Lunar Meteorite: Northwest Africa 16106

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 112

Northwest Africa 16106 (NWA 16106)

(Northwestern Africa)
Purchased: 2022 September
Mass: 4568 g (3 pieces)

Lunar meteorite (feldspathic breccia)

History: Purchased jointly by Bob Falls and Ronnie McKenzie in September 2022 from a Moroccan dealer at the Denver Show.

Physical Characteristics: Breccia composed of relatively large (up to 2 cm), relatively closely-packed angular mineral clasts and some polymineralic clasts in a sparse fine grained, partly vesicular and partly glassy matrix.

Petrography: (A. Irving, UWS, and P. Carpenter, WUSL) Major mineral phases in all components of this breccia specimen are anorthite, olivine, low-Ca pyroxene and augite accompanied by accessory ilmenite, chromite (with variable-Ti content), troilite, metal (with Fe:Ni ratios intermediate between those typical for kamacite and taenite), plus minor secondary barite. One Fe-Ni metal grain exhibited small X-ray peaks for Ge and Ta.

Geochemistry: Olivine (Fa_24.4-45.3, FeO/MnO = 87-98, N = 5), low-Ca pyroxene (Fs_19.9-57.2Wo_1.9-5.9, FeO/MnO = 53-68, N = 4), augite (Fs_20.7-29.5Wo_41.9-37.1, FeO/MnO = 57-72, N = 4), anorthite (An_95.0-97.5Or_0.1-0.0, N = 4).

Classification: Lunar (feldspathic breccia).

Specimens: 25.6 g including a large polished slice at UWB; remainder held jointly by Mr. R. Falls and Mr. R. McKenzie.

Randy Says…

I have not studied Northwest Africa 16106.

More Information

Meteoritical Bulletin Database

NWA 16106