Lunar Meteorite: Northwest Africa 16173

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 112

Northwest Africa 16173 (NWA 16173)

(Northwestern Africa)
Purchased: 2023 March
Mass: 160 g (1 piece)

Lunar meteorite (feldspathic breccia)

History: The meteorite was purchased from a meteorite dealer in Ouargla, Algeria.

Physical Characteristics: Grayish rock lacking fusion crust.

Petrography: (A. Greshake, MNB) The meteorite is a fragmental breccia predominantly composed of up to 2.5 mm sized lithic clasts (anorthosites, noritic anorthosites, and melt clasts) plus up to 600 µm sized mineral fragments a fine-grained feldspathic matrix. Dominant minerals are anorthosite, olivine, low-Ca-pyroxene, pigeonite, and augite. Minor phases include fayalite, ilmenite, chromite, troilite, and rare FeNi metal.

Geochemistry: olivine: Fa_20.6±0.1 (Fa_20.5-20.8, FeO/MnO=79±4; n=7); zoned olivine: Fa_27.5±1.5 (Fa_26.1-29.7, FeO/MnO=90±9; n=7); ferroan olivine: Fa_55.4±0.2 (Fa_55.1-55.7, FeO/MnO=89±3; n=7); fayalite: Fa_91.5±0.1 (Fa_91.4-91.7, FeO/MnO=78±4; n=7); low-Ca pyroxene: Fs_18.7±0.2Wo_3.1±0.3 (Fs_18.5-19.0Wo_2.8-3.5, FeO/MnO=51±4, n=7); pigeonite: Fs_39.6±1.0Wo_16.2±0.6 (Fs_38.6-41.8Wo_15.5-17.6, FeO/MnO=55±4, n=7); augite: Fs_17.3±0.3Wo_43.0±0.3 (Fs_16.8-17.7Wo_42.6-43.6, FeO/MnO=50±2, n=7); calcic plagioclase: An_96.3±0.4 (An_95.9-97.3, n=7).

Classification: Lunar feldspathic breccia

Specimens: 24.4 g at MNB. Main mass with Said Yousfi.

Randy Says…

I have not studied Northwest Africa 16xxx.

More Information

Meteoritical Bulletin Database

NWA 16173