Lunar Meteorite: Northwest Africa 14041 & 16684
possible to likely pairs
| from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 110
Northwest Africa 14041 (NWA 14041)Mali Classification: Lunar meteorite (feldspathic breccia) History: Found in Mali by camel shepherds in January 2021 and subsequently purchased in Algeria by Ahmed Salek. Petrography: (A. Irving, UWS and P. Carpenter, WUSL) Breccia composed of mineral clasts of anorthite, olivine, low-Ca pyroxene, pigeonite, exsolved pigeonite and minor Ti-chromite set in a fine grained matrix containing minor secondary calcite and a K-Ca-bearing zeolite phase. Geochemistry: Olivine (Fa29.0-51.5, FeO/MnO = 99-102, N = 4), low-Ca pyroxene (Fs23.3Wo3.7, FeO/MnO = 60), pigeonite (Fs32.6-68.1Wo8.7-19.5, FeO/MnO = 52-75, N = 4), pigeonite host (Fs42.0Wo10.4, FeO/MnO = 66), augite exsolution lamellae (Fs22.1Wo40.6, FeO/MnO = 71), anorthite (An90.8-96.0Or0.1, N = 3). Classification: Lunar (feldspathic breccia). Specimens: 23.6 g in the form of a polished endcut at UWB; remainder with Mr. A. Salek. |
| from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 113
Northwest Africa 16684 (NWA 16684)Mali Classification: Lunar meteorite (feldspathic breccia) History: Discovered in Mali by camel shepherds, purchased jointly by Ahmed Salek and Omar Bourki in Algeria in January 2021. Petrography: (C. Herd, UAb) Optical and electron backscattered investigation of a polished thin section reveals a breccia dominated by sub-mm mineral clasts of plagioclase, olivine, and low-Ca pyroxene, and minor chromite and ilmenite set in a fine-grained matrix. All mineral grains and clasts are recrystallized on a fine (<μm) scale, and pyroxene shows low pleochroism. Only very minor iron staining is present along grain boundaries. Geochemistry: (C. Herd, A. Locock, and D. Poon-Matsune, UAb) Data obtained by EMP examination of carbon-coated thin section: low-Ca pyroxene: Fs26.3±10.8Wo3.3±0.1 (Fe/Mn = 55±4; n=3); olivine: Fa38±4 (Fe/Mn = 90±5; n=8); plagioclase: An96.3±0.7Or0.09±0.04 (n=12). Classification: Lunar meteorite (feldspathic breccia). May be paired with NWA 14041, based on petrology and provenance. Specimens: Type specimen of 56.0 g at UAb, main mass with Ahmed Salek and Omar Bourki. |
Randy Says… I have not studied NWA 14041 or 16684. They are possible to likely pairs on the basis of the similarities in the descriptions. |