Lunar Meteorite: Northwest Africa 15373

Eight small (0.5-2.4 g) stones of Northwest Africa 15373. Photo credits: Mark Lyon
Two sides of an 8.4-g slice of an NWA 15373 stone. Photo credit: Mark Lyon

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 111

Northwest Africa 15373 (NWA 15373)

(Northwestern Africa)
Purchased: 2022
Mass: 45 kg (many pieces)

Lunar meteorite (fragmental breccia)

History: Mark Lyon purchased this meteorite from a Moroccan meteorite dealer in 2022.

Physical Characteristics: Many identically appearing pieces totaling 45 kg found together. The largest individual piece is 2.6 kg. Dark colored, irregular exterior lacking fusion crust. Saw-cut surface reveals a fragmental breccia with light and dark colored clasts set in a dark-gray groundmass.

Petrography:  (C. Agee and A. Ross, UNM) Reflected light microscopy and electron microprobe analysis confirms a lunar fragmental breccia with lithic clasts, mineral clasts, and shock melt. Major phases are plagioclase, pigeonite, augite, and olivine. Minor phases include low-Ni iron metal, ilmenite, troilite, chromite, silica and Ti-Cr spinel.

Geochemistry: (A. Ross, UNM) Plagioclase An96.5±0.5Ab3.3±0.5, n=5; pigeonite Fs25.7±6.1Wo5.1±3.0, Fe/Mn=55±6, n=5; augite Fs16.0±2.3Wo36.5±3.4, Fe/Mn=45±4, n=4; olivine Fa28.3±5.4, Fe/Mn=95±11, n=10.

Classification: Lunar fragmental breccia.

Specimens: 20.4 g on deposit at UNM, Mark Lyon holds the main mass.

Randy Says…

I have not studied Northwest Africa 15373.

More Information

Meteoritical Bulletin Database

NWA 15373

Lunar Meteorites
List – ABC123 Order
List – Al2O3 Order