Lunar Meteorite: Northwest Africa 13942
| from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 110
Northwest Africa 13942 (NWA 13942)Algeria Classification: Lunar meteorite History: C. Muñecas, Expometeoritos) A single piece was found by a nomad in a place in northwest Africa of unknown coordinates. The meteorite was eventually purchased by Carlos Muñecas from a dealer in Tindouf in March of 2021. Physical characteristics: Sample is irregular-shaped and has a light orangish grey exterior. The cut face shows the interior is darker gray and shows a brecciated, microvesicular texture with visible Fe metal grains. Petrography: Description and classification (A. Love, App) Sample is a breccia composed of rounded lithic and anhedral mineral clasts surrounded by a melt matrix. Lithic clasts include: anorthosite, norite, troctolite, brecciated and shock melted clasts. Mineral clasts are dominantly anorthite with minor olivine, some of which is zoned. Matrix areas within the thin section show some regions with schlieren textures and fine vesicles. Additional minerals are: <1 vol% FeNi grains, chromite, ilmenite, sulfide, secondary gypsum and calcite. Geochemistry: Olivine (Fa26.5±3.7, Fe/Mn=80.7±3.4, n=16); low Ca pyroxene (Fs22.7±1.7Wo4.3±0.5, Fe/Mn=50.6±2.0, n=6); pigeonite (Fs24.0±2.8Wo7.2±1.7, Fe/Mn=48.4±4.6, n=12); high Ca Pyroxene (Fs15.5±1.2Wo35.6±6.0, Fe/Mn=46.5±0.5, n=8); plagioclase (An97.5±0.5Or0.1±0.1, n=10). Classification: Lunar (feldspathic melt breccia). Textures and mineral compositions indicate this sample is a melt breccia containing anorthositic to mafic clasts. Specimens: Carlos Muñecas (Expometeoritos) and Adrian Contreras hold the 1008 g main mass. An endcut and two fragments weighing 26.30 g and a polished thin section are on deposit at App. |
Randy Says… I have not studied NWA 13942. |
More InformationMeteoritical Bulletin Database NWA 13942 |