Lunar Meteorite: Northwest Africa 11352

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 106

Northwest Africa 11352 (NWA 11352)

Morocco
Purchased: 2017 February
Mass: 74.5 g (1 piece)

Lunar Meteorite (feldspathic breccia)

History: Purchased by Ke Zuokai in Feb. 2017 from a Moroccan dealer.

Physical characteristics: The meteorite has a black fusion crust. Small white clasts are visible.

Petrography: (Wu Y., PMO) Lithic clasts and mineral fragments (0.1 to 1.1 mm) set in a fine-grained anorthositic matrix. The lithic clasts has a gabbroic, anorthositic, or minor noritic composition. Mineral fragments are dominated by anorthite and pyroxene grains with minor olivine. Some pigeonite grains exhibit exsolved lamella of augite. Vesicles occur in the matrix and some clasts. Other accessory minerals include chromite, ilmenite and troilite.

Geochemistry: Plagioclase An_95.7-97.9Or_0.01-0.3 (average: An_96.8±0.6Or_0.1±0.1, n=16); Olivine Fa_0.9-31, Fe/Mn (cation ratio) = 92.9-116.3 (average=98.2±8.6); pigeonite Fs_19.9-46.6Wo_6.2-18.0; minor orthopyroxene Fs_33.1-47.9Wo_1.9-3.1 and augite Fs_11.4-52.4Wo_28.8-41.8, pyroxene Fe/Mn (cation ratio) = 47.0-68.4 (average=58.4±6.0).

Classification: Lunar feldspathic breccia classification based on texture and composition.

Specimens: 15 g at PMO; remainder with Mr. Ke Zuokai.

Randy Says…

Northwest Africa 11352 is a typical feldspathic lunar meteorite.

More Information

Meteoritical Bulletin Database

NWA 11352

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