Lunar Meteorite: Northwest Africa 15375

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 111

Northwest Africa 15375 (NWA 15375)

(Northwestern Africa)
Purchased: 2021
Mass: 1670 g (many pieces)

Lunar meteorite (feldspathic breccia)

History: Purchased by Mark Lyon from a meteorite dealer in Algeria in 2021.

Physical Characteristics: Single stone with minor fusion crust.

Petrography: (D. Sheikh, Cascadia) Sample is brecciated and comprised of mm to cm-sized lithic and monomineralic clasts set within a dark, finer-grained fragmental matrix. Lithic clast lithologies identified include: anorthosites, olivine gabbros, harzburgites, noritic anorthosites, and impact-melt-rich clasts. Accessory phases include ilmenite and chromite (some Ti-bearing).

Geochemistry: Olivine (Fa38.0±6.5, range Fa29.8-43.5, Fe/Mn=90±7, n=8), Low-Ca Pyroxene (Fs32.9±18.4Wo3.8±0.7, range Fs16.3-53.5Wo2.7-4.6, Fe/Mn=58±4, n=5), Pigeonite (Fs38.1±15.2Wo8.6±3.2, range Fs19.8-83.4Wo5.2-15.8, Fe/Mn=53±5, n=12), High-Ca Pyroxene (Fs23.3±7.7Wo38.4±2.1, range Fs17.5-43.7Wo34.8-41.8, Fe/Mn=53±9, n=10), Calcic Plagioclase (An96.0±1.5, range An92.8-99.2, n=25).

Classification: Lunar (feldspathic fragmental breccia).

Specimens: 20.2 g at Cascadia, main mass with Mark Lyon.

Randy Says…

I have not studied Northwest Africa 15375.

More Information

Meteoritical Bulletin Database

NWA 15375