Lunar Meteorite: Northwest Africa 14577

Two sides (polished, left; unpolished, right) of a 10-g (top) and 4.7-g (bottom) slice of Northwest Africa 14577 for sale on the internet. Photo credits: azmeteorites
Two sides of a 64-g slice of NWA 14577. Photo credits: Ruben Garcia

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 111

Northwest Africa 14577 (NWA 14577)

(Northwestern Africa)
Purchased: 2021
Mass: 1008 g (2 pieces)

Lunar meteorite (fragmental breccia)

History: Purchased from a meteorite dealer in Mauritania in 2021.

Physical characteristics: Two identical appearing pieces (768 and 240 g) found together. Saw cut slice surface shows numerous white, light gray and dark gray clasts set in a very dark gray to black host groundmass.

Petrography: (A. Ross and C. Agee, UNM) Electron microprobe analysis and reflected light microscopy indicate a lunar polymict breccia. There is a very large range of olivine and pyroxene compositions present. Major phases are plagioclase, pyroxene, and olivine, with pyroxene being more abundant than olivine; minor phases, ilmenite, zircon, silica, and Fe-metal (low Ni) were detected.

Geochemistry: (A. Ross, UNM) Plagioclase An93.2±3.2Ab6.5±3.0, n=4; olivine Fa49.9±29.8, range Fa9.2-97.4, Fe/Mn=94±13, n=9; pigeonite Fs51.3±22.4Wo17.0±4.4, Fe/Mn=67±9, n=7; sub-calcic augite Fs28.6±8.6Wo33.1±2.5, Fe/Mn=57±8, n=2.

Classification: Lunar fragmental breccia.

Specimens: 21 g on deposit at UNM, Mark Lyon holds the main mass.

Randy Says…

I have not studied Northwest Africa 14577.

More Information

Meteoritical Bulletin Database

NWA 14577

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