Lunar Meteorite: Northwest Africa 13408

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 109

Northwest Africa 13408 (NWA 13408)

Algeria
Find: 2018
Mass: 2000 g (12 pieces)

Classification: Lunar meteorite (feldspathic breccia)

History: Purchased in 2020 by Matthew Stream from Said Bachir in Algeria.

Physical characteristics: Sample contains minor fusion crust. An interior slice reveals an assortment of light and dark-coloured clasts.

Petrography: (D. Sheikh, FSU) Sample is a feldspathic breccia composed primarily of sub-angular anorthitic clasts (<1 cm) set in a dark, fine-grained matrix. Other phases present include pigeonite, olivine, sub-calcic augite, low-Ca pyroxene, and Si-Na-Ca-Mg-rich glass.

Geochemistry: Olivine (Fa_57.4±16.5, range Fa_45.8-69.0, FeO/MnO=95±5, n=2), Pigeonite (Fs_32.0±2.4Wo_12.4±3.7, range Fs_28.1-34.8Wo_8.0-17.2, FeO/MnO=44±3, n=7), Low-Ca Pyroxene (Fs_36.7 Wo_4.0, FeO/MnO=53, n=1), Sub-Calcic Augite (Fs_23.5 Wo_31.2, FeO/MnO=38, n=1), Anorthite (An_96.5±0.7, range An_95.1-97.5, n=24).

Classification: Lunar (feldspathic breccia).

Specimens: 20.81 grams at UCLA; main mass with Matthew Stream.

Randy Says…

I have not studied 13408. It might be another pair of the NWA 8046 clan.

More Information

Meteoritical Bulletin Database

NWA 13408