Lunar Meteorite: Northwest Africa 13785

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 110

Northwest Africa 13785 (NWA 13785)

northwestern Africa
Purchased: 2021
Mass: 35 g (1 piece)

Classification: Lunar meteorite

History: The meteorite was purchased by the main mass holder from a dealer in Erfoud, Morocco.

Physical characteristics: Dark-grayish rock without fusion crust.

Petrography: (A. Greshake, MNB) The meteorite displays a dark-grayish interior and is a polymict breccia predominantly composed of lithic and mineral clasts cemented by abundant shock melted and partly vesicular matrix. Lithic clasts are gabbroic and impact melts clasts up to 5 mm in size. Dominant minerals are pigeonite, augite, olivine, and calcic plagioclase. Minor phases are ilmenite and FeS. In the matrix flow textures are abundant.

Geochemistry:  pigeonite: Fs_26.6±2.2Wo_10.4±3.7 (Fs_23.3-30.8Wo_5.5-19.0, FeO/MnO=50±3, n=16); augite: Fs_22.1±2.2Wo_35.3±1.6 (Fs_20.0-26.3Wo_33.4-37.9, FeO/MnO=49±5, n=5); olivine: Fa_36.3±0.2, (Fa_36.0-36.6, FeO/MnO=93±8, n=12); plagioclase: An_97.4±1.1 (An_96.1-98.7, n=10)

Classification: Lunar (feldsp. breccia)

Specimens: 7.1 g at MNB. Main mass: Philippe Schmitt-Kopplin

Randy Says…

I have not studied NWA 13785.

More Information

Meteoritical Bulletin Database

NWA 13785