Lunar Meteorite: Northwest Africa 16132

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 112

Northwest Africa 16132 (NWA 16132)

Algeria
Find: 2022
Mass: 7.4 g (2 pieces)

Lunar meteorite (melt breccia)

History: Found in Algeria in 2022 and later purchased by David Fletcher from a meteorite dealer.

Physical Characteristics: Two stones with weathered fusion crust.

Petrography: (D. Sheikh, Cascadia) Sample is a breccia comprised of sub-angular mm-sized lithic clasts (primarily anorthositic clasts, but also noritic anorthosites and impact melt clasts) set within a dark, melt-rich matrix containing regions of melt schlieren and brown tinted devitrified glass. Accessory phases identified include SiO₂-rich glass, ilmenite, troilite, and Fe-Ni metal.

Geochemistry: Pigeonite (Fs_39.4±12.2Wo_13.1±5.6, range Fs_21.3-57.2Wo_5.7-21.7, Fe/Mn=56±6, n=11), High-Ca Pyroxene (Fs_17.7±2.2Wo_35.2±5.0, range Fs_14.5-20.8Wo_26.7-39.7, Fe/Mn=49±6, n=7), Calcic Plagioclase (An_96.3±0.8, range An_94.4-97.4, n=17).

Classification: Lunar (melt breccia).

Specimens: 1.91 g at Cascadia, main mass with David Fletcher.

Randy Says…

I have not studied Northwest Africa 16132.

More Information

Meteoritical Bulletin Database

NWA 16132