Lunar Meteorite: Northwest Africa 15026

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 111

Northwest Africa 15026 (NWA 15026)

(Northwestern Africa)
Purchased: 2021 February
Mass: 125.8 g (1 piece)

Lunar meteorite (troctolitic anorthosite breccia)

History: Purchased by Ziyao Wang in February 2021 from a dealer in Laayoune, Morocco.

Petrography: (A. Irving, UWS and P. Carpenter, WUSL) Breccia composed predominantly of mineral clasts of anorthite and olivine accompanied by very rare pigeonite (only two grains found in the studied endcut) set within a very fine grained, partly vesicular, partly melt-textured matrix containing medium-Ti chromite, kamacite and troilite. Several lithic troctolite clasts were observed.

Geochemistry: Anorthite (An_95.3-96.8Or_0.1, N = 3), olivine (Fa_29.5-35.4, FeO/MnO = 77-97, N = 6), pigeonite (Fs_22.8Wo_7.1; Fs_24.3Wo_16.4; FeO/MnO = 48-58; N = 2).

Classification: Lunar (troctolitic anorthositic melt breccia).

Specimens: 20.l g including a polished endcut at UWB; remainder with WangZ.

Randy Says…

I have not studied Northwest Africa 15026. Other troctolitic breccias include NWA 14323, which is substantially more magnesian (NWA 5744 pair?), and NWA 14729, which is a melt rock.

More Information

Meteoritical Bulletin Database

NWA 15026