Lunar Meteorite: Northwest Africa 12697

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 108

Northwest Africa 12697 (NWA 12697)

(Northwestern Africa)
Purchased: 2018 June
Mass: 140 g (many pieces)

Lunar meteorite (feldspathic breccia)

History: Purchased from a mineral dealer in Marrakech, Morocco. Purportedly found near Tindouf, Algeria.

Petrography: (K. Metzler, IfP) Polymict achondritic breccia, consisting of mineral fragments (olivine, pyroxene, plagioclase) and lithic clasts (anorthosites, melt rocks, basalt), set in a nearly black matrix of fine-grained related debris. Intermingled are clast-rich melt particles with ill-defined outlines. Pyroxenes with and without exsolution lamellae are observed. Accessories are Fe,Ni metal, ilmenite, and troilite.

Geochemistry: Mineral compositions and geochemistry: Olivine: Fa_{35.4±8.0 (24.5-50.5)}; Fe/Mn (at.): 88-116; n=7. Pyroxene Fs_35.3±11.8Wo_12.3±5.9 (Fs_22.3-53.0Wo_3.9-21.8); Fe/Mn (at.): 44-87; n=11. Plagioclase An_95.7±2.3 (An_91.0-98.8); n=8.

Classification: Lunar feldspathic breccia.

Specimens: 20 g type specimen at IfP. Stephan Decker, Meteorite Museum, Oberwesel, German holds the main mass.

Randy Says…

I have not studied Northwest Africa 12603. The description is similar to that of NWA 12603.

More Information

Meteoritical Bulletin Database

NWA 12697