Lunar Meteorite: Northwest Africa 15099

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 111

Northwest Africa 15099 (NWA 15099)

(Northwestern Africa)
Purchased: 2022 March
Mass: 425 g (many pieces)

Lunar meteorite (feldspathic breccia)

History: Purchased by Wenxi Jin from a Moroccan dealer January 2022 and sold to Fujun Ren in March 2022.

Petrography: (A. Irving, UWS and P. Carpenter, WUSL) Breccia composed of mineral clasts and some lithic clasts in a fine grained matrix. Major minerals are anorthite, olivine, low-Ca pyroxene, pigeonite and Al-Ti-augite (some associated with ilmenite in lithic clasts). Accessory phases include ilmenite, Ti-free chromite, Ti-chromite, troilite, altered kamacite, rare taenite and minor secondary barite. Ilmenite-bearing lithic clasts are a minor component of this dominantly feldspathic breccia.

Geochemistry: Olivine (Fa_17.1-33.7, FeO/MnO = 89-104, N = 6), low-Ca pyroxene (Fs_27.8-33.2Wo_3.7-3.5, FeO/MnO = 53-55, N = 2), pigeonite (Fs_20.5-34.4Wo_8.0-6.8, FeO/MnO = 52-53, N = 2), Al-Ti-augite (Fs_26.5Wo_43.3, FeO/MnO = 48, Al₂O₃ 6.5 wt.%, TiO₂ 6.6 wt.%), anorthite (An_95.9-96.7Or_0.1, N = 3).

Classification: Lunar (feldspathic breccia).

Specimens: 21.6 g including one polished mount at UWB; remainder with Mr. Fujun Ren.

Randy Says…

I have not studied Northwest Africa 15099.

More Information

Meteoritical Bulletin Database

NWA 15099