Lunar Meteorite: Northwest Africa 13979

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 110

Northwest Africa 13979 (NWA 13979)

(northwestern Africa)
Purchased: 2013, subsequently 2020 December
Mass: 1321 g (1 piece)

Classification: Lunar meteorite (feldspathic breccia)

History: Purchased by Mohammed Sbai in 2013 from a dealer in Boujdour, Morocco and subsequently acquired by Maryam al Faheem in Al Ain City, Abu Dhabi, UAE in December 2020.

Petrography: (A. Irving, UWS and P. Carpenter, WUSL) Breccia composed predominantly of mineral clasts of anorthite, olivine, pigeonite, exsolved pigeonite, subcalcic augite and augite, plus sparse basaltic lithic clasts, in a fine grained matrix containing accessory ilmenite, low-Ti chromite and troilite.

Geochemistry: Olivine (Fa_29.2-54.1, FeO/MnO = 91-113, N = 5), low-Ca pyroxene host (Fs_26.9-43.4Wo_1.5-2.9, FeO/MnO = 59-61, N = 2), pigeonite (Fs_34.4Wo_6.1, FeO/MnO = 58), subcalcic augite (Fs_19.1Wo_32.5, FeO/MnO = 44), augite (Fs_14.3-20.0Wo_39.9-43.6, FeO/MnO = 44-47, N = 2), plagioclase (An_95.2-97.0Or_0.1, N = 3).

Classification: Lunar (feldspathic breccia).

Specimens: 22.1 g including one polished endcut at UWB; remainder with M. al Faheem.

Randy Says…

I have not studied NWA 13979.

More Information

Meteoritical Bulletin Database