Lunar Meteorite: Northwest Africa 15051

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 111

Northwest Africa 15051 (NWA 15051)

Western Sahara
Purchased: 2021 November
Mass: 106 g (1 piece)

Lunar meteorite (fragmental breccia)

History: Found by nomads in Western Sahara. Bought by Steve Arnold through a Moroccan Broker in November 2021 and a week-long team search of the find location in Nov 2021 by Arnold, the broker and the finders turned up no other specimens from the area.

Physical Characteristics: Saw cut surface shows numerous white, light gray and dark gray clasts set in a very dark gray to black host groundmass.

Petrography: (C. Agee, UNM) Electron microprobe analysis and reflected light microscopy indicate a fragmental breccia. Major phases are plagioclase, pyroxene, and olivine; minor phases, chrome spinel (Ti,Al-rich), chromite, ilmenite, troilite, and Fe-metal (low Ni) were detected.

Geochemistry: (A. Ross, UNM) Olivine Fa_34.9±7.8, Fe/Mn=97±13, n=5; low-Ca pyroxene Fs_37.6±2.9Wo_2.4±0.5, Fe/Mn=63±2, n=2; pigeonite Fs_28.5±11.7Wo_7.1±0.9, Fe/Mn=54±9, n=2; augite Fs_20.4±1.2Wo_41.2±1.7, Fe/Mn=49±7, n=2; plagioclase An_97.6±0.4, n=4.

Classification: Lunar fragmental breccia.

Specimens: 20.1 g on deposit at UNM, Steve Arnold holds the main mass.

Randy Says…

I have not studied Northwest Africa 15051.

More Information

Meteoritical Bulletin Database

NWA 15051