Lunar Meteorite: Northwest Africa 16200

from The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 112

Northwest Africa 16200 (NWA 16200)

(Northwestern Africa)
Purchased: 2023 June
Mass: 4161 g (1 piece)

Lunar meteorite (melt breccia)

History: The meteorite was purchased from a local meteorite dealer in Temara, Morocco.

Physical Characteristics: Dark grayish rock lacking fusion crust

Petrography: (A. Greshake, MNB) Melt breccia predominantly composed of few up to 4 mm sized lithic clasts (anorthositic, mare basalt, and melt clasts) plus up to 400 µm sized mineral fragments and abundant mostly recrystallized melt-rock matrix. Dominant minerals are anorthosite, olivine, pigeonite, and augite. Minor phases include ilmenite, chromite, and troilite. No metal detected.

Geochemistry:  (A. Greshake, MNB) ferroan olivine: Fa_45.0±0.1 (Fa_44.8-45.2, FeO/MnO=90±7; n=7); magnesian olivine: Fa_34.0±0.1 (Fa_33.8-34.1, FeO/MnO=94±5; n=7); Ca-pyroxene: Fs_21.7±0.5Wo_39.4±0.3 (Fs_20.8-22.2Wo_38.9-39.8, FeO/MnO=52±6, n=7); zoned pigeonite: Fs_48.6±18.5Wo_13.7±5.3 (Fs_25.5-75.9Wo_7.0-22.7, FeO/MnO=66±12, n=7); calcic plagioclase: An_97.1±0.5 (An_96.2-97.7, n=7).

Classification: Lunar meteorite (melt breccia).

Specimens: 20.4 h at MNB; main mass with Said Yousfi.

Randy Says…

I have not studied Northwest Africa 16200.

More Information

Meteoritical Bulletin Database

NWA 16200