plagioclase An_93.6-97.6Ab_2.2-6.1Or_0.1-0.3; orthopyroxene Fs_19.1-40.7Wo_2.4-4.8, Fe/Mn=52.4-62.0; pigeonite Fs_23.0-31.7Wo_15.4-33.6, Fe/Mn=50.0-70.8; olivine in clast Fa_30.0-38.7, Fe/Mn=86.0-109.6; olivine in matrix Fa_40.4-42.8, Fe/Mn=89.7-117.0.

Classification: Lunar feldspathic melt breccia

Specimens: 12.5 g is on deposit at PMO, Ke Zuokai holds the main mass.

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 106

Northwest Africa 11193 (NWA 11193)

(northwestern Africa)
Purchased: 2016 June
Mass: 155 g (1 piece)

Classification: Lunar meteorite (feldspathic breccia)

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

Physical characteristics: A single stone (155 g) composed of angular white and light-gray clasts in a fine-grained gray matrix containing visible small grains of metal. 

Petrography: (A. Irving and S. Kuehner, UWS) Breccia composed of angular mineral grains of anorthite, olivine, orthopyroxene, zoned pigeonite, subcalcic augite, ferropigeonite, chromite, Ti-chromite, ilmenite and fayalite in a finer grained matrix containing kamacite, troilite, baddeleyite, Zr-Ca-Cr-bearing titanate and calcite.

Geochemistry: Olivine (Fa_26.7-47.5, FeO/MnO = 94-98, N = 3), orthopyroxene (Fs_21.5Wo_4.5, FeO/MnO = 84), pigeonite (core Fs_35.7Wo_11.4; rim Fs_47.2Wo_13.4; FeO/MnO = 61-70), ferropigeonite (Fs_69.6-69.9Wo_21.6-24.6, FeO/MnO = 71-77, N = 2), subcalcic augite (Fs_15.4Wo_33.4, FeO/MnO = 65), plagioclase (An_95.3-97.1Or0.6-0.2, N = 2).

Bulk composition: (R. Korotev, WUSL): INAA of subsamples gave the following mean abundances (in wt.%) FeO 7.7, Na₂O 0.44; (in ppm) Sc 17.1, Ni 340, La 6.2, Sm 2.47, Eu 0.77, Yb 1.97, Lu 0.28, Hf 2.0, Th 1.4.

Classification: Lunar (feldspathic breccia).

Specimens: 20.3 g including a polished endcut at UWB; remainder with Mr. B. Hoefnagels.

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 106

Northwest Africa 11216 (NWA 11216)

(Northwest Africa)
Purchased: 2017 Feb
Mass: 222.34 g (many pieces)

Classification: Lunar meteorite (feldspathic breccia)

History: Purchased by Aras Jonikas in February 2017 from a dealer in Agadir, Morocco.

Physical characteristics: A group of small stones (total 222.34 g) with brown weathered exterior surfaces. Interiors are fresh, and consist of small whitish to pale yellowish clasts in a dark-gray matrix containing vesicles.

Petrography: (A. Irving and S. Kuehner, UWS) Breccia composed of angular mineral grains of anorthite, olivine, pigeonite, ferropigeonite, subcalcic augite, augite, Ti-chromite and ilmenite in a finer grained, partly vesicular matrix containing kamacite, troilite, pentlandite, Mg-ilmenite and minor barite. Small bubbles are concentrated in groups within the matrix.

Geochemistry: Breccia composed of angular mineral grains of anorthite, olivine, pigeonite, subcalcic ferroaugite, Ti-free chromite, Ti-Cr-Fe spinel, ilmenite (with rare inclusions of baddeleyite) and fayalite in a finer grained, vesicular matrix containing kamacite, troilite and minor celestite.

Geochemistry: Olivine (Fa_17.5-27.9, FeO/MnO = 94-118, N = 3), orthopyroxene (Fs_22.6Wo_4.0, FeO/MnO = 72), pigeonite (Fs_24.4Wo_8.1; Fs_33.3Wo_16.4; FeO/MnO = 62-73; N = 2), subcalcic ferroaugite (Fs_73.5Wo_25.6, FeO/MnO = 66), plagioclase (An_94.8-96.8Or_0.4, N = 2).

Classification: Lunar (feldspathic breccia).

Specimens: 20.17 g including one polished endcut at PSF; remainder with Mr. A. Jonikas.

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 106

Northwest Africa 11228 (NWA 11228)

(Northwestern Africa)
Purchased: 2017 March 20
Mass: 140 g (many pieces)

Lunar Meteorite (feldspathic breccia)

History: Purchased by Dustin Dickens, March 20, 2017, from Mohamed Maulud.

Physical characteristics: Many irregular shaped fragments, dark sand-blasted exterior, no fusion crust.

Petrography: (C. Agee, UNM) This meteorite is a fragmental breccia with pyroxene, plagioclase, and olivine grains set in fine grained groundmass. Scattered micro-gabbro fragments were also observed. Ubiquitous, fine grained, accessory Fe-metal and sulfide are present. Minor amount of shock melt was observed in the microprobe section. All pyroxene grains probed were pigeonite, no augite was detected.

Geochemistry: (C. Agee and B. Ha, UNM) Olivine Fa_40.2±13.6, Fe/Mn=93±9, n=10; pigeonite Fs_36.1±7.9Wo_11.6±3.5, Fe/Mn=57±6, n=11; plagioclase An_94.4±1.1Ab_5.0±1.0Or_0.6±0.2, n=5; shock melt (proxy for bulk composition) Al₂O₃=26±1, TiO₂=0.14±0.09, MgO=12±6, FeO=3±2 (all wt %), n=2.

Classification: Lunar (feldspathic breccia)

Specimens: 20.3 g including a probe mount on deposit at UNM, Dustin Dickens holds the main mass.

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 107

Northwest Africa 11788 (NWA 11788)

(northwestern Africa)
Purchased: 2017
Mass: 10.441 kg (many pieces)

Lunar meteorite (feldspathic breccia)

History: Purchased in Mali by Dustin Dickens from anonymous meteorite hunter.

Physical characteristics: Many visually identical appearing pieces, ranging from several kilograms to sub-gram fragments. Some pieces show a light-gray, remnant fusion crust on one or more faces, with most having no fusion crust. Saw cut reveals a fragmental breccia with white feldspathic clasts set in a dark-gray ground mass.

Petrography: (C. Agee, UNM) Many dark visually identical appearing pieces, with masses ranging from ~2 kg to many sub-g fragments, showing no fusion crust. Saw cut reveals a finely fragmental breccia with white feldspathic clasts set in a dark gray ground mass with metal flecks and minor vesiculation appearing throughout.

Petrography: (C. Agee, UNM) This meteorite is a breccia of fragmental pyroxene, olivine, plagioclase grains. There are domains that are fine-grained and cataclastic with shock melt and vesicles.

Geochemistry: (C. Agee, UNM) olivine Fa: 31.2±9.4, Fe/Mn=95±7, n=12; clinopyroxene Fs_36.0±10.0Wo_22.2±8.8, Fe/Mn=60±5, n=12; plagioclase An_93.0±1.8, n=7; Shock melt (20 μm defocused electron beam, proxy for bulk meteorite composition): SiO₂=43.2±1.7, TiO₂=0.46±0.20, Al₂O₃=24.2±3.6, Cr₂O₃=0.23±0.08, MgO=7.8±1.4, FeO=8.0±3.2, MnO=0.10±0.05, CaO=14.2±1.4, Na₂O=0.35±0.23, K₂O=0.08±0.05 (all wt%), n=4.

Classification: Lunar feldspathic breccia.

Specimens: 28.9 g including a probe mount on deposit at UNM, Dustin Dickens holds the main mass.

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 110

Northwest Africa 13637 (NWA 13637)

Algeria
Purchased: 2020 April
Mass: 8.6 g (1 piece)

Classification: Lunar meteorite (feldspathic breccia)

History: The stone was purchased by M. Lyon from a Moroccan dealer in April 2020. Later a Hungarian collector imported the stone.

Physical characteristics: Originally an individual cuboid-shaped (2 × 2 × 1.5 cm) gray stone without fusion crust. The sample was covered with orange-brown desert sand. Different colored clasts and thin (<0.2 mm) black veins and cracks are presented on the surface of the stone. Cut surface reveals coherent black matrix material. Inside the matrix there are several shiny metal grains and many white, gray and green clasts. Few fine orange-brown material filled cracks transect the sample.

Petrography: (D. Rezes, CSFK) The meteorite is a complex and polymict lunar feldspathic regolith breccia with many glass spherules (<100 µm). Most of the spherules are intact from shock effects. Melt flow textures are not presented in the sample. The matrix is fine-grained (<100 µm). Clast types are in wide range, impact melt clasts are most common. Impact melt breccia, granulitic impact melt breccia, basalt, micro-gabbro, anorthosite and granulite clasts are presented too. Most clasts are fractured, diameters are up to 2 mm. Major mineral phases are olivine, pyroxene and feldspar. Accessory chromite, FeNi-metal (<0.75 mm), silica, ilmenite, troilite, apatite and baddeleyite are presented. Weathering products are FeNi-oxides, barite and calcite.

Geochemistry: (D. Rezes and M. Szabo, CSFK) Olivine Fa_24.9±6.8, Fe/Mn=86±21, N=22; pyroxene Fs_33.7±17.9Wo_14.2±11.1, Fe/Mn=58±13, N=76; plagioclase An_96.2±2.4Ab_3.7±2.4Or_0.1±0.2, N=50; Matrix average composition SiO₂=44.2±0.4, TiO₂=0.5±0.0, Al₂O₃=26.4±1.1, Cr₂O₃=0.2±0.0, FeO=6.0±0.7, MgO=10.1±0.7 CaO=13.1±0.6, N=3 (all in wt%); Glass spherules average composition SiO₂=43.3±3.7, TiO₂=0.3±0.1, Al₂O₃=26.1±1.8, Cr₂O₃=0.2±0.1, FeO=5.7±2.4, MnO=0.0±0.1, MgO=9.5±1.0, CaO=15.1±0.8, Na₂O=0.2±0.2, N=12 (all in wt%). Bulk composition: (K. Gmeling and Zs. Kasztovszky, KFKI) NAA+PGAA gave the following mean abundances: (in wt%) FeO 8.9, Na₂O 0.35; (in ppm) Sc 22.6, La 5.91, Sm 2.43, Eu 0.93, Yb 2.46, Lu 0.33, Hf 2.32, Th 1.98.

Classification: Lunar feldspathic regolith breccia

Specimens: 2.3 g on deposit at CSFK, D. Rezes holds the main mass (6.3 g) including one polished thin section.

Randy Says…

The Northwest Africa 8673 clan is a moderately mafic KREEP- and basalt-bearing feldspathic breccia. I have not analyzed NWA 11788, but the owner, Dustin Dickens, confirms that it paired with NWA 11228 and the slice pictured above “looks like” the other stones of the pair group. I include NWA 13637 in the pair group on the basis of similarities in the petrographic descriptions and bulk composition (Hulsey & O’Sullivan, 2024).

Compositionally, the NWA 8673 clan is indistinguishable from likely launch pairs from Oman, the Dhofar 925 clan and SaU 449. The textures are different, however, but all 3 meteorites are rich in FeNi metal.

More Information

Meteoritical Bulletin Database

NWA 8673 | 8733 | 8746 | 10048 | 10065 | 10123 | 10902 | 10964 | 11110 | 11193 | 11216 | 11228 | 11788 | 13637

References

Hulsey C. R. and O’Sullivan K. M. (2024) Petrographic and geochemical analysis of lunar meteorite NWA 11788: Parallels with Luna 20 and the Apollo magnesian granulites. Meteoritics & Planetary Science 59. doi: 10.1111/maps.142481

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

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