Lunar Meteorite: Northwest Africa 15533

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 112

Northwest Africa 15533 (NWA 15533)

Algeria
Purchased: 2021 August
Mass: 641 g (18 pieces)

Lunar meteorite (melt breccia)

History: Multiple small stones were found at an unspecified site in Algeria and purchased by Jaouad Chaoui in August 2021 from an Algerian dealer.

Petrography: (A. Irving, UWS and P. Carpenter, WUSL) Very fine grained breccia with glassy, sparsely vesicular matrix. Small mineral clasts include anorthite, augite, olivine and pigeonite together with accessory Ti-chromite, taenite and troilite, plus minor secondary barite and Fe oxide.

Geochemistry: Olivine (Fa_35.9-36.6, FeO/MnO = 81-100, N = 5), pigeonite (Fs_27.7-29.2Wo_12.4-10.3, FeO/MnO = 48-51, N = 3), augite (Fs_16.0-18.5Wo_39.1-36.1, FeO/MnO = 52, N = 2), anorthite (An_96.6-97.0Or_0.2-0.1, N = 3).

Classification: Lunar (feldspathic melt breccia).

Specimens: 22.6 g including one polished endcut at UWB; remainder with Mr. J. Chaoui.

Randy Says…

I have not studied Northwest Africa 15533.

More Information

Meteoritical Bulletin Database

NWA 15533