Lunar Meteorite: Northwest Africa 13256

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 109

Northwest Africa 13256 (NWA 13256)

Western Sahara
Purchase: 2019
Mass: 3000 g (10 pieces)

Classification: Lunar Meteorite (feldspathic breccia)

History: Purchased in 2019 by Matthew Stream from a meteorite dealer in Western Sahara.

Physical characteristics: Minor fusion crust exterior; interior contains a few visible weathering veins.

Petrography: (D. Sheikh, FSU) This sample is a feldspathic fragmental breccia containing sub-angular clasts and isolated mineral grains (up to 4 mm) set in a fine-grained matrix. Anorthitic plagioclase is the dominant phase, with minor phases including pigeonite, augite, low-ca pyroxene, maskelynite, olivine, and ilmenite.

Geochemistry: (Olivine (Fa_36.3.2±0.2, range Fa_36.2-36.5, FeO/MnO=90±3, n=2), Low-Ca Pyroxene (Fs_20.3±3.7Wo_3.0±1.8, range Fs_16.3-25.3Wo_0.4-4.4, FeO/MnO=49±7, n=4), Pigeonite (Fs_33.2±5.6 Wo_11.5±3.2, range Fs_24.9-38.6Wo_7.5-16.7, FeO/MnO=48±7, n=7), Augite (Fs_37.3±11.7Wo_36.6±1.6, range Fs_20.2-45.0Wo_34.3-37.8, FeO/MnO=48±3, n=7), Plagioclase (An_95.3±1.4Or_0.2±0.1, range An_92.1-97.5Or_0.1-0.6, n=77).

Classification: Lunar (feldspathic fragmental breccia).

Specimens: 20.3 grams at UCLA; main mass with Matthew Stream.

Randy Says…

I have not studied 13256.

More Information

Meteoritical Bulletin Database

NWA 13256